New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-05-01
LOCAL MISCELLANY.

POSTAL CHARGES AND REGULATIONS.
OPINIONS OF NETWORK OFFICIALS AS TO THE NEW
POSTAL DnL-THIED-CLAss MATTEk-THE SAME
RATES FOR TRANSIENT PRINTED MATTER AND
MERCHANDISE.
In conversation with TRIBUNE reporter yes
terday Postmaster James and James Gayler, superin
tendent of the City Letter Department discussed the
Postal BILL pointing out its Objectionable features
and suggesting what seemed to them the most desirable
changes The provision in the first section
to Irregular publications, devoted primarily to
advertising purposes, or for roe circatoD or ior ccu
laton of nominal subscription rates." would, IN the
opinion OF Mr. James and his assistants pro- source
OF endless embarrassment and vcxaon to postinasters
upon whom it imposes the task of deciding the question
to what purpose a newspaper is primarily devoted
and what constitutes nominal" subscription rate
II the postmaster at mailing office and the postmaster
at the delivery office do not happen TO be III accord on
either of these points in any particular case there Will
be developed admirable chance Tor triangular argu
ment on the subject, the publisher forming the third
party in the dispute. 1t is stated that there are
already a sufficient number Of stumbling
blocks In existing postal laws TO render the establish
ment OF this ptal for postmasters unnecessary tosy
the least. Mr. Gayer said that II 1t is thought best to
exclude from the second class so-caled newspapers
which primarily devoted to advertising speciates,
the decision should not be left to the judgment OF any
postmaster in whose Office they might be deposited, but
that it should be made by registration the part of
publishers as to the nature of their publications IN the
Post Office Department at Washington, though street reg
uations would be necessary preclude the possibility OF
fraud.
With reference TO the clause which settles what is
thrdcass matter the postal officials said that TIE same
Indebtedness loOseness OF expression were 10 De
found which xised in the old postal law and strict III
terpretaton would make the postage On letters one cent
per ounce, bat the new law would OF course De 'et
rcted like the old Ii would bc better however 20 III
scr the clause except on matter Tor wch oIher rates
The new bil establishes the same rate ioI transient
printed matter and for merchandise, aud Ire opinion o,
laws have always made distinction in favor Of matter
tending to disso inmate useful knc @edgc, ana TINS pm
As 10 the post-markng of third class matter
called for by the new hi objection ~ mae
vision fixing the rate OF po5lat'S a9coins 70 ~
having been stricken out second that II may ciuse -
third that would large increase OF expense Tor
additional clerks at all the larger Offices Under tne
esled thlrd-class matter ia handled very rapidly.
tho stamps on dozen different articles beng en-
crled at one stroke; but II II becomes nects
sary potmark all this matter each impression mus 10
made separately fuTherm1re' there WI, Cn no SiI
process. Mr.. Gayer said That II the department could
any practical advantage u po delnTd ron "1T
willing to under The necessary inconvenience arc *
pense but While envelopes containing letters are usuy
preserved an often useful AZ means OF reference
envelopes containing circulars ana Inc Wrappers pi ph
ages h. une cases ont OF ten are thlo"h "sius iio
ately after they opened.
Pcsu.ier James aud his assistants ell heartily APP
prove OF the fourth section OF the bill. providing that
lie sender OF ans article Of 1hrd-caGs matter may write
hjs or her name the outside thereof, with the wOid
from above preceding the same. or NAV wflie
briefly PRINT any package the number and names o'
the articles inccsed." -,
sr trvler stated with reference to the present law
and the biz before Congress requiring that letter, not
nrrpaid or prepaid amount less than one run rae
tbni be sent the Dead Letter ONCE, That TINS feS
ton gave dissatisfaction TO the public, ana ne DeitNeu
WAS dtsappTOycd pOsInasters generally Dtllb pFo-
ducvc OF great inconvenience, not 10 the careless de
Int 10 the person whom the letter Is sent, WHO u III 20
way responsible for t1e delay and annoyance when ne
experiences A draft OF postal bill tuDnl'ted some
months ago To- the PGstmasterGencra by way OF sngses
ton by Postmaster James contains Tue oHoMhs eo'''
upon this head It'll. ,..,.,r ~, en-.
Syc = That when postageon maiabe matter OF me
lrstclass deposited pOstohce for iOr"hfOhe VI LOT ne
rV Oi The wfltr OF boUl'l
tereof hsvc wholly unpaid prepaid 10 an amount
los. than fu rate such matter SNAIL te hao oi az"
Of sender be known
tanned ,y the poanasier, be returned TO huch "i!t.f
or sender n order postage the may be
fully prepaid ana II such naluo ana address ar
not known and cannot readily be asceria bcd Uy N.o
D0suna.ier then such matter shall be forwarded 70
charged with double the rate OF postage p9e
for such when tpad which charge shall De oectu
before delivery ITOUide that matter OF sad cs we
tefi either wholly unpaid prepaid 10 an amount Is ~.
tn forwarded delivered bat nhal De
Tor pCs and Dead Letter ONCE In Nashingth
uess To- writer sender thereof a. heIenaf
provided that all mail matter deposited IN any Iostoo
iusufey prepaid, wholly unpaid, shall be icturncb 10
sender thereof when pIacllcabo py % pS.
that the proper amount Oh loht
ge