Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-08-16
STAMP CURRENCY NUISANCE.
Augustus Postmaster Prepare. OPENING Pare,
at Postal Convention.

tHiS Siea' So"Hty tHe nook or GRANNY
where some individual has not EXPERT
enced the difficulties of sending small,
sums Of money by mail, only in the end
to resort to an expedient his common
sense told him was awkward and in
adequate.
| Thousands upon thousands of dol
| lars are lost every year, dribbling ont
of envelopes worn at the edges with
long travel, while more thousands reach
their destination in the form of nos
tage stamps which were neither de-
signed nor are suitable for this purpose
| to which SO many feel Obliged to nut
| them, with annoyance to either sender
, or receiver and usually both. while in
| many cases the loss to the latter is
enormous in the aggregate.
| Meanwhile this make-shif. nuisance
has caused other trouble. the country
postmaster who sold them gets nothing
| for his work and responsibility in
handing thefh' Tor his pay comes from
cancellations, and the post office i'm the
TOWN where they are received handles
| the outgoing mail to which the re-
ceiVer may aiilx these stamps and gets
no pay or credit for so doing, because
its class and pay rolls depends on or
are based upon the stamps sold and
other postage received. Here is a great
| injustice to communities as well as to
persons, both ways, ana vet the STAMP
| as currency sticketh closer than a
brother and seems to DEFY all efforts to
| tear it off and apply it solely to its
proper uses.
The magnitude Of this nuisance has
long been appreciated In Augusta
where through the medium Of the great
publishing interests here the extent Of
the evil Is seen to better advantage
than in some other localities Immense
quantities Of stamps are received here
in lieu of suitable small money for
transmission in the mails. These are
but in small part used on the large let
ter mails sent out by thes, publishers.
which mails must be- handled by the
ONCE mere without any credit for the
work done. The great surplus Of
stamps is consequently disposed of to
dealers al discount. first being handl-
ed over and arranged in packages at no
small expense in the aggregate. and
thus another injury is inflicted.
All this and very much more than
there is opportunity here to mention is
suffered by a long suffering public
through lack Of suitable currency
substitute. Various remedies have been
suggested. with a somewhat desultory
effort. both by interests directly in
jured and by the heads Of the postal
service. OF course objections have
been offered to each suggestion and
this may still be looked for. But the
agitation cannot be suppressed for
there is vital necessity urging il on
and which will not be appeased short
Of practical relief.
This year it is proposed to give the
subject exhaustive discussion at the
national postal convention which meets
in November at Washington.
This is an assemblage of practical
men. at least so far as postal affairs
are concerned. being composed of the
heads Of the national postal service
and the postmasters of the country.
Mr.. Stinson. the postmaster Of this
city. has been requested by those in
charge Of the arrangements to present
the subject to the convention with a
paper. This is indeed Il noteworthy
distinction. coming as it does unsolicit-
derStood the fact that such assign
ments are practically made through
the recommendations of the depart
ment. which is DESTROYS of having this
matter thoroughly treated at this forth
coming conventions
1t is probable that Mr.. Stinson's
views on this subject. fGr the Journal
is under the impression that on at
leas zone occasion several years ago
they Mere presented for consideration
when the matter was under discussion,
have attracted the attention of the
present heads of the department. Any
how the selection is a most happy one
for Mr.. Stinson not only has had ex-
ceptional opportunities for experience
ing the Inconvenience and worse with
which the existing slip-shod postage
stamp currency affects both business
and postal interests. but has given ii
consideration and careful study. and is
certain to" present the subject for dis
cussion with the clearness. mastery of
detail and practical suggestion 50 inn
portant n question deserves.