The New York herald., 1850-12-23

CHEAP PosTAGE-No FREE PArEIs FOR THE Press
The long contemplated reform of the postage
system Of the United States, we believe, is about
to resulrin some substantial shape. II is quite time
that we should have some settled, permanent
sysiem-simple in itself, and beneficial to the en-
tire population. From present appearancesl lthe re-
duction on letters will be very considerable and, as
the subject has come before 0ongress, it is to be
hoped that speedy action will settle the whole
business TO the satisfaction of the public.
Our own investigations have satisfied us that
many of the complaints attributed to the Post Of
flee Department have arisen from the excessive
burthens, in the shape OF printed documents pass
ing free of charge through the mails. Before the
law was passed, demanding prepaid postage on
transient ne wspapers il found that the mass of
newspapers sent through the mails, was positive
and great evil. Such was the weight of newspa-
pers, that the mail bags were entirely thrown out,
in many cases, so that the letter bags might arrive
in due time at their destn alton. THIS trouble was
partially obviated by the present arrangement of
demanding prepayment on transient newspapers
sent by individuals. A great evil, howe Yer, re-
mains. IL is one injurious TO all concerned. IL
clogs the department tself-it is in great measure
useless and is a tax upon the whole country,
that cannot be supported by any shadow
of reason. This is the privilege, granted to
newspapers, Of exchanging, at the public ex-
pense. II is sscertained for instance, that
thuty:frs thousand free reuspapos deiipered,
in thus metropolis alone to the proprietors of
papers crry uesk. Here is q severe burthen, not
only the department, but upon the public, who
must suffer delays, that this dead weight on the
mails may be duly carried according to law. How
much better would be- therefore, TO abolish this
privilege, and TO curis the useless expenditure Of
the public money, for the very questionable benefit
of few newspaper establishments. We think
that, II proprietors OF newspapers were taxed like
other persons, great evil would be cnded-for the
majority Of newspapers are Of little value, beyoad
the locality OF their publication; and, under the
proposed reduction Of postage, they could be
obtained, at very small tax, whenever cir ,un-
stances may demand that they should be sent for
the information Of contemporary newspapers
We think that no newspaper proprietor can object
to 20 ratioksl view Of this question as we have
presented. IL fthere s any objection II ought to be
sienced by the probable improvement in the
economy of publishing, which, in this country, is
wasteful and extrsvsg,nt An exchange list. in
cluding two or three hundred ne wspapers, " a
serious tar on any establishment, and the sooner
IL Is abridged the better will be the result for the
proprietor. At any rate, we sincerely hope that
newspaper Prorrietors may not be exempted from
the same tax which is applied to other members Of
the community Our interests to have the mails
effective towards supplying subscribers rapidly, is
not the least consideration for the desire we have
10 lessen the mail Of the enormous weight placed
upon IL by folly.