Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1895-01-03

Wltnou. going down Town, the mousse
keeper could order any of the luxur-
les or neccessaries of life; an express
or parcel delivery company could be
called; or a gardener, carpenter,
painter, or plumber; a subscription
to a newspaper could be sent in. II
ice cream, fruits, or anything else
were wanted for dinner, and it be-
came necessary to expedite matters,
a special delivery stamp could be
affixed to the order card, and there
can be no doubt that this would often
be done.
"Let me furnish you with an ex-
tract or two from the reports of the
Post Office Department. In the re-
port of 1884 the Postmaster said:
Experience has shown that deliv-
cry by carrier, ETC., is more accepta-
BILE than the old custom of calling at
the post-ofice; that it diminishes the
number of dead letters, and diverts to
the post-office many letters that would
otherwise be delivered by private ex-
presses and messengers; that it stimu
lates correspondence, both mail and
local, and largely increases the postage
on the latter; that it saves time to the
people and fruitless calls at the post
Office, and yields large surplus of
postage on local matter above its cost
*** l feel that l can with great
propriety urge the reduction CT post
age on local matter to one cent, the
single rate. Il * *
"Now, is that not strongly in sup
port of the proposed system2 Here
is something on the same subject from
Senator Villas report, as Postmaster
General, in 1887:
II find significance in these figures
corroboratory of the opinion already
expressed in another connection, that
all reasonable improvements in the
affairs and facilities of post Offices will
produce more gain of revenue than
their cost.
" The paramount duty Of the Gov
ernment, so far as concerns this De-
partment, is to furnish the most per
fecr and useful postal facilities to the
people, within the authority of the
Constitution, which the skill of man
can provide, said Postmaster General
Villas. And again, he said: The
people will welcome every new at
tempt, even though highly experiment
tai, to advance the, utility of their
service The letter sheet envelop, a
patented article, controlled by cor
poration, was introduced under Mr..
Villas, though Congress had made pro-
visions years before for this adoption.
If this legislation is secured, and l
think it will, 1T will involve little or
no change in the methods now in
vogue in handling the mails. If there
be any change, it will be rather to the
economy side of the Gooernment, SO
far as expense in handling is concern.
ed with a surprising resultant increase
in the revenues. Competition among
business men of this country, having
in view the attraction of attention to
their wares, or whether it may be, has
in the past few years become very
great AS a matter of fact, men In all
kinds of business are sort of lying
awake nights in the devisement of the
best, and, at the same time, the least
expensive method of bringing their
business or goods to the attention of
the public A vast sum of money is
spent annually in this direction; and
with this view the mails are used in
every possible way.
"Now, the mail service has been
built up with the idea of extending
every facility, not only for friendly
correspondence, but for the upbuild-
ing of trade and commercial interests
and in this matter, the inventor has
rendered the public real service.
u think the Governments interest
are fully protected by the bill and the
discretionary power i. vests in
the Postmaster General. 1t provides
that 1t shall be lawful for these cards
and envelopes to be carried in the
mails of the United States and the
postage paid on presentation of the
coupons detached at office OF mailing
or delivery. 1t also requires the AS.
sociation to keep on deposit in cash q
sum sufficient, In the judgment of the
Postmaster General, to make daily or
weekly settlements. The Association
pays the postage for all business men
using the device, and afterward. al
state intervals, collects the postage
from each business man for the actual
number of missives delivered to him.
as evidenced by the officially Cancelled
cupons bearing his name"
! Carlton Cornwell, foreman of the Gazette,