The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1877-09-20
About Postage Stamps.

The issue of postage stamps by the
Post Office Department shows a marked
falling off during the past fiscal year. as
compared with former years. The aver
age annual increase in the issue Of stamps
has been for several years past about
per cent, but last year the value of
stamps issued is nearly $500, 600 below the
value of those issued for the preceding
year. This is mainly attributed by the
postal authorities to the legalized system
of paying country Postmastcrs large
commission on stamps sold by them.
Under the present law stamps may be fur
nished fourth-ciass Postmasters to the ex-
tent justified by their official bond. and
there is nothing to prevent them from
traversing the country in quest of pur-
chasefs. For the first 81 200 worth OF
stamps sold, the Postmasters of the class
referred to are authorized to retain 5000,
and for sales in excess of 81 200 they re-
tain 30 per cent. The purpose of the
salaries of Postmasters whose compensa-
ton is less than 81 900 per year, and if
the law was not abused it would accom-
plish the purpose intended. The old sys-
TEN OF adjusting the salaries of Post
masters of this class was based mainly
upon the number of stamps Cancelled, the
theory being that the stamps Cancelled rep.
resent the amount Of labor performed In
handling matter for mailing, while the
value Of stamps sold is no test whatever
of the amount Of work required of Post
masters. Under the present system the
Government loses money whenever the
Postmaster of small office disposes of
stamps within the district of large
office. A country Postmaster, under the
present law, can visit New York and ped.
die out 81 200 worth of stamps for 5000,
and thus earn $500 clear for'himself and
enable his purchasers to save a like
amount, while the postal revenues would
be cheated out of 5000. There are numer-
GUS ways in which the Government can be
cheated under the present law, and the
fact of large decline last year in receipts
from sales of stamps shows the extent to
which the Government is made to suffer-
Instead of decrease of 100000, there
should be an increase to that amount,
which makes the loss $1,000,000. The
postal authorities believe that during the
two years ending June 30, 1876, country
Postmasters, through forced sales, have
overstecked business men with stamps,
and the result of such forced sales is now
made apparent In decreased revenues.
The number of regular stamps issued
during the last fiscal year was $50 $50, $40,
a falling off of 9,2l0, 420 compared with
the preceding year. In newspaper and
periodical stamps, stamped envelopes and
postal cards there was an increase, which
fact strengthens the theory of the postal
authorities as to the decline in the issue
Of ordinary stamps. Of newspaper and
periodical stamps there were issued L.
1888, 7U9; stamped envelopes, III .651, 45O;
postal cards, TO, 015, 500. The increase in
postal cards was 90, 799, 800 The value of
the above issues was $25 ,499, 1868. There
were also issued during the year, to the
Executive Departments, Is, 1857, las official
stamps and IA, $50, AS official envelopes,
beth being valued at 81 ,026, 49, Wash.
Cor. N. Y. Times.