The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1850-11-02


Each additional ounce or fraction 1890.
Newspapers not exceeding one thousand nine
hundred square inches, cent from office OF
issue, one hundred miles or less i
Newspapers over one hundred miles, and out
Of State. ...' $1,000. $500 IL
Newspaper sent by other persons than pub
ii her, pre- paid ........ -.......'.....''
These are the present terms for those who
pay postage but the number Of those who
do not, and the extent Of their privileges, are
subjects worthy attention. These persons
are the President of the United States, the
Elk. Presidents, the widows OF Elk Presidents,
the Vice President, Senators, Represeniives,
and Delegates in Congress, Governors Of
States, in their correspondence with each
other, the Postmaster General and assistants,
editors, and publishers exchanging papers,
postmasters writing on official business, and
those whose compensation does not exceed
$500, may correspond generally free OF
charge.
The requests in the petitions called for the
reduction Of letter postage for amy distance TO
two cents, halfounce being fixed on as the
weight Of single letter. In accordance with
these requests, bill was presented in the
Senate on the Sd Of April last, by Senator
Rusk. fixing the rate at two cents, if pre-
paid, and five cents if not; but, subsequent
", this Senator submitted all able report on
the subject and changed his plan, recon-
mending uniform rate Of two cents. pre-
paid. This bill was not acted npon by the
Senate but in the House OF Representatives,
on the oath of July, Judge Potter the chair
man OF The Postnffice COMMITTEE, presented a
report and bill in which three cents, pre-
paid, and five il not, were recommended
This bill failed to receive the attention of the
House during Inc session. We are informed
by q writer, whom we believe TO be correct,
that the committee were divided in opinion
respecting their proposition. He states that
four of its members were in favor of five cents;
two were for three and five; ana three for d
uniform rate of two cents. pre- paid.
The following is a synopsis oil this bill:
| The first section fixes half an ounce as the
weight Of a single letter, and makes the
charge three cents, if prepaid, aud five ii not:
to any part of the Union.
The second charges upon newspapers not
exceeding 900 square inches surface, half a
cent within the State of publication, and one
cent beyond it. Pamphlets, books, periodi-
Gals. &c. TO be charged two cents per ounce
bound books, if not more than thirty-two
ounces weight. to come within the class.
The third authorizes the mints TO coin three
cent pieces.
| The fourth authorizes stamps representing
three cents to be issued by the Postmaster
General, and to be sold by Postmasters, to
whom, as well as to other persons, discount
Of ten per cent. is TO be made, when fifty del
lars worth are purchased.
! The fifth appropriates half million of dol
lars to supply any deficiency that may arise
in the Post Office Department
A minority report was submitted by a single
member MIR. Durkee,) which embodies in a
comprehensive manner the arguments in IA
vor Of the adoption of two cents, prepaid, as
the just price of postage throughout the
Union, and the reduction of the charges up
on newsp;. pers, books, &c. 1t declares thai
the people of the Union were never more
united IN any purpose than in calling upor
Congress for this reduction, and sets forth
many facts in illustration of the advantages
of the measure.
We will endeavor to state substantially
the provisions of the bill accompanying this
report. ----
The first section fixes two cents, prepaid
az the uniform postage of "a letter sent an,
distance the weight not exceeding half al
ounce, and one cent for each drop letter.
The second orders the sale at all post Of
fees Of stamps representing two, four anf
ten cents.