Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1849-12-20
Leaving i balance on the Doth
Of June, 1850, of
$1,033,71057


The Postmaster General examines the sub.
icct of the reduction of postage from the present
rates at considerable lengtd, He sets forth in
a clear light the burden on the department con-
sequent on the Thanking privilege, and says the
payment therefor is necessary to any cheaper
rates than at present We quote the portions
which embraces his recommendations,
lit would be desirable to have fixed sum
granted from the Treasery for this public SER
vice as to free matter, and then the postage SO
reduced and arranged SO as to provlfe lor the
remainder; but that course is impracilcahle, as
the money from the Treasury cannot be drawn
until that from postage is first exhausted; and
therefore the only safe way is to make reduc-
tons of postage from time to time until justice is
produced, by leaving balance to be annually
drawn from the Treasury equivalent to the pub
lie service performec. And no extent OF reduc-
ton which does not produce this effect is sutfi-
cient so long as public service is required to be
performed free of postage.
The most obvious and prominent feature now
in our postage is the double price, ten cents,
charged on all single letters carried over 800
mixes. The reduction Of this ten cent postage,
and charging all single letters at five cents each,
wonId much simplify the manner Of accounting,
and render the same both more forcble and per-
fect--wCuld remove the dissatisfaction arising
from the great difference IN the postage in differ
ent offices, even IN the same vicinity, but sepa-
rated by this arbitrary line; and would promote
anu encourage the correspondence and inter-
course, by mail, between the most distant parts
of the country, which most need and demand it,
in precise proportion as their other means of
intercommuncation are slow and unfrequent
1t is not possible, from any returns or data in
the department, to ascertain with much prcciH-
ion the number of letters passing annually in
the mail under the charge Of tea cents. Even if
the number Of ten cent letters were actually
known, it would still be impossible to determine
how many of them we're ten cent letters from be-
ing double.
From careful examination now made of the
data in the department, it is estimated that the
whole number of charged letters sent through
the mails, the past year, was G2,000'O00, and Of
this number about Il, 500000 we're subject to
the ten cent postage, on account OF distance -
If then, the reduction were to bring no more let.
tiers into tfie mail, the dmunltlon of reye-
nue., therefore, the first year, would be $775,.
GOO.
1t is already shown that the surplus, on the
first day of July last, was $69l 682 20 and that
on The first day of July next, will be $85s,7l0,-
81, which will, undoubtedly increase in future
years by natural accumulation and by increase
Ct the number ofleters arising from this reduc
ton, and will, in the first year occasion no
change in the Treasury, and it is extremely un
certain whether Its operation can ever produce
that effect. i,N'ss
A brief trial of this experiment will show i,s
elect, and If it should not produce any import.
amt draught on the treasury, then further reduc
TONS OF postage should be made, and cores.
p.ondlng provision from the treasury, adopted nm.
til after this has been tested by tie experiment
is respectfully submitted.