New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-05-14
STAMPED ENVELOPE FIGHT-TIIE POSTMASTER
GENERAL AND ENVELOPE MAKERS.

GENERAL AND ENNELOIE- MAhERS.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR: 1t appears from the showing of a Wash
ngton correspondent of Of your cotemporares that
the dissatisfaction of some OF the envelopenakers with
the late award of the sampedenyelope contract by the
Postmaster out OF the preference shown
by the latter for that form of the letter envelope
bining the improvement known as the black lines This
writer says:
The original eeroyer thus improved years ago presented
to the Department candidate for the reception of the
boss stamp had it, claims recommend and thereafter issued
proposals supply stamped envelopes during the the
controlled nearly one Of the
ter Of patent night and 1ooy can supply without The consent Of the
1S %n % S ~ & Of New VI" Ca1 wa, the Lowest s
tract as offering the most advantageous bid .--,-,,,
With this award The defeated bidders Cor this contract are dissatisfied
and have held convention to protest against it, and possible
duce Congress TO interfere.
The bidders for the supply of the old ordinary letter
envelope think that the principle of this award should
have been reversedthat the lowest bidder for the
lined instead of the lined envelope should have had the
contract But these professors if not blinded by their
interests, would perceive that this principle Of
award would exclude all consideration Of new improve
ments and H. therefore, against the public interest
well the uniform policy OF the Government. That
the addition OF the lines to the letter envelope is an i'm
provement is proposition which, but for the bunder
ing attempts OF the predecessors Of the present Post
master General to introduce IT, would be recognized
selfevdent. Had the inventor, instead Of dedicating
Office Department, introduced 1t among the people, 1t
would now be as universally used as ruled paper
AS an assistant TO millions OF correspondents in
cutting legibe direction, and guide TO all I'm prop
ery locating the direction the envelope, it Ia inya
able Its general would reduce the expenses
of the P0st-Once Department 10 the tune Of millions per
annum, while 1t would effect a much larger saving to
correspondents.
Having once served in the capacity OF deputy post
master can write from experience. certify that
Gals Is Consumed in deeiphesDg aPot ieeipe dr p
TONS not ufrequenty rendered entirely by the oblt
nv tb. afflis.
direction, because the latter has occupied the entire
superficial area OF the envelope
All this trouble 10 officials and the often serious con-
sequences tocorespondents, might beayoded and some
thing done for the fine arts besides by the general Of
hope. therefore, that the Postmaster will act
consistently IN the premises, and instruct postmasters
those with the new Improvement Of the lines except
where the odfashoned article is specially called for
deputies, was formerly done by Postmaster Holt, he
VIII at once Introduce and popularle this invention.
let them not the Postmaster too hard lest
he carry The war int Africa He has only to the
nson, that the stamped envelope he sold nj the same
rates as the stamps that is that the postal envelope be
aud "Othelo's occupation is gone" Every lady would
OF course use the stamped envelope instead the stamp
doing! in other words they would buy Of the Govern
eht Instead OF the envelope makers such proposition
Napoleons pf,btsciium. II submitted 10 Congress mo
member would dare to vote Nay and aerward face his
~
PIE tht hc advantage accrtng To the postal services
IRON the use OF stamped envelopes would more than
compensate Tor the donation. This IL
NIabr sword OF Patroces suspended heads OF
hc chveloe inhnufaeturrrs and they would do we'll To
watch its gyrntions with fear and trembling
No dOuit III would De u nice affair for some OF tbe
leaders IN TINS movement 10 procure the abroguton OF
stamped envelopes and get rid OF the Government com
petition In the trade They could then raise the price OF
letter envelopes ana realize fine speculation as did the
paper makers a few years the occasion Of thc
passage OF high tarin for their benefit But IL is the
duty of the Postmaster Gene raj TO the rates Of
postage not indirectly raised Ia people Nv sch
combinations and he will doubt discharge his duty Ia
the public In the premises. ENJ
AeU- York, May IL. 1850