Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1873-12-04

privilege became operative on the list Of july last
Inv results OF me trst quarter of the current ven
are highly satisfactory, aud have fully verified m
predictions Of the friends Of the repeal me con
fusion ana delay in the distribution and transmits
sion of The mails. caused by suddenly thrn,vino
without notice or system. immense masses nf frT
matter upon important postal routes. have beer
femSdled mus making it possible TO effect a de
cIded Improvement in the ORGANIZATION and ,-sct;
I 4 al working Of the service
/ .Netca'lans OF The class heretofore printed aut
/ sen. olt ny order OF Congress have been almos
ensir, Y cut OF since The LIST Of July OF The relic
thus IL 'orded, some idea may be formed from III,
fact thl during the three months next preceding
that day. there were forwarded from The city oytI
I "a single ro,rte the Baltimore Il Ohio Railroad il
/ box ears In, dependent of The amount conveyed il
the regular IN all cars 6t5, 5eI pounds ~ spch pub
! cations. rs appears from returns of the aetna
weight thereof Jaken ly the company with germis
/ sion OF the Depar iment.
These facts, il ia respectfully submitted are am.
pie to suetain the opinion, given in the special RI.
! port TO Congress under dase Of JANUARY L., lS1l
that the cost of free matter u charged with the
regular rates of postage would amount to 81 Sl3,.
S2712'snnually; and it is hoped that they wiz be
deemed sufficient to prevent smy attempt 10 revive
an abuse which would impose the most greEous
burdens upon the postal service NJ time wsen
that service IL struggling 10 meet the growing
wants Of the country in its course of unparalleled
development.
NEWSPAPER POSTAGE.
In my report for 1869 had the honor to suggest
a plan for the prepayment OF postage news
papers and other matter OF the second class by
weight OF packages, rather than by The present
system, which requires the manipulation OF each
particular paper, and allows the payment Of post
age at either the mailing Office or the Office Of de-
| livery, A careful revision OF The subicct confirms
me III the opinion that the postage on all such
matter should be collected III advance at the mail
ing ONCE. Collections are now made with great
difficulty, and there Is no provision whatever by
which dishonesty or negligence can be detected
No stamps are used for the payment Of such post
trn fp,a 4 nall ia ugf ant
In full satisfaction whatever sums Of money post
masters choose 10 charge against themselves
So exccraby bad is this system that postal
officials of high standing have estimated
that not more than onc-hrd Of the postage prop
erly chargeable on newspapers il accounted for
and paid over. Furthermore Disputes are contin-
ually arising between Postmastcrs and publishers
as to whether the sheets they transmit
come within the meaning OF the term newspaper,
and as To the number Of their bona fde subscrib-
ers In the hope Of contributing 10 a more faith
full collection of hostages, the more prompt and
efficient transmission of newspapers the saving
OF labor in Post-otiices, and the general adyan-
tage, as well of the Department rs Of publishers
and their patrons | respectfully submit the fol
loving plan for prepayment of newspapers Of the
second.cass, and urge its adoption; Let all pub
fishers, or their business managers or ny ents, be
required, at the beginning OF every quarter, TO
state under oath that, after diligcnt inquiry they
are satisfied that they Will send in the mails to
regular subscribers during the coming quarter not
more than - copies of the newspaper known as
of newspaper and let them be further required to
pay IN advance the postage required by law taking
therefor duplicate receipts one of which shall be
transmitted to the Post office Department; and, TO
AFFORD reasonable opportunity for an increase OF cir
culallon during The quarter, let the oath
taken AT the beginning OF the next quar-
ter embrace all additional copies for the
last quarter, IA well as the number TO be
sent during the then commencing quarter. ON the
other hand, let Postmasters be required to return,
within two weeks after the beginning of every
yf.a .
cd To regular subscribers and dispatched In the
mails from their respective Offices stating the num-
Der OF copies of each newspaper, the average
weight per paper the number of issues per week.
and the amount OF money paid ~ postage therefor.
Payment having Neen made in advance for the
quarter no stamp or manipulation would be need
cd, but when received into the office, every paper
answering to the description given in the receipt
would be treated as paid. The papers Of persons
subscribing after quartcr-day would be forwarded
immediately and paid for at the beginning of the
next quarter. So marked would be the improve
ment in the collections under this plan, that be
lleve the Department could safely consent, in case
OF It's adoption, to a reduction in newspaper rates
of 20 per cent. ON present prices. AT the reduced
rate, am satisfied the Department would realize
more revenue than now. | also believe that so
great would be the saving Of labor to newspaper
proprietors in the preparation OF their papers for
the mall and 80 decided their gain from the great
er dispatch and freedom from mistakes in trans
mission and delivery, that they would find the new
plan more advantageous to them than the present
zines ana periodicals OF the second class
PosT.oFFIcE sAvIss BASKs
The events of the past few weeks have awakened
lively interest In plan heretofore submitted for
securing the savings Of the great body of the peo-
pie by pledge of the credit and faith Of the United
States In my reports for 1871 and 1872 urged the
organization OF institutions for that purpose under
the title OF Post-Ofice Savings Bank.
The name was not well chosen The institutions
| have in view and recommend are not designed
and should not he ntrntipd a purrnupb tho
legitimate powers and duties of the National Banks
They are totally distinct from banks in their scope
| and character in the machinery they employ, aud
| In the ends they are intended 10 accomplish and
may De more accurately designed n Postal Savings
| DcpositOres Of the Unic ed States.
The financial difficulties in which the country has
| been Unexpectedly involved, and which sui con
time TO Cypress it, have demonstrated the necessity
for some means Of main aiming confidence IN times
OF threatened disaster and OF gathering and wisely
employing the immense wealth scattered among
the people, TO prevent panic and escape the ruin
which inevitably follows in its track That the
people Of the United States hold the reins Of fnan-
cial as vel az political power clearly appears from
the tables taken from the public debt statements,
| reports of the National Banks, and from official
accounts.
II, therefore, plan can be devised that will
afford TO depositors equal security to that afforded
to note-hodcrs, but little doubt can be entertained
that general amelioration Of the present cob T.
ton will be effected; the immense sum Of 500
UOOUou held by The people In June last with the
large acccssion- since made thereto by heavy drafts
upon the Treasury and the banks, will be brought
out from is places OF cOncealment and applied TO
its legitimate work Of aiding In forwarding our
crops and products 10 market and in sustaining
our vast manufacturing and other business in
tcrests.
In my judgment, system Of postal savings.
repositories would powerfully contribute to this
most desirable contamination Throughout the
plan for their organization aud work two ideas
predominant: first, the United States is Ia insure
the safe return Of principal and interest whenever
cry OF the pOstoiliCe - To be used to bring its adj
yaniages home to the great mass OF the people.
The details would be simple, safe and efficient.
Money order Offices, agents OF the Government,
would receive deposits In small sums ranging from
81 upward TO the limit fixed by law, which sums
the postmaster would forward at short intervals to
the nearest depository Of the United States Trra--
ury. certificate fixing the respons hlty Of the
Government, would be issucd Immediately 10 The
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