Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1885-04-30

One Ounce for Two Cents After
June 80 The Speedy Delivery

May be Begun October L.
Inquiry has been made by many regard
ing the new postal laws and the Postal Mes
senger bill passed at the last session. In the
matter OF postage ON letters on and after
July 1 the rate will be two cents an ounce,
instead of two cents q half ounce as at pres
emf. The postage on newspapers sent
from the Office Of publication will be re-
duced one-half, to one cent a pound or
fraction thereof.
Congressman Charles R. Skinner sue
ceeded in getting his bill to provide for
the more speedy delivery Of letters and to
provide a special stamp thereof, through,
as a part OF the Postofice Appropriation
bill, which became q law in spite of several
attempts to strike out this section. The
bill provides as follows:
"That a special stamp Of the face valua
ton OF ten cents may be provided and
issued, whenever deemed advisable or ex.
pedient, in such form and bearing suoh de-
vice as may meet the approval OF the
Postm aster General, which, when attached
to q letter, in addition to the lawful post
age theron, the delivery Of which is to be at
a free-delivery Office, or at any city, town
or village containing a population of 1000
or over according to the last federal census,
shall be regarded as emitting such letter to
immediate delivery within the carrier limit
Of any free-delivery Office which may be
designated by the Postmaster General as q
special delivery Office. or within n mile
Of the Postofice at any other Office coming
within the provisions OF this section which
may in like manner be designated as a spe-
cial delivery Office.
SEC. 2. That such specially stamped let
ter shall be delivered from Z O'Clock ante
meridian up to IL O'Clock midnight at Of
fees designated by the Postmaster General
under section one Of this Act.
SEC. 8. That to provide for the immedi-
ate delivery Of letters bearing the special
stamp, the Postmaster at any Office which
may come within the provisions of this Act
may, with the approval Of the Postmaster
General, employ such person or persons as
may actually be required for said service,
who, upon the delivery Of such letter. will
procure a receiptfrom the party addressed,
or some one authorized to receive it, in q
book TO be furnished for the purpose, which
shall, when not in use, be kept in the Post
Office, and at all times subject to examina-
ton by an Inspector of the Department.
Sec. 4. That to provide for the payment
of such persons as may be employed for
this service, the Postmaster, at any office
designated by section n OF this Act,
shall keep q record Of the number OF let
ters received at such Office, bearing such
special stamp, which number shall corre-
spond with the number entered in the re-
ceipt books heretofore specified; n at
the end of each month he may pay to such
person or persons employed a sum not ex-
ceeding eighty per centum of the face value
of all such stamps received and recorded
during that month: Provided, that in no
case shall the compensation so paid to any
one person exceed $50 per month: And
provided further, that nothing in this Act
shall in any way interfere with the prompt
delivery of letters as now provided by law
or regulation OF the Postofioe Depart
ment."
It will be observed that the law goes into
effect whenever the Postmaster General
exercises the authority given to him. 1t
is believed that in the interest of progress
and perfection in the American postal sys-
tenn that the new law should be fairly and
thoroughly tested. In arguing The pas
sage OF the law Congressman Skinner de-
clsred that he believed in progress in the
postal service, and he was confident if the
law was vigorously put into execution it
would prove popular and profitable to the
Government.
The latest information from Washington
is that Postmaster General Villas is favora-
bly, inclined toward the new system, and
will probably arrange to have it go into ef-
feet about Dot. /. A little time will be re-
quired to prepare the requisite stamps, re-
ceipt book, etc. Some Of the friends OF the
law believe in making every Office Of 1000
inhabitants or over a special delivery Office,
and have the Postofice Department furnish
enough explanations of the law to supply
every patron; also, to furnish a poster or
card ct each Office in the country, briefly
calling attention to the special service.
Eventually it ia believed that q fee Of five
cents will pay when the system is fully I'M
derstood. This system is not intended,
nor will IL interfere with the messenger
service, for that is confined to delivering
within one city, and this applies to all. 1t
is simply employing a messenger In Albany
to deliver q letter in New York.