The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-06-17

OFFicE MERCHANTS MAGAZINE,
New York June IA 1883


New York, June IA. 1883
To lhs Editor ofihe .Mw York TRIBUNE:
SIR: take the liberty OF enclosing copy OF letter
from the Postmaster General, in reply TO note ad-
dressed 10 him. touching the rates OF postage pamph-
let's and magazines As the information contained in hi.
letter is OF importance 10 the public generally as
well 10 the popreoTs OF such works It's publication
in the columns OF your Journal will not. perhaps, be
without interest 10 your readers.
1t will be by the letter of the Postmaster General
that the postage to Liverpool magazine Of the weight
OF the Merchants (6 ounces amounts TO ue dollars and
seuens,1 cents per annumthat is euentys'I cents more
than The subscription price OF the magazine Now. the
freight on barrel of flour, weighing 1876 pounds from
New York TO Liverpool, seldom exceeds twenty five
cents while The postage magazine OF SIX ounces 10
Nv eny- four cents. II bulky articles like barrel OF flour
be transported with benefit TO the shipper at low
rate, il not reasonable TO suppose that publications.
charged propoItionately low, would likewise pay profit
Your friend and servant FREEMAN HUNT.
PosT OFFICE DEPARTMENT.,
June Q. 1853
SIR: Your letter of the 2slh ult is before me- The
postage tables &c, desired by you, forwarded 10
your address a day or two ago.
In speaking OF the high rate OF postage pamphlets
and magazines to and from England you remark thai
she postage on a magazine of the weight of the Mer
chants &c ounces) "a CENTS and this You appear
regard the full postage to It's destination On look
ing al The postage tables referred to- however, you
will observe that Jour Gents
ounee where the weight exceeds two ouncesJ is only
United States postage; and that all such works are
subject to the rate as an additional charge, IN Eng
land Therefore, the entire annual postage monthly
periodical exceeding six ounces IN weight, sent TO
rec eived from England, IS 49, This is in accordance
with the s,pulaons of the postal treaty OF 18th Dece-
ber lS4S, between the United States and Great Britain
Ii true, either party has right to reduce It's post
age, and until postage act OF Sd OF March, 1851 went
ntoYeec raising the rates OF postage, the United States
charge on pamphlets and magazines 10 or from Great
Britain was but cent ounce. The British gov
ernnIent still keeping their charge up to four cents
ounce the United States rate under the act OF 1851 has
been permitted TO stand unchanged.
In December last the attention OF the British post office
was drawn TO this subject and the proposal made BY
this department to reduce the postage pamphlets and
magazines 10 one cent an ounce or traction OF
on either side that The combined rate should be bu
two cents an ounce. This proposition the British Office
generally in operation between the United Kingdom and
British colonies The details OF this plan are given in
circular of the British post Office copy OF which en-
close herewith In extending this book post the Uni
ted States they proposed that the postage be divided
follows The British Office 10 receive two-hirds and the
should be by British packets and the United States Office
two-thirds and the British third, when the Atlantic
conveyance should be by United States packets. This
proposition, which fret made in October, 1851.
declined by Judge Hall and Mr. Hubbard my predeces.
sors in Office for reasons which deem conclusive.
intend to take up this subject OF magazine postage 10
England for further and more particular consideration
the earliest day practicable and shall do all my power
to induce the British office TO agree to reduction.
have already made order reducing the the con
linen,, &c 10 two cents ounce.
| Your obedient servant,
| JAMES CAMPBELL,
| Postmaster General
To FREEMAN HUNT, esq.