The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-02-03

of the government are concerned in their communication
with The great commercial emporiums. Let the merchant
OF CHICAGO have the same facilities with regard TO his
commercial business with the New orK lace
them all upon the equality with respec. 70 'neil com
ard ceramic n very great improvementan advantage
over The laws which have heretofore existed
merits Of 1o his biz provided gentlemen can be satisfied
that The financial character tof the bill will prove
failure; and | suppose this IS the .i main obec
calculated TO benefit the community, an improve
ment upon the present system, not only in the re-
ducion Of postage, but in simplicity, uniformity, IA
cii and certainty. and particularly in regard 10 foreign
letters for an emgrant in the western States may receive
letters from his friend in Europe at precisely the
rates as an emigrant in the State of New York This
equality In foreign correspondence, it TO me, is
something that has never been enjoyed before,
Without saying more sir, with respect to the character
OF this bill, will call the attention of the Senate 10
the views which have present regard to its
sary rssuts-as to whether the system can sustain itself
Now sir the committee have acted upon the view partially
presented, that this be material departure. in
its financial character, from the system which has
vailed from the BEGINNING in this country. We have
supposed that this system. low as the rates are, when
can have full and fair operatonthat is to say when
the power and efficacy of the system be fully devel
opod-will produce revenue sufficient or about sufh
Gent to sustain itself. 1t may be that some money
may be required from the treasury to the expense OF
the unpr0ductye routes but if the country dense
in the old States, very little doubt for one, that the
thing perhaps may be required 100 200 thousand
dolars-tO make up the deficiency incurred in the unset
tied parts OF the country But these routes required
TO be established in Justice to the unsettled portions OF the
county we do not think right that these burdens should
be thrown exclusively upon the Post Office establishment
That would seem properly to be charge upon the whole
country and so far that burden thrown upon this
establishment, it would with great proprety out of
the treasury; but to what amount, not prepared to
sayProbably not more than the sum have stated But,
aside from this, have presented this bill in the belief
that the plan will be only temporary one; that this
principle, when il have full action in this country,
will prove eficacious here as in England and else
a
adequate to sustain the establishment But this will
qure little time.
great change this had been proposed few years
ago, it would have been deemed proposition so ex-
tavagant that senator would have been disposed TO
give il moments consideration. should not myself,
perhaps ten years ago. and less than that tme have
advocated such reform. In the year ls45 made a
greater change than proposed now, reducing the
then charged to five and ten cents This bill proposes
uniform rate OF three cents Now sir, observed, it
is experience which has thrown. light upon the
the only ground in support of this bill Without
regard TO that particular consideration. believe this
country demands low rate Of postage. and believe
draft upon the treasury Every one who fears the
suit OF the low of postage, says that he is willing it
should prevail if, upon fair trial. sustain itself
perience which has been had with regard the efficacy
OF this principle in producing Of course, the
communlcauons; anu as Inc number OF those COM
munications will be gradually increased the revenue
VIII be prOpoIliOnafely increased Well, SIT,
have the example Of England, and we have our own
experience in the reduction of 1885, which, believe,
every one will say has been successful than
anticipated OF the advocates of that reduc-
ton then, and my worthy friend from Rhode Island,
who is no longer here was advocate for it also.
will call the attention Of the Senate for moment to
tenn has operated more benefciay in England than in
this country They are, perhaps, OF commercial
and manufacturing nation than we are; but, on the
other hand they are not so generally educated the
people OF the United States They are not people so
migratory we are They have no western country.
And yet we have witnessed the astonishing results Of
lhe system there.
will now call the attention of the Senate to some
statistics of the result of the system in England have
here various statements which will read; and in the
first place with respect to revenue
The revenue OF the post office establishment in Eng.
sa e Ssq nok e shinsea e ana
reduction was something over million, the revenue
amounting that year to fl359,466 For the last year that
have obtained the relurns-the year 1S47the seventh
year of the systematic revenue amounted TO e.,
Isl ,0l6. We see, them that after experiment of
years in Engla in the reduction of the postage from
ID to single penny, the postage came up to the amount
received under the old system, with the deficiency only
of the small sum of about E2OO 900.
Now, Mr. President, this increase Of postage OF
course connected with increase of circulation and
have some statistics with regard to that which shall
read Under the old system in 1889, the number OF let
tiers passing through the London General Post Office
21022sl for four weeks In lS4s, for four weeks the
letters had increased to $685. 432 That audes to the
local leers-being more than four times as many as the
Then here statement of the General Post Office in
England--the number of letters passing through the
London district post office In 1885, before the reduction
of the postage, the number was for four weeks 1868
In lS4O the next year, 1t ,302555 In 1913, it
2,7669 5l. In lS47, it was 2,s72,64l-here being a
falling off in the last year.
Then, again, the increase of what they call money
orders may mention, although it is principle not
introduced into our system. The money conveyed in
letters not exceeding E5 issued and paid England and
Wales, for the quarter ending April S, 1899, under the
old system amounted TO E92 1874. Under the present
system, for three months in 1S4S, it amounted to e.
5i7,52S.
In regard to their entire circulation have the statistics
coming down to ls47, showing the great and rapid in
Der of taxable letters 76 millions in 1910, the first
year OF the penny system the number increased to 1853
millions; lS41 to 1864 millions in 1912, to 2oSt mil
ons in 1913, 220t millions; in 1874. to 242 millions
in 1915, TO 27A millions; in 1916, to 299t mons and
in ls47, to 1922 millions.
This is taken from table sent by Joseph Hume, IN
England, who has taken great interest in this reform,
TO Mr. Bancroft In letter written by MIR. Hume to a
gentleman in Boston, last April believe, he says
81 informed by General Post Office that the gross
this year will equal, is expected, the gross
amount of postage the year before the postage
duced."
Whether the fact has been so or not, as | have not
yet seen the returns Of 1913, have not been able to
ascertain. But if has not, there be no doubt but
that it will do in year two more 1t should be
remarked here, perhaps MIR President that this change
suance of great and thorough investigation. They
found that under the old system the revenue remained
about the same believe there had been no increase for
several years and the postage of I'd was heavy tax
upon the people They this to be an evil and ap.
Poln!eea committee, who gave the whole subject two