The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1894-03-09
TIE EA-R0YAL SrANPS.
WHAT A WRITER SAYS suOILD
M DONE wIrH THEM.
4 Proposal IN the Councils which May
Point the Way to an African In
the Fence Angle.

EDIroR STAR: ! noticed by your yestcr-
days report OF the proceedings in the
Councils that Senator Emmeluth offered
a resolution that the Postmaster-G General
ask for tenders for the remaining SUR
charged postage stamps. This is Il very
singular proceeding to get rid OF unused
Government stamps.
Stamps are, or at least should be, as
good as Government money.
! think il would he very damaging to
the credit OF the Hawaiian Government
should they auction off or entertain any
offers for the remaining blocks of Pro-
visional stamps. Such action is never
taken by an honest Government.
There are some bad examples in the
Southern and Central American repub-
lies. These little States change their
stamp issue every few months. To
make it more interesting, now and then
they issue a lot OF useless and flimsy
PROFESSIONALS and surcharges. An enter
prising New York gentieman--his name
is Seebeck-has the contract to supply
all these little petty republics with
stamps. The designs and make mp are
and stamp dealers and collectors have
grown tired, of the constant changes.
There exists now boycott by dealers
and collectors against all these petty
republics.
The Minister of Finance of Honduras
was compelled quite recently to cancel
brand new contract that he had made
with Seebeck Tor another issue of
stamps. Public feeling in his own little
State was against such a proceeding. |
suppose Senator Emmeluth, or whoever
gave him the hint, thought that Gov
eminent stamps are like u stock OF shelf
worn dry goods, to be disposed below
face value and whatever they fetch would
be clear profit to the Government, as the
original cost of producing stamps is very
small.
But here is another view, speaking
from the financial standpoint: The Pro-
visional Government has made great
hit with surcharging the stamps OF roy
atty. 1t is safe to estimate that in Homo
lulu alone there are at least 500 900 invest
ed in Provisional Government stamps.
The enormous stock is not put to actual
use for postage, but is simply laid away
and held for speculation by stamp com-
panies, syndicates, dealers, private spec
ulators and collectors. In fact every
body you meet now days is somewhat
interested in stamps. Now this is a big
investment and Unprecedented in the
history Of stamp speculation. All the
fond hopes OF the stamp fancier will not
materiaiize. The question will then
come mp with stamphuld,rs what shall
we do with so many stamps on
our hands and the market gutted?
Well, they ought to be worth at least
the face value. Gradually the super
tiuous stamp stock, with few exc options.
would be used once more for its first
legitimate purpose They will be used
for Postage. and in that way the iuves
tors would try and get their capital
back. Then the stamp sales at the
Honolulu Post Office would fall Off con-
sidera bly. The Government is in honor
bound to accept any of their stamps for
postage, no matter how old, AS long as
they are not cancelled.
Ii the authorities sell their old stock
below face value it will damage their
finances considerably. A person can
buy several thousand dollars worth of
stamps below face value, and there will
be no quicker way to make money than
to put them in circulation Tor mailing
purposes. 1t would be "a great saving to
some big firms. Methinks there's
"Nigger in the Fence!" The most ex-
peditious and business-likc way for the
Government would be as follows:
Give notice that up to "A certain date
the old style of stamps can be bought,
and please don't make any exceptions
as to persons, influence or standing; but
sell to every body to their hearts con
tent. When the time is up count every
sheet of old style stamps including the
forgotten reprints and specimen stamps.
Make ont an official record also. Then
build little bonfire in front of the
Post office, and to make the affair more
IL Interesting, politely invite the public
and all the stamp fiends to witness your
proceedings, while you throw all that
remains in the stamp line of the royal
regime into the fire.
Also take little Ratchet and chop all
the stamp plates into smithereens!
I'm sure the public will applaud and
give three cheers with tiger to our
| Minister OF Finance and the Postmaster
General for their honest action! The
Hawaiian Postal Bureau should be
kept clean, and not stoop down to any
stamp business or put-up jobs.
a LOYAL CITIZEN.