The Democratic pioneer. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1845-1853, 1849-12-21

has long been regarded as sound public =
policy to promote the circulation of these
publications by cheap postage; and it may
be advisable to proceed further in this pol
Iicy, espcciallyin promoting their circula-
ton lnthe vicinity of their places of pub
LEGATION, provided no decided injustice be
done to the postmasters within the same
vicinity NeJ
1t would be desirable to have fixed
sum granted from the treasury for this pub
lie service as to free matter, and then the
postage SO reduced and arranged as topro-
vide for the remainder; but that course is
impracticable, as the money for the treas
ury cannot be drawn until that from post
age is first exhausted; and, therefore, the
only safe way is to make reductions of
postage from time to time, until justice is
produced by leaving a balance, to be an
nually drawn from the treasury, equiva
lent to the public service performed; and
no extent of reduction which does not
produce this effect is sufficient, SO long as
public service is required to be performed
free of postage.
What should be the degree or measure
of the reduction ofpostage at this time, is
entirely question to be settled by Con-
gress; but it is proposed respectfully to
submit what would be the probable effect
of one measure of reduction.
The most obvious and prominent feature
now in our postage is the double price, ten
cents, charged on all single letters carried
over three hundred miles. The reduction
of this ten cent postage, and charging all
single letters at five cents each, would
much simplify the manner of accounting,
and render the same both more facile and
pcrfect-would remove the dissatisfaction
arising from the great difference in the
postagein different offices, even in the same
vicinity, but separated by this arbitrary
line, and would promote and encourage the
correspondence and intercourse by mail
between the most distant parts of the coun-
} try, which most need and demand it, in
precise proportion as their other means of
intcrcommuncation are slow and unfre-
quent.
The next inquiry is, what would be the
effect of this reduction on the receipts from
postage, and how would it affect the treas
ury?
Iii not possible from any returns or da
ia in the department to ascertain with
much precision the number of letters pass
ing annually in the mail under this charge
of ten cents. Even if the number of ten
cent letters were actually known, it would
still be impossible to determine how many
of them were ten cent letters from being
double. Thence arises the great difference
in the estimate loss of revenue from such
a reduction as was presented in the report
ofthe Postmaster General last year, to wit:
$615, 1877; and that of the First Assistant,
1906, 739.
From careful examination now made
ofthe data in the department, it is estima-
ted that the whole number of charged let
ters sent through the mails the past year
was $4,000, 900, and of this number about
900, 900 were subject to the ten cent
postage on account of distance. If, then
the reduction were to bring no more letters
into the mail, the diminution of revenue
therefrom the first year would be $775,-
600.
1t is already shown that the surplus on
the first day ofJuly last was $69l, ,682 70
and that on the first day of July next will
be $858,710 81, which will undoubtedly
Increase in future years by natural accumu-
ation, and by increase of the number of
letters arising from this reduction will, in
the first year, occasion no change in the
treasury, and it is extremely uncertain
whether its operation can ever produce that
effect A brief trial of this experiment
will show its effect, and if it should not
produce any important draught' of the
the treasury, then further reduction Of
postage should be made, and correspond
ing provision from the treasury adopted
until after this has been tested by expert
ment, is respectfully submitted,