Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1856-01-17
Chr IlalIp Spp.
THURSDAY. JANUARY II, 1886,
POSTAL REFORM.


adoption Of the present rate Of postage, excess
of expenditure over the receipts of the De-
partment, has been the subject of complaint
in every annual report of the Postmaster Gen.
ersl, and some have even recommended re-
turn TO higher rates. But We are rejoiced to
perceive that in his late report, for the present
yeur, the Postmaster General calls attention
to the real cause of the deficiency and pro-
poses remedy of the right sort, and that is
q redaetion of the franking privilege. We
know of but one Recommendation which
would be better. aud that is, an entire abOli-
zion Of it. As long as it exists it will be
grossly perverted, and its continuance only
serves as drawback against realization, BY
the people, of the benefits sought to be ex-
tended in the act Of March 8, 1851, which es-
tablished the present rates.
The amount of matter sent through the
mails, upon which the Departments get not a
cent and from which the people receive
very lneagre proportionate benefit, is enor-
nous. Now it must be remembered that it
costs just as much per pound to convey over
the country the hundreds of tons and cart
loads Of Congressional document and other
free mail matter, the great bulk Of which is
suffered to remain. unopened. to cucumber
the apartments Of the recipients, as it does to
transport matter of live importance to the
public.
All this is evidently wrong. Let the whole
De paid for, by whomsoeyer sent, in proper
ton to its weight or bulk, and We shall see
reform inaugarated in our postal system, from
which 1t only the people would receive an
equal and general benefit, but from the oper-
alton of which there would be no grumbling
by the government officers, on account of the
excess OF expenditure over receipts. Sach
system would pay. aud become permanently
established policy, when once commenced. 1t
is well known that system of this kind has
been in operation in Great Britain for fifteen
years, and the workings of it have been ad
mirable. There, every government officer,
even the Queen herself, is Obliged to pay for
every item of matter received or sent through
the mails. The result IS, hat the receipts
greatly exceed the expenses, and the depart
ment yields large annual income to the gov
eminent, and such would be the inevitable re-
suit, if sim lar wise plan were adopted in
this country. There, it must be recollected,
the universal rate FOR letter postage is but one
penny.
1t has been estimated that the amount of
free matter which has passed through the
mails during the fourteen years from 1874 to
1855, if paid for, at the established rates.
would have yielded an average revenue of
two million dollars annually, or nearly thirty
millions Of dollars during that whole period,
during whit Oh time the expenses OF the De-
partment have exceeded its income about nine
millions of dollars. Thus, if that same
amount Of matter which has gone free had
been paid for, there would have been a sur
plus in the revenue from postal operations,
during the last fourteen years, of twenty-one
millions of dollars. 1t is entirely within the
boundsof reason to suppose, that enough Of
THE matter would have been transmitted, if
charged at the regular rates. to have brought
up the receipts at least to level with the
expenses. And there is no earthly reason
why, with prudent management the Depart
ment may not net handsome profit from its
operations. with the cheap postage system, by
. doing away with the ranking privilege, as
well in this country as in monarchy across
the water. The Boston Journal, we are hap.
Ply to see. has the following judicious aud
we'll timed remarks on this point:
1t is a remarkable fact. that while the pop
ulation Of Great Britain is now about the
same as that of the Uaited States. and while
only about one-half of her adult population
can read and write, the number of letters that
pass through her Post Office are in the pro
portion of nearly four TO one that of the mum
Ler passing through the United States Post
Office. viz: British Post Office, 443 GAS, Dol
United States Post Office, lis. 634. AIS letters
for the year 1854. The number of letters
circulated through the English Post Office IN
four years, namely, lS5l-2-3-4, was greater,
astounding ash may appear. than has been cir
culated through the United States Post Ofice
fran the time Of its establishment an 1870 to
the end Of 1854 The annual increase per
cent in the number of letters in England is
much greater than in the United States, al
though the increase per cent in population is
vastly greater in this country than in Eng
land. Why then this great disparity in the
number of letters, which forms their cores
pondences Is it not, plainly, because of the
difference in the working oil the two systems
one doing all it can TO facilitate correspond
enee, while the other merely drags along, a
quarter OF a century bel ind the age:
Is il not time for the people to wake up and
send their petitions to Washington, for re.
form which shall give the citizens Of this
country the same postal facilities that are en-
joyed in Englands
The boon Of cheap postage is regarded by
the people Of England as the brightest and best
they have received from government during
the reign If Queen Victoria; aud vet all these
facilities TO correspondence have been afford.
ed. and revenue derived to government over
expenses, Of nearly II millions Of dollars.--
The gross receipts Of 1854 were Si3 ,5O9,3I3.
Expenses $7,53278l Leaving reyeaue to
government Of IS 1915, 532.
Such system Ia this country would be in
valuable. ls It not time to ask Congress to
grant us this boom We want uniform rates
Of postage on letters, newspapers, and other
printed matter, free delivery, aud the aboli-
ton Of the franking privilege. These inn
paovemenfs the people will have ultimately.
Jasper Cope, an aged member of the Socie-
" Of Friends. in Philadelphia, died suddenly
In meeting, on tho 10th instant. He belong
ed to family distinguished for their enter
prise as merchants, for their benevolence, and