The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-02-28

Unltc0 Dtau0o ana OFca9 0kStoA0s
|. A correspondence has recently taken place be-
tween Mr.. Hubbard, the Postmaster General at
Washington, and the nobeman occupying similar
position at London, with respect to modification of
the rates of postage charged ON pamphlets and Pc
radicals transmitted between the two countries.
The suggestion first came from Mr.. Hubbard.
Under date of December 10th he wrote to the Earl
of Hardwick, stating that the high postage tax on
periodical literature is cause of much complaint, and
proposing to reduce the rate to one cent an ounce,
where four cents are now charged, II the British
Office would consent to like Reduction, thereby
lowering the combined rate to two cents an ounce
on all printed matter over the weight of two ounces.
No change to be made in the postage rates of
pamphlets under that weight.
The English Postmaster General replied under
date of the 2sth OF Jasuary that two objections oc-
CURED TO him as Obstacles to the proposed measure
first that the ps~posed scale contained such a
number of gradations would be productive of loss
of time and OF error in fixing the charge; and Sc
condly that the amount of postage chargeable
on publications OF light weight would be 80 low
as to lead to their fraudulent use as substitutes
for letters and he also considered that the arrange
ments proposed by his predecessor, the Marquis of
Canrcarde offered much greater advantages to both
countries. That was, that every printed book when
not exceeding half pound in weight should be
charged twelve cents and for every additional half
pound, twelve cents. The postage he further stated,
was established between the United Kingdom and
most of the British colonies.
Under date of February "a Mr. Hubbard respond
ed. He did not think that instances of fraud would
be augmented by the proposed reduction, as the
facilities exist under the present arrangement
with respect to light pamphlets and newspapers.
The objections to the British plan the same now
as had formerly existed Some of these objections
are recounted by Mr.. Hubbard, as follows =
" A pamphlet which may now be sent for four
cents, would under the proposed substitute scale be
subject to postage of twelve cents (6d)
!" The rates as proposed, would be much lower in
many if not in most cases, than what the present
tariff law of the United States requires to be paid on
books imported from England; and, according to the
report of the Secretary of the Treasury the value Of
books annually exported from Great Britain is not
less than $500 ,000 while the value of those sent
from the United States probably does not exceed
S. 900. Moreover we have good reason to suppose
that much the larger part of this kind Of matter
would. be transported in British steamGrs-eaving,
therefore, but small share Of the postage to the
United States Even in the Of letters this dis
proportion in the size of the mails from Great Britain
is too apparent to escape observation. For instance
| have now before me report from the New York
office, of the number of letters received at that Office
from Great Britain and Ireland by twelve successive
arrivals lately, (six the Cunard and six on the
Collins line,) showing the following results, viz:
BY the Cunard line, six mails 13l 1927 letters.
g Collins q 80. 81 $50