The Portland daily press., 1898-08-24
IMPERIAL PENNY POSTAGE.
It VIII Shortly Prevail All Over the Brit
ish Empire.

(LOuQO0 L6TUer III DObtOu 1IoAooiA AZ"
Imperial penny rostage-that is. the
sending OF letters between oil parts of the
British empire at penny the half ounce
has long been one of the cherished pro-
jects Of the advocates of closer and
more practical union between the colo
MES and the mother country. A penny
suficed to carry letter between any two
postoffices In the United Kingdom; but
to and from the colonies two pence half
penny-the rate of the postal union be-
tween foreign countries-was necessary.
Originally the charge had been six pence,
then 1t had been reduced to the present
rate; while the postofice, usually a
stronghold of opposition to any change
was willing to cut off anot her half-pen-
ny. Why not, said the supporters of a
universal penny post within the EN- pire,
reach the goal at one step? The colonies
should be treated for postal purposes as
parts of common country; the two
pance half-penny rate was burden upon
many of the poor; the inevitable increase
in correspondence at penny would in
the end balance the loss of revenue the
lower postage might at first bring. If 1t
did not, for both practical and sentiment
tai reasons, the price was worth the pay
ing.
At first many men regarded an imperi-
al penny post as a fad and its advocates
as enthusiasts who gave too little heed to
it's effects upon revenue at homo and
abroad. Then, with the growth of the i'm
perial impulse, public, opinion both in
England and the colonies began to warm
toward it, BY the time the colonial
premiers had gathered in London for the
Queens Jubilee it had become definite
part of Mr.. Chamberlain programme
for closer relations between the colonies
and England. AS soon as they were ready
for penny post he said, the home gov
eminent was prepared to grant it. For q
year the change has been discussed to and
fro between the colonial office, the post
office and the colonial capitals. This
week, finally, at conference of colonial
agents here in London, the representa-
tives of the Canadian and South African
colonies announced that they were ready
to lower the postage, and in a few
months penny will carry letters each to
each and between them and the home
country.
The smaller crown colonies will shortly
take q similar step; the Indian govern
ment is more likely to approve than dis
approve the change; and only the various
Australian states hold aloof. Their gov
ernments sanction the principle of the
change, but they dare not risk the loss
of revenue. Public and private finances
in Australia are just beginning to recov-
or from the consequences of the late de-
preston there. The postage in letters
passing between colonial towns is two
Renee. and to lower the charge for letters
to England or to other colonies to PEN
nv would almost certainly provoke de-
mand for u like reduction of the local
rate. The temporary loss of revenue from
both sources would be mora than the
Australian treasures could bear; but
there is no doubt that In few years a
penny rate will be possible for them and
Federation through the postoffice," as
the advocate of the change like 20 call it.
will be complete. "The imperial fedora
ton which we all DESIRE" says the Times
very truly, ais not to be brought about
by any snowy comprehensive scheme. 1t
can be built up only by degrees upon q
basis of solid arrangements to meet real
wants and to promote common interests
cheap imperial post is such an ar
rangement which Is worth any amount
Of sentiment, however, admirable, and
any amount Of defamation, however
eloquent" The Times's view is charac-
REALISTICALLY English, and were Anglo
American understanding substituted
for imperial federation it would apply
almost as we'll to the relations of England
and of the United States.