The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-05-17

a.see By u. j. THonAs j. 4. pxsr wm. H. rnosAs, ?. %
YKisst g. NJ 4. wssaAS. A. L. CmirDs, and Dr. VIZ iH"fS
Receipts Of eitber wiz be good.
PAMPHLET AND MAGAZINE POSTAGE BETWEEN
THE UNITED STATES AND GREAT BRITAIN.
In bis late report as Postmaster General of Great Britain
RETIRING to statement in Postmaster General Camp
bells last annual report on this subject Lord Canning
marks
.As to the statement that the British government ha,
refused to consent reduction in the postage pamphlets
aud magazines will suffice refer to communication
subject made the Post Office Of the United States by
my direction April last and given In the appendix, by
which will be that the British has not
only shown readiness In OF this kind,
but had previously proposed though without smuch
comprehensive arrangement than that referred to-
Believing that with ourselves the public would be in
teresed what this comprehensive arrangement
is and how the stands between the two countries
we have pains carefully the correspond
upon the subject which published at length in SEN
No 81 of last session and proceed
that proposition Of the British government which was
FIRST made under date of the 10th October 1851 SUBJ
stsntially as follows:
lst That every packet containing printed book maya
zine, review orpaphie should be charged according the
following scale when not exceeding half pound in weight
Cd; when exceeding half pound, and exceeding
pound, Isl when exceeding pound and exceeding
pounds, 2s; and increasing shilling for every
additional pound or fraction OF pound
I'd. That every packet should be sent without cover
cover open at the ends or sides.
ID. Iar It should contain single volume only the
era sheets parts thereof where there
being sewed or bound together
ith. That it should not exceed two feet in length
BREADTH width, or depth.
5th. That it should hare writing marks upon
cover its CONTENTS the and address of
person TO whom 1t may be sent
6th That the postage should be prepaid in full, and
sr AL
should be effected by axing outside the packet
its cover, the proper number of stamps.
'7th That any of the above conditions be violated the
packet should be charged as letter.
sth That In order to prevent any obstacles the regu
lar transmission OF letters any officer the post
should be authorized to delay the transmission Of any such
packet for time exceeding twenty -four hours from the
which the would otherwise have been forwarded
by him.
9th That OF tho total amount of postage paid upon each
packet onehd should be considered represent the inland
British rate, onehird the rate, and the remaining third
the United States inland rate and that the should
belong to that country which effected the marine convey
ance."
This proposition was declined by the then Postmaster
General, Judge Hall, mainly for the stated Isl,
that it would the postage pamphlets of the weight
of two and under from four twelve each
3D. that the equal division Of the inland postage would not
be just and Sd, that matter and from Oregon and
California, particularly while the United States would re-
oeye but eight cents pound the isthmus transportation
alone would cost Twenty-Five cents pound.
The British Office replied urging the advantages of the
book post but proposed modification Of their original
proposition except that they willing
creased United States inland all books &C. trans
mtted over 5000 miles in this country
Judge Hall responded, reterating bis first objections
and giving from Mcssrs Harper Brothers and
Leonard Scott booksellers the postmaster of Boston, and
the Secretary of the Treasury going show that the
advantages of the proposed arrangement would
almost wholly to Great Britain Among other objections
it contended part that the rates proposed for
books would be much in many if not in most cases.
than what tariff law required be paid on books i'm
ported from England and as, according to the statement
of the Secretary Of the Treasury the value Of books
ally exported from Great Britain the United States was
less than $5oOooO while the value Of those sent from
this country England did exceed 5ooo it was APP
parent that in this regard the principal benefit be de-
rived from the arrangement would be enjoyed by British
booksellers at expense
Soon after the late Postmaster General Mr. Hubbard
came into Office, the 10th Of December 1852 he made
proposition 10 the British Postmaster General Lord
Hardwcc the effect that the rate for pamphlets and
magazines should be reduced one cent an ounce 1.-THE
ounces either Side thus bringing the whole CON-
bined down to two cents ounce except that no
change should be made in respect works over
miles in the United States
This the British Office declined for reasons which will
hereafter appear, and again urged the adoption Of their
book post Mr. Hubbard repeated the objections given by
his predecessor and with reference to the fact that most
of the books carried would be from England he remarked
that
eve have good suppose that much the larger
part of this kind Of matter would be transported British
leaving, therefore, but small share the post
age the United States Even In letters this
dpropoton in the size Of the mails from Great Britain is
too apparent to escape observation. For instance have
now before report from the New York Office Of the num-
Der OF letters received At that Office from Great Britain and
Ireland by twelve successive arrivals lately (six on the Gu
nard and six the Collins ne) showing the following re-
suit, viz
-, Letters.
BY the Cunard line, six mails IsI s27
BY the Collins line, six mails Al s3s
Difference in favor Of Cunard line So 1891
The British Office still declined and here the matter
rested un'l some months after Judge Campbell came into
Office when he again called attention it by the follow
ing letter
Posr Orrrcr DEPARTMENT
Washington, August "a 1858.
SIN Deeming IL important that improvc should
DC effected aording better facilities for the transmission Of
pamphlets taoove the weight Of two ounce) magazines