Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1882-12-08
POSTOFFiCE DEPARTMENT.
Reduction of Postage Recon- m N led

Reduction of Postage Recommended.
The report Of the postmaster general gives
evidence oil the satisfactory condition of tina,
department and contains many valuable data
I and accOmpan, ing suggestions which can not
fail to be of interest. The information which
II affords, that the receipts for the fiscal year
have exceeded the expenditures, must he
very gratifying to Congress and TO the peo-
pie OF the country, AS matters which may
fairly claim particular attention, 1,refer you
to his observations in reference to the advis-
billty Of changing the present basis for fix.
| ing salaries and allowances of extending the
money order system and of charging the
| functions OF the postal establishments, SO as
to put under its control the telegraph system
oil the country-thOugh from this last and
most important recommendation must with.
hold my concurrence. AT the last session o.
Congress several bills were introduced into
the House of Representatives for the rcduc.
ton of letter postage 10 the rate of two cents
per half ounce. | have given much study and
reflection to this subject and am thoroughly
persuaded that such II reduction would be for
the best interests Of the public. 1t has becnl he
policy OF the Government from Its foundation
to defray as far as possible the expenses of
carrying the mails by direct tax in the form
OF postage. 1t has never been claimed how
ever, that this service ought to be produc-
tive OF net revenue. AS has been stated
already, the report of the Postmaster
General shows that there is now very con-
siderable surplus in his department and that
hcnccforth the receipts are likely to increase
at much greater ratio than the necessary
expenditures. Unless some change Is made
in the existing laws the profits of the postal
service will in very few years swell the
revenues OF the government many millions
OF dollars. The time seems suspicious,
| therefore, for some reduction in the rates of
postage. In what shall that reduction con-
sist A review of the legislation which has
been had upon this subject during the last
thirty years discloscs that domestic letters
constitute the only class of mail matter
which has not been favored by substan-
tial reduction of rates. am convinced that
the burden OF the maintaining of the service
falls most unequally upon that class, and
that more than any other it is entitled to
present relief That such relief may be ex-
tended without detiimcnt to other public in
tcrcsts will be discovered upon reviewing the
results of former reductions. Immediately
prior to the act of 1915 the postage upon u
| letter composed of single sheet was AS fol.
| lows: IL conveyed 30 miles or less, six
| cents; between 30 and 80 miles, ten cents ;
| between so and 100 miles, 12t between $50
and 400 miles, IS, over 400 miles, 25. BY
,nc uc' Vi io4o the postage upon single
let, , conveyed iot any distance unuer 9oo
nllics was nAcu AT hvc cents ana lor any
1851 it was provided that "A single
ictlcr prepaid smouid DC carried
any Instance not exceeding thrce thousand
ililics i'r thrce cents ana any greater rs
lance for six cents. 1t will be noticed that
| 1.1tl - q L.. 4
polh Oh 'hese reductions were OF raulcil
cha,"c,ef anu relatively qul,c a. important as
.,lat Wil'ch Is now proposed III each case
,heic ehsueu temporary loss OF revenue
nul sudden ana larsc 'hi'iN OF business
m.nci SUBSTANTIALLY repa''cu 'lil' loss wHil.',
,ilrce years, mess inc experience oil past
tS'Sia''oh IN 'ii's country ana elsewhere goes
~ ,ol 'iiusn,, 1t n,h! w ~'e'y Prt", TT, NAV
tne sli',i'nS Oh i''tf per cchtum ieuucti"ii III
,hc 'aN iot cariiasc VIII NJ once increase 'n'
, l,''l'ptr oi lell'rs cohs'ph'n 10 tnc mans.
nc advantages OF secrecy Wouli ieai 10