Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-12-01

Ieit but resort 20 demonstration By figures.
as hss been already stated. the deficiency Tor
the last yesr has been reduced to 1854, liz %
accurate accounts Of the cost OF free matter
dispatched through the mails were ordered 10
be kept by All rostnssters, for the six months
beginning Ist January, and ending 3oth June
last, and the returns which have been received
are now beng arranged and tsb2lated fer sub
mission 10 Congress Enough is known 20 en-
sbie those who are moot familiar with the work
10 express the opinion that the actual returns
VIII show the aggregate cost or free matter for
me year TO be fully equal 20 the sbove-men-
TONED deficiency. NV anxiety TO make The
department self sustaining arises from a strong
utsIe 10 reduce, egaalize, and make uniform
The rates OF postage. fletteF postage could be
reduced from three 20 two cents Am sure that
me increased correspondence thereby stimu-
lated would IN few years compensate for any
temporary loss of revenue, and that MANY mis-
takes and Nexaj!ous delays would be avoided hv
the uniform rate FOR all distances which yould
thus be established. 1 DESPAIR, however of Sc
curing any further reduction OF letter postage
as long as the Thanking privilege shall he per
mit'ed 10 inlose upon the Department an ir
Tsmediable deficiency.
lt is not intended tointimate that there should
ne an increase OF postage on newspapers. On
the contrary, IT is the duty 81 government. ~
part OF its work OF benencence, TO aid in the
education and elevation OF the people by carry
ing newspapers a. Cheaply as possible and hence
! am of opinion that the present rates are not
TOO low. Nor DO l object to the tree tranSpOr-
tatlOn OF newspapers 10 regular subscri bers in
the counties of their publication, a now author
lTed 10y law. Their conveyance without charge
does not inter fere With the speedy and regular
transmission OF the mails. They are usually
dispatched AZ the county towns, and alHavs
stop within the boundaries of their own conn
ties. They are So evenly distributed over the
whole country that practically they cause no
inconvenience. or injury. OF delay. There il
hat one change that I deem desirable in The
treatment .! newspapers, and that applies only
10 those sent 10 points outside the counties OF
their publication. ! wOGld REQUIRE the post
age on printed matter. in all cases, 70 be pre-
PAID by stamps. The law allowing tie pos tagu
To be paid in money by subscribers Al the oHca
theory OF post Office management, aud sub ects
The del artmeI 10 heavy losses.
CORRESPONDENTS CARDS.
My attention has been directed 10 the new
system OF " correspondence" or post cards
lately adcrted Icy North Germany and by Great
Britain Tor Facilitating letter correspondence,
and already extensively nsed in those countries.
1hcse cards are made OF good siiti' paner OF
convenient form and size. The iron; or face OF
tie card - ruled ter the insertion of the address
ard bears the post Office stamp. On the reverse
eide there Is room for . short letter or message
which may be printed or written in pencil or
ink. They require no folding or envelope, are
SPEC ally adapted ior circulars OF short comma
nieatiOns, and are furnished 10 the public az the
value o. the postage stamp impressed upon
them, which Is i'm Great Britain half penny
being One-half the established inland letter rate
OF POSTAGE. The advantages claimed by their
use consist in increased CELEBRITY and ease OF
business and social mterc0mmunication, hy de
peDsing with much of the ordinary epistolary
form and appliances. and by having ALWAYS al
hand, ready for use al any moment-in the
street, or q tourrey, or in places where len
ink. paper, and envelopes are not accessible OF
readily Obtainable-tbe essentials Tor a letter.
For many messages where the telegram * now
u>ed-SEch as orders, invitations, inquiries. or
other requirements OF business or social life
these cards would ne welcomed by the public
a. a simple, inexpensive, and convenient me nS
OF intercourse. They would create a new pC .tzI
business, augment the number Of corresT 0nd-
ents, aid greatly multiply the occasions and
employment OF ~ e cards would be beneficial
to the public, and result in "A large increase OF
c0TTespOI denCe. I respectfully recommend
that au'hoIi,y be given by law Tor their intro
duction into our pC>'al seryi"e, Al the rate Ul
one cent each, including the cost Of the card
- first step IOWA q general reduction OF ouI
domestic letter postage.
CnDlTH At .UE or TRF POSTAL LAWS.
he bill Ito revise. consolidate. and amend
the statutes relating TO the Post ONCE Depart
ment, introduced az the last session ny Hon
John r. Farnsworth, and referred TO fie Com
mittee on the Post Office and Post Roads OF the
House OF Representatives. IL recommended "a
tile favorable consideration anu action of Con
gTess. He contideTs 1t very important to pass
thie code AT The commencement OF the next Ses
SION OF Congress, in order that. IL any additional
legislation may be found necessary to perfect
as practical operation, Il NAV be secured before
the close Of the session. He also refers TO the
unavoidable accumulation Of copper and nickel
COINS IL the post offices OF the country, and as a
remedy he recommends the enactment of q iavy
authorizing postmasteTs to transmit their sur
pins copper and nickel coins. sums OF $50 au,l
upwards, TO the Treasurer OF the United States,
or 10 the nearest assistant treasurer or deposit
tory OF public moneys, and TO take credit there
for for account OF the Post Office Depa -tment
the expense of Transmission 70 Ice borne our of
the general Treasury"