Evening star., 1902-08-21
Special Postal Union Envelope.

q
special postal union envelope with prepaid
reply this envelope to have the usual 5-
cent or 25-centime stamp imprinted there
on. paying outward postage half ounce
weight; to have in addition to this coupon
imprint on the face of the envelope giving
to the envelope an exchange value IN
stamps of the country of destination at any
of it's post offices of % centimes, or the
equivalent thereof and a redemption value
at the international bureau, Berne, SWitZer-
land, when presented by the central office
of the country of destination of 30 centlmes,
or it's equivalent. In order to provide for
the postage the incidental expenses of ex-
change and redemption, together with the
actual cost of the envelope, it would be
necessary to sell these envelopes singly for
u cents in the United States and 90 CEN
times, or the equivalent thereof, in other
countries. In quantities the actual cost OF
the envelope would of course, not justify
a charge of L cent each, or centlmes Inc
imprint on these envelopes would be in the
language of the country of origin; also Tn
the French language which is the ofncla
language of the postal union. Samples OF
them, with proper instructions, would be In
the hands of every postmaster In the sew
eral countries using them. The imprint
would declare these envelopes, when re-
lieved of their inclosure and presented to
any postmaster In the country OF destlna-
tion. exchangeable for postage stamps OF
that country of the value of % centimes, OF
the equivalent thereof, not otherwise nego-
table. The imprint should also declare that
this coupon envelope, when presented by
the central administration of the country OF
destination at the office of the international
bureau of the universal postal union
Berne, Switzerland would be there redeem
able in kind or in cash at the rate OF 81
centimes, or the equivalent thereof, for eacn
and every envelope. Postmasters could
readily identify these envelopes In exchange
for stamps, as they would all have been
duly accredited by the country Of origin
having passed through the malls.
Aga the accounting would be such that
postmasters would take credit for them IN
their stamp accounts. The central admin
istration OF each country could forward, al
stated times, all envelopes collected and
classified coming from number of coun-
tries Of the postal union and forward them
to the clearing house for settlement, all
balances to be paid in cash at the rate
named ~ centlmes each. This additional
charge would, it is thought fully compen-
safe for the cost of exchange and redemp-
tion, and perhaps more, than compensate
The disposition to reduce postage between
distant countries and the desire to facill.
tate correspondence might, indeed, suggest
charge of II cents or 55 centimes for en-
velopes when sold singly, and yet the ia.
cility afforded to any correspondent OF
| sending with his communication to friend
in a distant country what would amount
| to a postal money order or post check, pre-
paying reply to the letter, would be worth
to him l cent or centimes, 1t is thought.
May Be Tried at Once.
1.-The trial of this plan need not necessar'
lily await favorable action OF the universal
postal congress in convention assembled
Two or more countries might agree togeth:
er to test It. Postmasterss could be advised
OF the several countries havingpsuch agree
ments or conventions between them as they
are now advised Of the,ccountries having
parcel-post conventions between them.
| GnVelODeS an pXchang6aDl6
value of less than half their original cost
and having that exchangeablenvalu only
In stamps in the country Of destination, ane
being redeemabe only ae.the international
| bureau in Berne, or at the central office Of
administration in the country of origin
could not easily be used as currency or fol
| speculative purposes, would BET fully pro.
tected by law as government paper against
counterfeiting. and by reason Of theii
safety, convenience and inexpensive fea'
| lures would commend themselves to the
| class of people who expect to use. them
| promptly in actual correspondence"