Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1870-12-15

drawn against credits during the last year were S34
81. The of 5 $50 go 50 was transferred by
Postmasters from the postage 10 the money ordef
account to enable them to meet orders presented
am thoroughly satisfied that II the Thanking
privilege were repealed the department IN saou
ZION has heretofore been warmly denied. Ihe oe.
nciercy for the past year has been reducec 20 $s.
s4 l16.S. An accurate account OF the cost oi nee
matter dispatched through the mails was ordered
to be kept by all PostmasteTe for six months. be-
ginning January and ending June 30 last, and re-
turns are now being received. Enough Is Known
to enable an opinion to be expressed that the nc
tnal returns will show the actual cost OF free mat
ter to be fully equal to all the deficiency The
fs n.d aa nv rs half Of he year when few sec
tons were held, and when only small poruon
Of the public documents are transmitted; Should
the amount Of ranked matter be actually aseer
tanned during the Presidential canvass and sub
jected to the came postage AZ Ike matter sent by
private persons am sure that the average cost
her wear would be greatly enhanced. My anxiety
to make the department selfsustaining, arises
from strong desire TO reduce ana make UNI
form rates OF postage in 1871. The amount de'
rived from letter postage was 80, sSs a.
332. 90, and yet the weight and bulk OF news
paper mails are at least ten times greater than
those of letter mails. This shows that, while news
papers are charged much less than. the cost OF
their transmission, letters are charged much more
and in fairness letters should be reduced in pest
hermit II letter postage could be reduced from 3
to cents am sure that the increased correspond
ence thereby stimulated would, In few years,
compensate for any temporary loss OF revenue,
and that many vexatious losses would be avoided
by q uniform rate for all distances, which would
thus be established; but despair OF securing any
further reduction of letter postage so long as the
franking privilege shall be imposed upon this de.
partment 1t is not intended to intimate that there
should be an increase Of postage on newspapers.
On the contrary, it Is the duty OF the Government
to aid in the education of the people by carrying
newspapers as cheaply as possible, and hence am
OF opinion that the present rates are not TOO low,
nor do object to the free transportation OF news
| papers to regular subscribers III the counties OF
| their publication. AS now authorized by law,
their conveyance without charge does not inter.
fere with the speedy and regular transmission OF
the mails There IL but one change that deem
advisable in the treatment of newspapers, and
that applies only to those sent to points outside OF
the county where published. would require pos.
tage on printed matter in all 10 be paid by
stamps The law allowing postage to be paid In
money by subscribers at the office of delivery. i
departure from the accepted theory of Post Office
management, and only subjects the department to
heavy losses. q t.,
The Postmaster General earnestly recommends
the adoption, early in the session of Congress, OF
the bill introduced by Mr.. Farnsworth, TO revise
consolidate and amend the statutes relating TO the
Post Office Department.
The new postage regulations, and the accumula
ton of copper and nickel coins in Post Offices. re-
ceve some attention 10 the report. He respectfully
recommends the establishment OF the postal card
system of which much hes been said. and advo
Gates II by the usual arguments. He advises that
the rate be fixed AT cent intending cost OF card
first step toward general reduction OF iettei
postage. ...#.t