Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1882-11-17

Views or the Postmnster.Genernl on
the Proposed Reduction of the Let.
ter Postage RUte-A Telegraphic
POkinL NYslem To be RcCOnlneM 4 cd /.

Postmasler-Gener Howe being asked if
was his intention to recommend IN his an-
nual report IL reduction of the rate on letter
postage, answered: II have been giving
that subject the most serious consideration
for some time past, and while l have not
finally decided not to recommend II reduo-
ton. ! must say that do not believe the
public generally feel the thrce-cent rate to be
a burden. Among the many facts which
have perhaps influenced my opinion, | may
instance the condition of atfaiis on the Paci-
fic Slope, where private express company
Wells, Fargo Il Co,-are carrying a good
part of the mail under q five cent rate" The
Postmaster General admitted that this was
an anomalous state of affairs, and said that
it had been unknown to him till within
the last ten days. They profess" said
he emphasizing the word profcsS), "to
buy our stamped envelopes, 10 meet the re-
quircment of law that full postage shall be
paid, and add their own private stamp. The
people of that section give as their reason for
patronizing private concern instead of the
government machinery that they thus secure
greater speed and security, but this |
am not prepared TO admit. The
real reason is probably force of
habit, iuasmuch us the express company
had reflected their mail system years before
| the government service was organized upon
that coast. am ut present pondering over
Il scheme" continued Judge Howe "that
shall probably recommend in my report, I'M
less serious objection should hereafter occur,
by which | think the public would be greatly
benefited with small loss to the government.
Simply stated, it is to encourage the use of
stamped envelopes instead of adhesive
| El.,. ,,,t fnl-
| lowing manner; The great bulk Of the let
tiers that come to the dcad-ettcr Office is
made up of letters which are either not
stamped at all, or upon which full rate
(three cents has not been paid, OF course it
would not be possible to have such class
| if only stamped envelopes were nsed, and the
expense of returning such matter to the
dcad-lc Office and its subsequent hand
ling is an item of magnitude, The plan is
to sell the stamped envelopes at the present
price of adhesive stamps, which would prac-
lically amount to reduction of one cent to
the class of people who most need it. Figures
that | have by me show that the cost of
manufacture would decrease the revenues of
the department by about 50, 600, 600, where
as the reduction of the rate to two cents
would mean decrease of $4,000, 900.
am not certain, either, that the saving from
the reduction of expenses in the dead-letter
bfice will not about balance the account
The postmastcr-general also said in regard
to the proposed establishment of a postal
telegraph system that it was well known
that his personal opinions for many years
have been strongly in favor of the PROPOSE
ton, and added that although he had little
hope of disposition of the matter at the
next session OF Congress, he should probab-
ly include it among the recommendations of
his report.