The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-11-01
POSTAL MATTERS,

Ono cenG leGGer postage has long been
dream of many, but so far it has
been prevented largely because of the
deficit which annually occurs in the
expense of handling the postofice de-
partment. Senator Mason of Illinois
is advocating bill to reduce letter
postage within large cities from 2 to
1 cent. The Chicago Inter Ocean looks
upon this measure as simply an enter
ing wedge by which it is hoped to Sc
cure general 1-cent rate for the en-
tire country, and thinks that before
the people and congress give consent
to such measure, they should consider
just what it means, and the burden it
would impose upon the federal treas
ury for years to come.
In 1865 the postal revenues exceeded
expenditures by nearly million dol
lars, the letter rate was then cents
per half ounce. The resumption of
federal mail service in the southern
states and extensions to new western
settlements involved large expense,
and turned the surplus into a def
cheney and in 1868 the federal treasury
was paying % per cent of the postal
expenses. But this extension was
necessary and ultimately became most
profitable, so that in spite of reduc-
lions made in some rates through the
JUS the postottice department showed
surplus of nearly two millions in
| 1882 and of 2, SOL, 993 in 1888. At this
Juncture congress cut the letter rate
to cents per half ounce, and the
periodical rate to cent per pound.
| That wiped out the surplus entirely,
as was expected, and it has never yet
gained the ascendancy. This def,
cheney has ranged from about three
| millions to over eleven millions annu
ally, with an average of about si1
millions, so that in the past eighteen
years the people have paid more thar
$103, 900, 900 out of the federal treasury
to sustain their postal service.
To the person who writes only an
! occasional letter, the reduction of let
| ter postage to 2 cents has never cut
much of figure, but to the large firms
and great CORPORATIONS it counts as q
great item, and these latter would like
to hape the present letter postage cut
right in two, and 80 have the general
public relieve them of a large expense.
That is the real status of the agitation
of the l cent postage campaign at this
time. To the public in general the
cent postage is not burden.
1t would seem that there are other
features of our postal system which
need attention just at this time in pre-
ference to the reduction of letter post
age. Just at the present time wher
the rural delivery scheme is occupyins
a large portion of public attention, il
poor time for the agitation of sucl
a cut. The complete inauguration O.
a rural delivery system will give the
country far greater benefits than would
a reduction of the letter postage
| which is not heavy burden upon tn,
! people. Much,bett would it be to taxi
money out of the federal treasury t.
pay for the extension of this system,
than to use it to assist the large nsers
of stamps to help defray their postage
bills. Such move would more
greatly ensure the self-paying of the
department when one cent postage doe
come, and in many ways would hastel
, its advance.
If Senator Mason is so anxious t.
benefit the people through the mean
of the postal department, why does b,
not tackle the feature of the expense O
railway transportation of the mails
and get the rental for railway mai
cars put upon something of a reason
able basis. Here, if all reports beal
even the semblance of truth, is grea
| field for him to exert himself in behal
of the people, and would so help Il
adjust expenses in that department
as to hasten the day for one cen
| postage.