Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1851-10-31
ADDRESS OF TIE BOSTON CHEAP
POSTAGE ASSOCIATION.

! Postage, on the principles announced by Mr..
Rowland Hill, OF England, and adopted by the
! British Governmentin the year Of l840. Adop-
! ting Mr.. Hills conclusions, we sought TO obtain
| from Congress the same rate Of letter postage,
two cents for half-ounce letter, without regard
| to distance, and corresponding reduction TO a
! uniform rate IN the postage on newspapers. We
confidently expected that Cheap Postage as thus
defined, would not only call forth prodigious
! increase of correspondence, with all the educa-
| tonaI and other benefits Of such intellectual ac-
tyity, but would also be sure 10 produce great
Improvement in the administration of the Post
office, by abolishing the ranking privilege with
all its train of abuse and absurdties, by favor
ing much greater simplicity in management,
by increasing the disposition of the department
to promote the convenience of the people, both
in the number and speed OF mails, and in provid-
ing for the free collection and distribution OF both
mali and drop letters in large towns.
Through the publications of this Society and
others, the public mind was enlightened on the
subject, facts and figures were presented, argu-
ments were argued, difficulties were explained
and objections answered, until the people were
generally satisfied of the entire practib;lity and
wisdom Of the pro posed reform. Petitions were
poured in upon Congress, almost beyond prec-
edent for numbers, and nearly all in favor of two
cents postage. But Congress refused to Weld
to the popular demand, and at length passed the
Act of 1851, as a substitute for that which the
people had required.
The Act of 1851, did not conform to the prin-
cpcs which we deemed essential: neither has
ii teen attended by the good effects which we an
ticipated from a bll properly framed.
BY adopting three cents as the rate, (lnStead
OF two cents we propoard.) the Act Of 1851
in iii iat rnr aba,-a
the Just rate and ibis oncrous tax is imposed
for The purpose Of covering the expenses OF the
ranking privilege, which it retains to the full
extent, and of other gratutious advantages which
II grants to iaVUrt q CLASSES.
In place OF uniform rate, irrespective of dis
lance. it doubles and tnpes the rate for certain
distances, thus imposing an unjust burden Oh
the people OF Oregon and California, when by the
popularity OF their situation they ought rather to
have been favored than amerced.
The plan Of newspaper postage is still more
complicated and embarrassing, having, it is said
thiuy-cght different rates OF postage on news
papers, many Of them fractional parts Of cent,
which Is impossible To pay in coin.
The rate on transient newspapers is practical
" rrohihl0ry, and it has suppressed nearly all
circulation of intelligence by newspapers, cX-
cept to Subscribers of three months or over
al tll' tl'tsS VI U''lith ''ltICt, VI 81! llNN. O
social intercourse, of political and general in
formation, so far as they depend on the gratultous
circulation Of newspapers among the people .are
pat under the ban. In politics the people are to
have 10 Information but that which they seek
and pay for subsCribers-saye only such as
may b, dealt out uu Ter the Congressional frank
The inequalities, also, OF the present scale OF
newspaper postage are quite remarkable.
One OF our largest news papers, sent from Bos-
ton TO Cambridge, costs three cents; from Boa-
ton TO St. PetershUrgh, in Russia, four cents;
from Boston to Richmond six cents; to Calves
ton nine, to California fifteen cents.
Thenow law neither ab,,ishes frankng nor
establishes free delivery or needed conyrnienccs
in the large towns, no, inspires spirit Of accom-
mediation and baratv in the department. On
the contrary. the numerous questions as to the
construction of the Act, have been systcmaticaI-
" decided against the people and in favor of ex-
action and rjIor.
In behalf Of the friends Of cheap posage, we
di,c,aim ard reject this law, as in no respect
what we a ~kpd for, bat aniil-iranpd substitute
Let those be responsible for its working who de-
vj,ed it. 1t is not the cheap postage which the
people so loudly dcmandod-but is u thing who'll
is different and unsatisfactory.
The Act of 1851, has now been in operation
through one quarter; and its Inconvenience
have been so far developed in practice, Is to pro-
duce widespread complaints, and general con-
vicii"n NAT the flrSt business OF the new Con-
grcss will be to amend the law.
"a TINS account we seize me present occasion
to declare our ophoh concerning "iiat ooEh'
10 b. done. Two points appear to US TO be clear
" established:
|. Itat no halfway amendment ol THIS law
VIII make II satisfactory to the people
:. l nat the charge onght 70 oe SIN more rad
icaI than winch We formerly advocated.
We are now satisfied that the rate. irrespective
Of distance, when prepaid with stamps, should
be one cent per half oUrce tor Letters, and one
cent each for newspapers of every size; with
provision that The stamps Tor newspapers should
be sold Tor nifty cents per hundred II VIII Dc
for Congress 70 decide what RUE ,hai o. ad'P-
ted with regard to ooth letters ana newspapers
that are not prepaid. But the perfect "oTNng
of the system requires that all hostages should
be prepaid.
Athourh tits not certain that this plan will en-
able the po,t-otfice to support itself. without px-
ponse to the treasury, we are satisfied at it will
answer the purpose of securing a proper admin
r-tralInn of the poSt-ofico department. and that
whatever expense 1t may throw npon the treasu-
~. ~Il b. money well spent for the security OF
the Union. and for the diffusion OF knowledge
and ha5 pin"ss among the people.
And n he nenp|a 0t Great Britain and Ireland