New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-08-22
ONE. CENT POSTAGE IN CITIES.

There is an old saying to the effect that you
never know what you can do till you try The
late Postmaster General, Mr.. Howe, was 80
timid about the proposed reduction of letter
postage to two cents that he suggested in its
stead an odd scheme for reducing the cost of
stamped envelopes. Yet the returns of the
Post Office Department show now that IL the
rate had not been reduced the Government
would probably have found by the middle of
1884 that it had made heavy profit out of
the people for carrying the mails, which it never
wants to do. From present indications, it
ought not to be long before the letter rate in
cities where there are carriers is reduced to
one cent.
The business of the POst-O Office Department
grows so fast that even the officials cannot
anticipate its progress. The Department esti-
mate for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1883,
made at a time when a large proportion OF the
saving on the Star Routes had been ascertaned,
was thatit would leave q deficiency of $920,OOO;
it is now nearly two months since the lis
cal year ended, and tho Department estimates
that there will be surplus of about 81, 5OO,O 900,
an increase of more than ST. 100000 over the
surplus of last year. The surplus would be
even larger but for two reasons. The approach
Of the reduction of postage has diminished
somewhat the sale of thrce-cent stamps and
stamped envelopes; and Congress- by blunder
made the readjustment of postmasters' salaries,
which was to prevent the loss that would other
wise come to them under the reduced postage,
take effect seven months before the reduction
did. When the Post Office Appropriation bill
was submitted to the House last December, it
was estimated that, with the natural growth OF
the business done by the mails, and without
any reduction of the letter rate, the fiscal year
ending June 80, 1884, would show surplus
of. nearly $1,000, 900. The probability is that
it would have been even larger. 1t was esti-
mated ut the same time that reduction to two
cents beginning January l, 1884, would cause
a reduction in the revenues Of over $5.0O0,000
If there was no increase in the amount OF
business as q result of the reduction. But
even then there would be surplus of 81, 500,
900. Congress finally pushed the date of the
two-cent rat. forward to October 1 next, max
ing the reduction take effect through nine
months OF the fiscal year. Even if this lowered
the revenues $500, 000-which it can hardly
do. because every reduction in rates has always
been followed by large increase in business
the deficiency ought not, apparently, to be
more than 81 100000. The chances are that
the Department will find itself either with books
about evenly balanced or with surplus.
As soon as it is clear that the service will
be self-supporting at the two-cent rate, the
city rate should be reduced to one cent. There
has been good deal of squibbing in the news
papers because, after October l. it will cost as
much to send letter around the corner AZ it
will to send u to San Francisco. But one thing
at time. A Republican Congress has made
the great reduction and rendered the minor
one possible. During the fiscal year ending
June, 1882, there were 90,0o0,000 letters
carried in cities by two-cent stamp. A re-
duction of the rateito one cent would have
made loss of only 100000. But here. too,
the increase in business would probably be