The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-09-12
THE EEVISION OF POSTAL RATES.
Whom the Doubling Of Letter Dues Mostly AZ
fec.s- The Public To Be Punished for Care
less Posting Of Missives-Love and
Lucrs the Greatest Incentives
in Letter Writing.

For many years, In fact since the early youth OF
Uncle SAM the greatest trouble his servants in che
mail service has been the carelessness OF the public
in the sending OF letters and other mssves through
the post The bother thus originated has given
employment to very large number of attaches
whose labors might otherwise be dispensed with,
and thus cause SO much less expenditure from the
national Golfers and the pockets of the people. The
Post Ofice has never been what Yankees could call
"a paying institution" even in the good old days
when it cost twenty cents TO send a haltounce OF
manuscript score of miles. To support the cheap
system of letter carriage in vogue has required
a constant drain on the funds OF the Department
over and above its earnings; and while various de-
signs have been proposed mono have been found
practicable enough to remedy
THE CHRONIC EVIL.
The present head OF the Department in Washing
ton, however, has originated some determined
measures which seem, at least, Of such character
as to attain the end of economy. As far as they
affect the convenience Of the public there are two
lights upon the subject. 1t was limited yesterday
that the poorer classes could i'll afford to pay double
rates of postage on letters which they may receive
unprepaid. However, these classes-the great ma
jority OF the peOple-are not greatly addicted to
the naDf o anu
similar positions In business ana society they are
not likely to be heavily burdened by the payment
is received at any Post ONCE without at least one
stamp Its cover, so that wher 1t reaches its des
Un we @
carriage. Poor people write few business commun
cations few anq perhaps they write
The class WHEN aS WHITE Viii g. IN. hsreore, h most affected
by the altered rule Of the Post once Department i
the country, who can anord the additional xponse
large number of merchants are in the habit Of
they ssSS RsaF sss wS
paper proprietOrs are, perhaps. most interested,
because Of the frequent receipt OF youminGus
npon Of es s sE but fey sSSS @1
classes mad, ere yesterday become cognzanr at all
of its existence.
The following
THE L6w OF CONGRESS-
upon which the new postage order Is bascd:-
bH les than one 2ace rpaa By three
be collected on delivery. ''' ' Gan ''A'S' 70
similar rule exists In regard to foreign letters,
the ncreas: OF postage proportIoned, OF COURSE to
long time and has operated admirably. The ofIlcals
state that Il has caiised Great Abatement in the
generality Of the habit, common in the Old Coun-
General Jones was called upon yesterday after.
noon, and very courteousy offered what
FURTHER EXPLANATION
was in his power to reporter OF the HERALD.
What Is the object Of this innovation in the
postal rates, General T'
Il do not know what was the idea at Washing.
ton, but ] suppose 1t Is to remedy the trouble
which Is constantly occasoned us by the passage
Of letters through the mall upon which portion
Of the postage Is due"
"What class OF letter writer's does this new rule
most affect I"
"Wcll, sir, IL OF course affects
THE BUSINESS AND LITERARY COMMUNITY MOST.
IL Is, Think Intended as sort OF penalty for
failure to prepay full postage rates. At the same
time " viii pay the Department for the trouble Of
collecting the dues.n
"You have been in the habit for long time of
sending letters upon which the full rates were not
paid :"
ayes, sir; and have delivered them upon receipt
o..
THE ARREAR DUES
Thu innovation only insures the Department
compensation for enient interpret of the dead
letter law, which has never been rigdly enforced.n
"Are there many letters not fully prepaid re.
ceivcd at your 0fce now ~
"Oh, rot more than small percentage OF the
whole number OF letters; scarcely one per cent?
"What letters are most v0lumn0us General Y''
"Wcll between love letters and business letters
It Is hard to decide. Love and ucrc cost mankind
about the same amount OF trouble and brain work"
"ViUe pdm0urr'
The General laughed and responded, turning to
his desk,
swell, bon jourw