The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-09-20
The Beasnss Resulting from che New Post-
ere LAW.
TO THE Editor OF THE HERALD.

| TO HE EDITOR OF THE HERALD.
Recause Of the defects in the new postage law, in
relation to transient newspapers and printed mat
ter, your readers may possibly overlook the vast
benefits resulting from its adoption. have hereto
fore shown how these provisions we're incorporated
in this law, which has created such universal dissa
tsfaction, and that it was done against the most
earnest protesations Of the friends Of cheap post
sge, in order to crafty the views of the Post Office
| Department. Nevertheless, if we take q retro
spectve view of the enactions Of the former postage
laws and compare them with the new law, we shall
find much cause for gratitude to those who in
stTume ntal in efecting its passage through Con-
gress.
The rates of letter postage under the old law
complicated and burdensome, and the people, being
dissatisfied, sought all the means in their power to
evade them. These rates varied, according to dis
tanee, as newspapers do, under the present law.
Accordingly, on thirty, eighty, one hundred and
fifty, and four hundred miles, they rated from
six up to twenty-five cents. Then, again, every
enclosure was deemed letter, containing two pieces
Of paper, and, carried four hundred miles, was
charged one dollar! Every expedent was resorted
to IN order to avoid the payment of these high
rates-by endeavoring to conceal the enclosures;
sending letters by private conveyance; placing boxes
in the principal hotels for the reception Of letters
to be sent gratis to the principal towns and Cities
than the Post Office. Hence, the letters, in a few
years, fell OFF from twenty seven to twenty four
millions, and the revenue OF the department two
| hundred and fifty thousand dollars per annum.
The law Of 1915 afforded some relief to the people.
This reduced the rates to five cents under three
hundred miles, and that distance, ten cents for
single letter; and what was OF greater pOrtance
the rate was charged Upon weight, instead OF the
number Of pieces letter might contain This re-
duction enabled the people TO send letters for i've
and ten cents which, under the old law, would have
ed -fivac ants md Aalla
The beneficial results of this reduction, both to
the people and the department. were proved by in
creasg the number Of letters, and aug nenting the
revenues of the Post Office. In i've years, up to
June, 1850, the letters bad increased fro twenty
four millions to upwards OF seventy millions per
! anlum; the expenses Of the department had been
enlarged moro than one million and half OF dol
lars the post routes extended over twenty-three
thousand miles; the annual transportation of the
mails nearly seven millions of niles more than five
Thousand new post offices he'd and, notw
standing this enlargement of expenses and postal
facilities, there remained surplus in the Treasury
OF moro than eleven hundred and thirty thousand
dollars
When the law of 1915 was passed, the opponents
Of cheap postage predicted that il would prove a
failure; that it would throw the Post Oii,e ca the
Treasury for its supports that half the post asters
would resign, and none be found to fill their places,
and that IN less than year the people would petit
ton for its repeal. 1t went into operation under
the most serious disadvantages The Postmaster
General, Case Johnson who voted against the inea-
sure in Congress, publicly declared that it would
iuin the depar ment, and that tho postal facilities
Of the country must be diminished in consequence
Of the reduction Of postage. But the result has
shown that all those pre- ii,ons were false; and oven
Mr. Johnson, before he went cut of Office, recon-
mended further reduction to aniform rate offve
cents.
With these facts before them the friends ofcheap
pos ssge we'd their exertions, AID escLtsd po
titions to Congress for uniform rate of two CENTS
prepaid. Such astounding results led them to be-
eve that Congress would, without hesitation grant
the prayer Of their petition, and reduce the postage
to a Uniform rate. After great exertion on their
Jarts the present law was passed the last night Of
the last session OF Congress- yet 1T by no means met
their views, either as respects the rates OF postage
ON letters newspapers and printed u alter Tae
reduction, however Is material one, and prepares
the way for further reduction at no very distant
Period. Permit me to point out how much has been
gained by the present law, as well as what is left
to be done by the friends Of postal reform:
BY the present postage law, letter weighing
half an ounce, may be sent three thousand miles for
three cents, and to any distance in the United
States for six cents. This, surely, is great gain
to the people who write letters. A letter, there
fore, which, under the old Law, would cost dollar
for postage, now be sent for three cents Again,
letter which, under the law Of 1915, was charged
ten cents, can be SENT by the present. for the smaller
of three cents. Besides this, alettcr which was
then charged, (say to California; forty cents, is
now conveyed for six cents; and rot only SO, fit
weighed fraction over an ounce 1t was charged
dollar and sixty cents; but letter of the same
weight is now carried for eighteen cents. Surely,
this is gain which every one should appreciate,
and especially the Cafornans and their friends.
If the rates are not lastly what We want yet they
are so low, considering the immense distance which
letters are sent, that 1t may be truly denomina,ed
the cheap postage Law, and its friends may congra
tulate themselves upon the success which has al
tended their efforts. Instead, then, OF complaining
that we have no. obtained all we asked for, We
should be gratiied that we have obtained so
much
Let US low examine what we have gained by this
new law in the reduction Of pos age on newspapers,
periodicals, &c. The former postage Ia vs. charged
newspapers sent out Of the State over 100 miles,
one ard q half cents, which made the postage on a
weekly paper cost seyenty-eight cents, and daily
PAPER four dollars and sixty. i've cents per anoum.
BY the present law, weekly paper sent no. exceed.
ing fifty N lies. will be charged only twenty cents;
not exceeding three hundred miles, forty cents and
not exceeding thousand miles, sixty cents. A
daily paper be sent not exceeding IF y miles for
one dollar not exceeding three hundred miles, two
four dollars. This may be considered a lnrge re:
duction from the old rates; but there Is sill
greater reduction in favor Of newspapers not ex.
ceedipg three hundred square inches, which are
charged only one-fourth Of the preceding rates.
BESIDES thf, newspapers circulated free Of post
sge in the counties where published
In relation to magazines, periodicals, s<:., the
rev law Is much more favorable than the old one.
Magazines, when not sent over five hundred miles,
are charged one cent ounce; this, and not
exceeding fifteen hundred miles, the rae Is two
cents ouuce Subscribers paying in advance are
allowed discount o. halt o; these rates, which,
for these distances, makes the postage imperative
ly cheap.
these are some of the advantages resulting to
newspapers and periodicals from the present law;
ard with could go on furthsr r, and describe many
more, but am compelled to say that for long die
ienees the rates on newspapers are enormously
high and on transient newspapers and printed mat
ter, the tax amounts Gas IL was intended by thoss
who framed the substitute,) almost to prohibit
ton Livery press in the Union should speak out
oas to be heard and felt in denounciDg this outra-
ecus tex upon the diffusion Of knowledge, and
Thousands OF petitions sh 1uld be poured ,n.o Con
ress at the next session, to rep.si this Law, and
bcli,h the franking privilege ROWLAND HILL.