The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-11-10
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AohaH'nStcr'sschcfnI NbHe'h l'INu O1 rvD.
~. Sidiu:- " Reduction. a
WASHINGTON, November 9.-poslmaslcr
General Howe was to-day asked by Il re.
porter OF the New York Associated Press
il it is his intention TO recommend in Ills
annual reporta reduction Of the ratc on
letterpostagc. lie answered: 81 have been
giving that subject the most serious consid.
Grafton forsome time past, and while have
not finally. decided not to recommend !,
reduction, l must say that do not believe
the public generally feel the three per cent
rate rate to be Il burden. Among the many
facts which have perhaps influenced nv
opinion may INSTANCE the condition Of
affairs OH the Pacific slope where private
express company (Wells, Fargo & Co. arc
carryinga good part OF the mail undera i've.
cent rlte," The Postmaster general admit
ted that this was IN anomalous atatc OF a!.
lair, and sud that it had been unknown
to him until within the last ten ,lays,
"They profess" said he (emphasizip: the
word prolcss), ITO buy our Stamped enye.
opes to meet the requirement of law that
full postage shall be paid, and add their
own private stamp. The rea2le OF TINT
SECTION gl:o as :hclI reason for patronisiny
the private concern instead OF the govern.
ment machinery that they thus secure
greater speed and security, but this am
not prepared TO admit. The real reason il
probably force Of habit, inasnHcl Us lh,a
cxpfees GanlnanT had pcsicS,Gd Their mail
syateIn years before the government service
was organized upon that coast
Il am ut present pondering over n
scheme" continued Judge Howe, that /
shall probably recommend in my rona,,
unless serious objections shou,d herccia tlett
occur, bY which ithipk tho public would
be greatly benefited with small loss to the
Government. Simply stated it is to- en-.
courage the use Of stamped envelopes in.
stead Of adhesive stamps. The saving
would occur in the following manner. The
great bulk Of letters .haE GONG ia tl,e dead
letter ohIce Is madcup of loIters which arc
AeIl.'er stampcd al all or upon which Il iull
mtc, three cents, has not been puid, OF
course itwould not be possible to have such
Il class If only stamped envelopes we,a
used, and the cxpense ai returning such
MatteY to the deadlettcr Office and lis sub.
stauent handling is, an item of magnitude,
Thu plan is to sell the stamped enyeores
n, tlip present price ai adhesivo istamps
which would practically yamounlto rcduc.
ton Of one cent to the class OF people who
most need il. Figures that | have by nc
show that the cost Of manufacture would
decrease the revenues Of the department
BY about Ss,0o0,ooo, wheYpas the reduction n
Of the rata to two cents would mean \ dc.
creaso, OF sl,5G0,00O. j am not certain
then TINT the saving from the reduction Of
expenses in the dcad.letter Office will moi
about balance the account"
The Postmaster General also gsjd In ye;
gard to the nrepo.ed cslablisii.,nSent OF a
postal tostgraph system, that it was well
known that his personal opinions for
many years have been strongly in favor of
the proposition, and added that although
he h had litt!e hone at 4 dsspsSl.ioS Il lie
iUelIft At the nett session Of Congress, he
shonld probably include it among the
OF his report,