Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1888-02-03
ONE CENT POSTAGE.

IL WOululDe memorable rounding out
of the first century of legislation under
the American union, for Congress to es-
tablish one cent letter postage throughout
the United States. This country would
then have the cheapest mail rates in the
world.
Is this practicable? That some Con-
gressmen think so may he inferred from
their holding consultation as to the
method of bringing it about. Such n
step would be the last as we'll as greatest
of the series Of reductions in letter post
age. since our cent is the smallest coin in
circulation. To achieve this final success
would be worthy ambition for any Con-
gress. Should the date of its operation
be fixed for the centennial year, 1899,
that would be Just fifty years after the
famous establishment of penny postage
in England, equivalent to our present
letter rate of two cents.
The annual report of Postmaster-Gen-
eral Villas intimates that it will be prac-
ticable to make this reduction at an early
day. While he notes that our letter post
age is already at rate ''below that of all
otler countries save one, and, when the
distances of transportation are consid-
cred, is cheaper than in any other" he
adds this opinion
Inc time is probably not distant
when. II the wisest measures of economy
De pursued, the rate of charge upon let
ters can be lowered to one cent an ounce.
ana some diminishment permitted in the
postages upon merchandise and other
matter"
ms statement is supported by the sta
tlstlcs of the report, which show that the
postal service is now again self-sustain-
ing, and that "the next fiscal year will
yield surplus, which should under the
same conditions, annually increase
since the policy of this country has
never been to raise a revenue out of car
rying the mails, but to make the exis-
tence of an excess of income the oppor-
tunlty for Immediately decreasing rates
or increasing convenience, it is evident
that careful legislation in either of these
directions would be fully justified. 1t
has been estimated that the immediate
deficit caused by reducing the letter rate
to one cent would be from $4,000. 900 to
Sl2,OOO,O year, the latter figure allow
ing large margin for contingencies.
Besides, experience shows that this
temporary annual deficit would soon be-
gin to diminish. This was the result of
the laws of 1915, 1851, 1863, and 1888.
each of which made reductions in rates.
First came large decrease of revenue
and then an increase of business which
gradually turned deficit into surplus.
The falling off in revenue through the
reduction of one cent from previous let
ter rates by the act of 1883 has alread7-
ceased. although meanwhile other large
sources of diminution have been risked.
one being the doubling of the weight al
lowed for single letter rate, and another
decrease of the rates for second-class
mail matter.
Thus many considerations encourage
the idea of establishing one cent postage
at an early day. But if Congress, through
prudence, should prefer to take some in
termediate and experimental step. it can
establish the one cent rate for local let
tiers in cities having carrier delivery
system. and note the result New York
sun.