The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1850-05-24
Frem The N. Y. Evening Post.
FROM AN OCCASIONAL CORRES--
PONDENT.
WASHINGTON, May 8, 1876

Postdge-The loss of Postage on Dead
Letters, $c-The necessity ofPre-pay-
ment.
In my last letter gave you a synopsis
Of the bill reported 10 the Senate by gem
eral Rusk. Permit me, IN this, ionorice
what / understand to be the features of
the bill, which will soon be reported 10 the
House by the chairman Of the commmii-
tee.
II is but justice 10 say that Judge Pot.
Ter aud two or three Of the House com.
mitiec are in favor Of t,co cents, prepaid,
and FIVE if moi but a majority is in favor
Of three cents, and SO it will probably be
reported.
Circulars are TO remain at the present
rate, three cents prepaid.
Drop letters, two cents.
Newspapers, half cent, within The
state where published; and one cent 10
any distance.
Periodicals and pamphlets, two cents
the first ounce, and one cent for every
additional ounce.
Both billsrequire prepayment 10 be en-
titled 10 The lowcsl rate ofpostlge, and 50
far this is q wise measure; but should
prefer that in all cases prepayment should
be required, and then there would be no
loss on dead letters. NJ reasons for ma
king prepayment compulsory are, lha, il
would be saving Of labor 10 the post
office, by requiring the general use Of
stamps---a saving of time 70 the people
as there would be less delay in mailing
and receiving letters, and more especial
| iy because the Post Office Department
would receive the postage on all letters
sent by the mails. Permitme 10 call the
attention Of your readers, in proof of this
position, the following facts:
In lS45, there were 100000 dead
Ietteis returned to the General Po tOificc.
In ls49, the number returned was, q
100000. 4
In 1850, ifthey increase the same pro-
portion, there will be 100000 dead lot
ters.
Ofihis number the paid letters average
one fifth.
Deduct one-fiith from2, 100000, there vii
be l,5S0,000 at twelve GEMS post
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. ...".$20l ,5oo,0(
Advertising 100000, at2
cents. 2, 500, 600 in cities
| at 4 cents eacb......"..... 6O,000,G(
Salaries of six clerks in the
| dead letter Office at ST.
600 cach...,... .....".... 100000
1 AHount lost on dead letters
in one year, 1850, will be $267 10000
L To this may be added oil The labor o
sailing and forwarding those letters i'
u'e 1eeneral Post Office al Washington
Inc fe'ui"e of Dead Letters gfron th'
New York city Post, Office for the Our
ter ending The 2lst March, 1850, sSss
the following fact:
29,627 unpaid, and 1859 paid letters.
The postage on the unpaid
was ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. S3,279,73
The advertising Of unp,id
snd paid letters, 30,2S6,
at 4 cents........."...... l,2ll, A
Loss on dead letters in one
quarter was..,."..".." S4,49l,l7
II the postage is reduced TO The low
rate we propose, is it not reasonable and
even indispensable that the postage should
be prepaid, in order 10 sustain the Pos,
Office Department.
|. Let every postmaster be furnished f ON
the Post Office Department with stamps,
that the people may supply themselves
as they do their waters, and all the diff
Guilty about the use ofcents and the want
of coin in certain sections of the Union
will be wholly removed. The stamps
should be furnished at discount 10 those
who buy in large quantity, and then the
stationers will prepare envelopes with
stamps on them, which will be found a
great convenience 10 The people.
Perhaps il will be said, as the people
are not used 10 prepayment. it will be
difficult 10 pu, it in operation, and many
would suffer disappointment in not having
their letters for warded when mailed. The
system should'not be adopted without Que
notice being universally given by all the
postmasters throughout The Union, that
On and after such day when the cheap
postage law goes into effect, pre- payment
of postage would in all cases be required.
Mr.. BENTON. The National Era says,
"Mr. Benton has distinguished himself
by the gallantry, the firmness, and con-
sisiency of his course in relation to The
admission of California. His zsai in her
cause, and his present course, have been
attributed to the fact that one of her Sen.
ators i, his son-in-]aw. 1t SO happens
that he manifested equal zeal for the ter
ritorial organization Of Oregon, where no
such motive could operate, and that the
policy lie now pursues, dates long anteri-
or 10 the election Of Col. Fremont. II
will be time enough to charge him with
such petty selfshness, when he shall vo-
late the principles he has always profess
cod and damn, iron, tI,a rol;cu ! n ra Ia tion