The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-01-15
Profit and Loss In Mail Matter.

A pamphlet has been recently issued
| from the Government printing Office,
containing letter to the Postmaster
General, written by Geo. 3. Bangs, Su-
perintendeDt OF railway mail service.
It provides series Of valuable statistics
to show the cost, revenues and colnpar-
alive profit and loss OF carrying the
different classes Of mail matter. These
estimates were presumably based upon
returns for periods previous to the ope-
ration Of the present postage law re-
| Ypecting third class mail packages
Pending the discussion OF change IN
the present rates OF postage on this
class OF mail matter, the publication is
timely and will assist in obtaining q
clear notion OF the interest involved.
Superintendent Bangs also offers his
| own views upon the subject, and sup
ports them by arguments drawn IN part
! from the statistics.
Government has monopoly OF car
rying the malls, and has deprived Its
citizens Of the right to this business
and it's possible profits. That fact alone
puts the Government under obligation
to carry the mails at or under their
cost. Mr.. Bangs mentions some OF the
uses which the carriage OF the mails
should subserve, and concludes that its
primary service Is to disseminate pri-
vate aud public intelligence; its sec.
ondary purpose, to promote trade and
commerce.. That proposition might not
be 30 easily defended as tho subsequent
one, that the business should be con-
Quoted with reference to the great
est good to the greatest number.
The profit and loss are very unequal
ly divided among the different classes
| OF mail matter; letters and postal cards
yield profit OF over $4,OOO,OO0; news
pauers, magazines, etc, sent to sub
scribers, are carried Mt q loss OF nearly
| $7. .0OO. 900, and all other matter, known
as third class" at loss OF more than
S4 .OOO, 900. The discussion Is ON the
rate for the third class, which was
doubled by Congress at its last session.
This class includes 1, pamphlets and
transient publications 2, unsealed cir
eulars 3, books and book manuscript; 4,
great variety OF miscellaneous things,
OF which samples OF merchandise make
the largest distinct division.
Mr.. Bangs suggestion Is TO restore
class, and leave all the rest at the pres
ent high rates. Nos, and 4, he thinks,
are, compared with other mail matter,
Of benefit to few people and Of minor
Importance In the spread OF intelli-
Qeilce. As this Is not very evident In
respect to books, he makes a special
argument about them. 1t is briefly
this few books are sent by mail; the 10.
cal dealer Is deprived Of a profit on those
thus sent; changes in the rates OF post
age on them do not affect the prices ol
such books only book publishers profit
by low postage on books, and the pub
fishers Fare not primarily governed by
a desire to disseminate Intelligence. :
OF the portion OF third-class matter
which Mr.. Bangs proposes to leave
under the old high rate, books, etc.
form about two-fifths II we assume that
the same weight Of merchandise, books
i etc, would be sent under high rates az
low ones, the saving would be about
81 SOC, 600 q year and in any case these
goods would nearly clear the expense d
their carriage. That the present rate OF
lthird-elass matter Is unwise and OK
Orbitant so far as transient publication!
are concerned, few will deny; but thu
wishes OF the public should be consulted
before they are again taxed q million
year for the privilege Of sending at loy
/ rates by mail bulbs, seeds, rattlesnakes
canary birds, and miscellaneous mer
chapdise in general