Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1874-04-06
POSTAGE ON PERIODICALS.

tain changes in the present rates and
mode of payment of postage. We wish
to speak only of one important provision
by which it is proposed to require pre-
payment of postage on magazines and
newspapers, quarterly, at the Office from
which they are sent. Under the present
system, the subscriber to magazine or
paper is required to pay quarterly, in
advance, at the rate of two cents for
four ounces, so that his Atlantic or
Scribner, say, costs him, in addition to
the subscription price, twenty four cents
a year, payable in four payments of six
cents each. Not very heavy tax, one
would think, when so distributed through
the year, yet in point of fact, most
vcxatious and irritating imposition for
the Postmaster of every village and town
is compelled to keep track of every mag
azine or newspaper which comes into
his Office, to make out bill quarterly
to each person receiving such matter,
and to collect it in advance He is not
allowed to charge it nor to receive the
postage for the entire year in advance,
although it has been found necessary to
make this exception in favor of the great
city offices. If the postage is not paid,
he must decline to deliver the periodi-
Gals. and the consequence is that the,
number of petty disputes all over the
country which have arisen from this
clumsy system have had serious effect
in discouraging people from subscribing
for magazines and papers. 1t is true
that the Government now allows pub
fishers to prepay the magazines at the.
same rate but between the office that
sends and the office that receives the
magazine, with their complicated system
of accounts, the subscriber finds new
annoyance. and the publisher with him..
In the constant liability to mistake im
this matter. Letters pass back and FORTH
receipts are displayed, and an amount
Of time is expended over these petty
grievances which would suffice to exc
cute good many more important CORR
missions.
Now, the bill under consideration pro-
poses to reduce the postage, and require
the publisher to prepay all the mag
azlnes he sends to subscribers quarterly.
The reform is step in the right direc-
ton. Another step, and the end would
be reached. The true nssthod would be
to require the publisher to prepay all
the periodical mail matter which he
sends out, and to pay foE- it in bulk at
so much an ounce. That is to say. he
would send his bags to the Post Office,
where they would be weighed, and the
welght-less that of the bags, which,
being Government bags, could have a
registered weight-would be computed
and paid for by stamped receipt. All
mail matter of this description, then,
would be ready for delivery through the
mails, and no further tax would be laid
upon 1t. Any question that might arise
would be settled at the place where the
mail matter was received, and that
would be the end of it. The advantage
to the Government is obvious. Instead
OF collecting petty sums from forty thou
sand persons scattered all over the ceun-
try, 1t would collect the entire amount
from one party. The Post Offices would
at once be relieved of vast amount of
detail work. The advantage to the sub-
scrber Is no less obvious. Once he has
paid his subscription he has no further
call made upon him. 1t would also be
an advantage to the publisher. If he is
to prepay his magazines, he will by this
method be saved great expense of labor
In afhxing stamps, and his keeping of
accounts will be greatly simplifed if ev-
: cry delivery of mail matter to the Post
Office is cash transaction, and he has
not to keep an open account with the
Postmaster on all the subscriptions he
G may have, with their various terms Of
!, continuance.
s. 1t would probably be urged that this
% expense OF postage falling ON the pub.
Usher In one lump, instead of being dis.
u trlbuted among great many subscribers
= who would not feel itindividually. would
be severe burden /; but we suspect that
II the publisher did not increase the
!, price of the magazine or paper by SC
s. much, he would find himself amply re-
h paid by the increased number of those
who would avail themselves of the meth
" cd of getting their magazine and news
20 paper by mail. In order to make tbi,
a scheme practicable. it would be necessa
!; ry to establish one uniform rate for sucf
!. matter, and to provide that all period
Gals should 60 through the mails at Thu
u rate, whether from publisher to his sub
1t scrlbers or to and from newsdealers. AL
st periodicals.. whether current or bacl
a numbers, sent in the mails would. O
>, course, be prtnaa taeie paid ); anything
not prepaid the Postmaster would detain
8 There would be no discrimination agaips
st the individual. He prepays postage b,
RS a stamp upon each article it is his mos
ID convenient method. The publisher pre
pays his postage in one sum, also by
stamp.-Boston Globe.
Why don't DR.. Dio Lewis drill Bos
8 ton praying woman's band in the ba
4 room of Hotel Bellevue, No. II Beaco,