The Daily Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Or.) 1876-1883, 1883-08-15
TwO-CENT POSTAGE.
'rObable Eject Of the reduction.

The new law reducing the rates
of postage will so into effect on
the 1st of October next, and the
authorities are now engaged in
the work Of preparing the new
stamps. The law substitutes two
cents per half ounce on letters for
three cents, the present rate. The
old three-cent stamp viii be abol-
ished, and in It's stead will be IS
sued two-cent stamp of new de-
sign. The form of the new stamp
has already been decided upon. 1t
contains a tablet upon which Is
profile OF Washington. similar to
that on the present three-cent
stamp. Surrounding the profile is
an oval band, and IN the upper
| part Of the band tire words, ,"United
States Postage Beneath the
band is large 80 4" and at the cx-
treme bottom of the tablet the
words, "Two Cents" The pres
ent two, cent stamp, with the head
OF Jackson thereon, will DC dis
! continued after the 1St OF October
next. The vigneite oE the new
stamp Is copied from the iile-cast
used in making Houdon's statute
OF Washington. Several designs
for = new four-ceEt postage stamp
have also been received by the
postoiicc department, but none
have as vet been selected. This
STAMP is also 70 be issaed on the
1st of October next, and 1t is
meant for use on double V eight
letters.
The bill to reduce letter postage
from 3 to , cents was introduced
on Dee. Is, 1880, by Mr. \. s
Willis. No action was taken upon
it by that congress. ,Mr. Willis
introduced the same bill in tie
forty-seyeuth congress. BY ;
Joint resolution OF both houses th,
: proposed reduction in rate wa
added As as clause 20 and wa:
e passed with the postollice appro
priation bill last January. y cur
sorry glance at the past will show
that the present reduction in post
age was long ago agitated by mel
=. who foresaw It's advantages. Ex
. Postmaster General Hall, in hi
report of 1850, recommended I
J, reduction Of inland postage-fron
= the then prevailing rate of
cents on letter conveyed a dis
tance cf less than 500 miles, an,
y for any greater distance 10 cent
TO a uniform rate of 5 cents OF
- a prepaid letter when carried an!
distance rot excepting 5000 miles
. Ex- President Fillmore on Dec. }
. 1850, called the attention OF con
gress to his postmaster general
= suggestion. The suggestion Wa
a acceded to, and j-cent postag,
under 5000 miles became = law il
1851. In 1862 a committee ap
pointed by business men peti
!: toned congress for postal reform
including reduction in domesti
letter postage to : cents per LET
ter. The late Peter Cooper wa
.r on the committee. Ex-Postmas
% ter General James, in 1881, rec
commended the introduction of th
2-cent rate, giving cogent reason
for its desirability and feasibility
; President Arthur, III his messag
II dated Dec. +, 1882, strongly rcT
- resented the 2-cent rate to tn
consideration of the house. Th
two houses made it n law in Jai
- uary, 1888
The first act of congress estat
fishing specific rates of postag
was passed Feb. 20, 1892. III
charge then on a single letter (on
sheet of paper carried less tha
:, go miles was fixed at S cent
The maximum charge was Go cent
for a single letter, when conyeye
5, over $50 miles. Other acts
1890, 1910, 1SIG and 1925 we
, not productive Of any sensib
- diminution in the minimum rate
=, =, postage, the changes made bein
,er principally in the scaling of rat
N according to greater or less dis
ct, ance OF transportation. The a
Dy of March >, 1915, marked Il
It; dawn of cheap postage. Jui
prior to the aforesaid act the pos
u: age on single letter was 6 cent
iiegl' if conveyed 30 miles or less,