The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-05-01
CHANGES IN RATES OF POSTAGE.
Valuable Information Concerning Reductions
Which Take Effect July 1.


The Postal Bulletin contains the order Of Post
master general Villas in relation to the increase
of unit Of weight on frstclass mail matter and
the reduction of postage on second class matter
on and after July /, 1885, reads as follows:
The attention of postmasters and other postal
officers is called to the following provisions in
the act OF Congress approved March 5, 1885,
making appropriations for the service of the
Postoffice Department for the fiscal year ending
June 80. 1885, to-wit:
/. THAT upon all matter of the first class, as
defined by chapter $50 of the laws of Congress
approved March 3, 1872 entitled An act making
appropriations for the service of the Postoffice
Department for the fiscal year ending June 30,
1880, and for other purposes, and by that act de-
clared subject to postage at the rate of three
cents for each half ounce or fraction thereof,
and reduced by the act Of March 8, 1885, to two
cents for each half ounce or fraction thereof,
postage shall be charged, on and after the LIST
day Of July, 1885. at the rate of two cents for
each ounce or fraction thereof: and drop letters
shall be mailed at the rate of two cents per
ounce or fraction thereof, including delivery at
lettercarrier Offices, and one cent for each ounce
fraction thereof where free delivery by carrier
is not established"
2. THAT all publications of the second class,
except provided in section 25 of said act, when
seat by the publisher thereof and from the Office
sent from news agency to actual subscribers
thereto, or to other news agents, shall, on and
after July l, 1885, be entitled to transmission
through the mails at one cent pound or a
fraction thereof such postage to be prepaid as
now provided by law.
"And any article or item in any newspaper or
other publication may be marked for obser-
walton, except by written or printed words,
without increase of postage"
The change in the present law, authorized by
the first of the above prOySiOnS iS SmOly in
crease the standard of weight of domestic first
class matter from half an ounce to one ounce.
That is to say, on and after the LIST of July 1885,
all domestic iirst-class matter sent through the
mails, including drop letters at letter-carrier
offices, must be charged with postage at the rate
OF two cents per ounce or fraction thereof, in
stead of two cents per half ounce or fraction
thereof; drop letters at other than letter-carrier
offices to be charged at the rate of one cent per
ounce or fraction thereof.
Due postage at the rate of two cents per half
ounce or fraction thereof shall be charged on
partially prepaid frst-class matter mailed on
or before June 80, and not reaching its destina-
ton until or after July ].
This change in the standard of weight will also
apply to first-class matter addressed to Canada,
but not to matter addressed to other foreign
countries. On insuficiently prepaid matter
mailed in Canada and addressed to this country
due postage shall be collected at the rate of
three cents per half ounce or fraction thereof,
as indicated by the figures on the upper left
hand corner of the address, under article 1 of
the Additional Articles of Agreement between
the United States and the Dominion of Canada"
The changes made by the second of the above
provisions is merely to reduce the rate of post
age on second-class matter from two cents per
pound, as at present authorized, to one cent per
pound, on and after the LIST of July, 1885 The
present law, comprehended in Section Is of the
Acts of Congress of March 3, 1879, in regard to
newspapers mailed free in the county of publica-
ton, and to the rates OF postage on newspapers
and periodicals when deposited in letter carrier
Office for delivery by its carriers, will remain un-
changed (See Sections 239 and 240 of the
Postal Regulations)
To provide for wants that may arise from this
change in the rate of second-class postage, the
department has decided TO issue a newspaper
and periodical postage stamp of the denomina-
ton of one cent, the design and color of which
will be the same as those of the present series Of
newspaper and periodical stamps of the denom-
nations OF from two to ten cents. Stamps of
this new denomination will be ready for issue by
the LIST of June after which all postmasters
needing them will make acquisitions for suitable
supplies
first section of the act. is led to remark
that the Postoffce Department is guilty of a
missioner in terming the letter-carrier service
in large cities a free -delivery system" IT, in
order to avail themselves of its facilities people
have to put an additional one cent on drop let
ters, the question naturally arises, is this free
oelvery systemf Another question which Is
suggested by this section is whether If drop
letter be addressed to postofice box a one-cent
stamp would not be sufficient to carry it to
its destination. Since the additional cent
is to include delivery, and there has been no de-
livery, ought the sender be made to pay toll for
that which he does not received AS a matter of
speculation these questions are interesting. AS
a matter of fact, so said Assistant-postmaster
Semple, yesterday, drop letters, intended for
posroffice boxes or for the general delivery win.
dow nd xri0h np 10 ho~,o 30
postage upon them The new enactment with
regard to the special delivery of drop letters
bearing 2cent postage stamp will also 90 into
effect July l. The Postmaster general how
ever, has not yet arranged the plan upon which
this will be carried out.