The morning times., 1896-02-16
Postage Stamps
for Each State
Various Designs Suggested to TYpifv
Sectional History or Pc
culiariticS.

1t is not unlikely that each State will
have its separate postage stamp. And that
upon receipt of a letter you can tell as far
as you can see it where it comes from.
bill has been introduced by Senator
Pugh, asking that each State SHAH have
the privilege Of issuing its own stamp
The governor OF the State, or the post
master, or the vote Of the people SHAH
determine the nature OF the stamp. The
design shall then be sent to the Postmaster
General who, upon approval, shall pass il
along to the President or designated Off
cials, who shall return il 10 the State with
written consent.
The stamps viii then be issued by the
postoffice Of the State that has Just se-
lected its private postage stamp, and the
burden of the expense shall fall upon the
taxpayers OF the State, and not upon are
whole United States. The red tape 81 TO
avoid the possibility OF any firm advcrIis-
ing through the United States postage.
This is certainly interesting, and IL It
passes Senator Pugh will be ber1 Who
has found something new. An ex-senator
speaking of it, said:
Those who are against it are so on
account OF the expense upon the tax
payers: but If this can be obviated or
brought under reasonable terms this, they
think. might be forgotten. But the bin
as it stands is agiiating patriotic souls,
"Oklahoma Territory almost unanimously
adopted the tnistletoe, so scarce elsewhere,
and Maine found the pine cone and tassel
its most characteristic bloom. Delaware
chose the peach, and Idaho voted for the
sweet syringia, while Minnesota, faithful
to its Indian ira additions. preferred the
lovely moCcasin flower. Wisconsin took a
tree, the maple, while Nebraska, Gecre-
tary Morton's own State, after trying TO
select a tree also, came back a last to the
favorite Of the Secretary, the golden rod.
''Thesc flowers are worth niemorizing,
especially if they are to be selected for
the State stamp, for the design upon the
stamp viii al once bc introduced as part
OF the curriculum of the public schools,
and the next generation of school children
VIII know them like the alphabet.
But there are other topics that arc as
interesting as the State flower. These
are historical scenes and certain associa-
tions that are inseparable in the thought
of the State.
New York is so identified with New
York haTbor and with ocean steamships
that the design of a vessel riding the
waves was selected by party OF gentle
men who met in the smoking room of a
Washington hotel to discuss the posi-
binty Of the stamp design. With a boat
upon the crest OF a wave the story OF the
great steamships and the principal port
of the United States would be told all over
the world wherever q stamp from New
YOry Travelled.
Massachusetts, too, has its distinctive
ness, aside from historic Cape Cod, and the
great people who have come from its
principal city. Massachusetts, is too his
tOrical 10 allow its past 10 20 unrecOgnizcd,
and in all its records nothing stands out
a. prominently as its tea party.
with all reverence the people OF Flor
ida would draw a picture OF Winnie Davis
and place il upon their stamps. This young
woman was The Daughter OF the Confcd-
eracy' in times past. Today she is the
Mother OF the New South Never did
Amazon or heroine live up TO her convic-
tions and traditions as does this his
toric young woman. She is the beautiful
personificatiOn Of patriotism and grace,