New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-09-10
CHEAP POSTAGE.
RNDOFt


Tie undersigned, a minority cftAs Commit
tee on Post-Q6ices and Post, Roads, haze
carefully s1azaised the Petitions, Aemori-
ais, and Resolutions, on the subject ofre-
ducing the rates Of Postage on Letters,
Newspapers and Periodicals., rsjsrred to
said Committee, and respectfully ask leaps
to Report.
The subject ia one ofvast Importance to the ia.
tereEts of our wide spread Republic. and, differing
al we do, from Majority OF the Committee, We
feel Ii due to ourselves, to Congress-, aud to the
whole country, that we state fairly and oAnddIy
our views, and the reasons which compel us 70 re-
commend o uniform rate OF two ceDts prepaid on
letters and the reduction of she present rates OF
poasage, on newspapers, periodicals. pamphlets,
and bound books.
The history ofthsihtroduesion aud establishment
Of cheap postage in Great Britain, IL probably fas
miliar to every one, To Rowland Ill., shss great
benefactor OF his race, are Great Britain and the
world indebted for this important discovery, and
the people Of that country have gratefully reward
ed him for his services In the cause OF humanity
Shortly after ts establishment in Great Britain Ia
1910, the attention Of one of/our own cizenG, Bar
nsbas Bates was attracted to the consideration Of
this subject, and as early "a March In the same
year, he commenced the advocacyof cheap postage,
believing it 10 be as well adapted to the United
States az 70 Gre at Britain. The character aud ad-
planed by him in series OF articles and lecsuresia
ls4l and 1912, and aided by the powerful influence
Of the Presg, he succeeded In getting up Public
Meeting in the Merchants Exchange In l943, when
he presented series Of Rsso nrlops, and Corr
mittee was appointed to petition Congress for q
low and uniform rate Of pOstsge.
The plan being novel few only believed ii pi@e'
scaoe, while the mass OF the people, and eSpsclA-
~ the Post Office Department, denounced it az
funous and visionsry. From that period TO she
present the people in all parts OF the United States
have every year sent in their petitions asking Con,
gress to reduce the rates o. postage to uniform
rate of ttco cents prepaid. Hundreds Of thousands
of citizens embracing farmers, mechsnics, trades,
men, merchants, lawyers, physicians and clergy
men, have all united in this request without regs
10 divisions in politics Or religion. Never werf q
people, embracing all classes. more united In
single object than they arein calling upon Cons
for a low and uniform rate of postage
In l845 az important eduction was made i r.
rates of postage and the change Of chsrgin6 On
weights inatead of pieces, and reducing me ratss
10 FIVE and ten cents, was most benehoiaS eaS
salutary reform for the Post Office Department ~
for the People. This was not however, aoS .ent
cheap postage and hence petitions have 9eo Of
to Congress every year praying tor sne nSeap
uniform rate Of twocenfs tbs is oie be- satie
postage, and with no other will the pe0F'
fed. ,,nosition % Siss
The law Of ls45 was passed IL .1 0soarsnioDi.
expire ssed desire OF the the part Of raenY
&C.: E {: q: e.: { +: s:
paces-that the postal aoap.ry would be cursa9
settled portions or @. SLICES Discontinued fof "ans
of revenue. arc Tss.s .n for supper" What has
been the resasd officially in finding suitable persor
there been agy Of the Possmastefs who Lay
have resp ost Offces discontinued on aoeorns :
tse sadaetion of pos sgel Has the revenue Os t'e
me noaysent so fallen Off a. to throw u spon tils
Treasyry for seaport Ga the ccEtraEg no Pes