Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-03-26
WASHINGTON NEWS And GOSSIP.

duction of all postage rates In this county
which, IL carried out, will make our postai 40
partment little moro than an establishment to
serve everybody without charge; the expense
being borne by those who consume imported
goods, while the manufacturers Of American
goods are enabled to tax tho consumers of
their fabrics and wares higher, pro rata with
tho increased taxation on imported goods and
wares made necessary by tho increase in tho
cost of carrying on the Government to result
from increasing the cost of the Postal Dc
psrtment to the National Treasury. We are
opposed to this scheme, inasmuch as We are
for making the Post Office Department self
sustaining. Yet We are by no means opposed
to changes in the existing system of postal
chsrges-decreasing then-where so doing
will not be likely to decrease the departments
revenues.
Since October, 1851, the postal department
Of this Government has been cndeavoring to
induce Great Britain to lessen the charges for
the transportation of pamphlets and maya
zines across the Atlantic. To this end there
has been considera bic correspondence between
the Post Office authorities of Canada and tho
British (home) government on the one side,
and ours on the other, which has just been
published by order of Congress, as Senate Ex.
Doc, No. 81, I'd session, SD Congress. As
this document embraces the history of the
whole negotiation and controversy, we advise
all who are interested in the postage question
to obtain it.
The correspondence on our part was through
Postmasters General Hall, Hubbard and Camp.
bell, and Horstio King, Esq, now LIST As.
sistsnt Postmaster General. The proposition
on the part of the United States is clearly and
succinctly stated in the following extract from
letter from Postmaster General Campbell to
Viscount Canning, bearing date August "a,
1853:
"Deening it important that some improve.
ment should be effected affording better tacil.
tiles for the transmission of pamphlets (above
the weight OF two ounces) and magazines be-
tween tho United States and the United King
dom, beg leave to invite your attention to
the subject, and to make such proposition as
I venture to hope may be accepted
81 have examined the correspondence be-
tween my predecessor, Mr.. Hubbard, and Lord
Hardwicke touching this matter; and, pre.
missing that Mr.. Hubbard's objections to the
plan of book post proposed by Lord Hard
wicke in his communication Of 18th January
last appear to ne to DO conclusive against the
adoption Of such plan, I now propose tn at
the regulations established by the convention
Of 18th December, 1S4S, in respect to pamph
LET'S and magazines, be modified as follows,
viz:
For pamphlets Of the weight of two ounces
and under, let the rates fixed by said conven
ton remain the Same as at present; but for all
pamphlets weighing more than two, and not
exceeding eight ounces, and magazines weigh
ing not over sixteen ounces, let the rate be one
cent an ounce, or fraction Of an ounce, instead
1f four cents, on either side, the right being
reserved to either party to return to the ex-
listing arrangement On six months notice to
the other of such intention.
II propose no restriction in respect to dis
TANGO, because 1 am DESTROYS of doing away
entirely with the objections urged BY Lord
uardWicko.
Il would remark, that have recently made
an order reducing the postage on pamphlet
/ and magazines to all foreign eoun .ries, exceI,
l Great Britain and the west coast of South
America, to the uniform rate of ono cent az
| ounce"
| The proposition On the part of the British
Government, made by the Marquis of Clanri
cards on the 10th of October, 1851, is as fol.
lows:
| LIST. That every packet containing a print.
| ed book, magazine, review or pamphlet, should
be charged according to the following scale
when not exceeding half pound in weight
Cd; when exceeding half o pound, and no
exceeding one pound, Is; when exceeding on,
pound and not exceeding two pounds, 2s.; anC
so on, increasing one shilling for every add
tional fraction CT pound.
I'd. That every packet should be sent with
out cover, or in cover open at the ends o,
Sides
81. That it should contain one volume only
the several sheets or parts thereof, wher,
together
Attn. That it should not exceed two feet il
length, breadth, width or depth.
ON. lhat II should have no writing or mark.
upon the cover, or its contents, except th.
name and address of the person to whom il
l may be sent
| 9th That the postage should be prepaid in
iqll, and that as respects packets posted in the
united hiogdom, this payment should be ef-
fected by affixing outside the packet on its
cover the proper number Of stamts.
I'm. That If any Of the above conditions be
violated the packet should be charged as let.
i ter.
o:h That in order to prevent any obstacles
TO the regular transmission of letters, any
officer OF tho post Office should be authorized
to delay the transmission Of any such packe,
Tor time not exceeding twenty four hours
from the time at which the same would other
wise have been forwarded by him.
9Th. That the total amount of postage paid
upon each packet, one third should be consid.
cred to represent the inland British rate, one
third sea rate, and the remaining third the
United States inland rate, and that the sea
rate should belong to that country which effec.
ted the marine conveyance.
1t will be perceived that the main object OF
the British proposition was to obtain the fres
ingress Of British books into this country in
the mails, at mere nominal postage charge
nearly two-thirds of which they would take to
themselves; inasmuoh as they would take due
care to send them hithsrward in thoir OWL
steamships, as they send all British letter.
coming to New York, as far as possible. 1,
will be recollected that the number Of Amer
lean books sent to England is inconsiderable
VI a aAF.Nr~