The suburban citizen., 1902-05-03
INTERNATIONAL POSTAGE.
The Difficulties in the way of Securing
Universal stamp.

Universal stamp.
u observe that there has been consid
ernble comment in the press with ref
erence to the issuing of a universal
postage stamp, which may be used In
all countries some persons appearing
to be under the impression that the is
suing of such a stamp might be ef
fected without much difficulty" re
marked Washington author, but in
this they are in error, as also they
would appear to be with past efforts
in this direction on the part Of the
| United States Government through its
| Official representatives in the different
international postal conferences here
tofore held.
The designation universal postage
stamp is also incorrect. as such stamp
would be known as an international
postage stamp. The proposition to Is.
sue this international postage stamp
has been brought before several inter.
national postal congresses that is, the
periodical meeting OF delegates from
the different countries which constl.
tute the universal postal union, the
last of which, it is my impression, was
held in Washington a few years ago.
In 1891, at the postal congress held
in Vienna, the delegates from the Unit.
ed States introduced a proposition to
have such stamp issued by the re-
spective countries, but it was voted
down. 1t was argued by our delegates
that the time had come for the issuing
of such n stamp, they pointing out the
Inconvenience to travellers and CORE
spondents in securing stamps of other
countries for return replies, and other
purposes, and, while foreign letters
may be mailed without prepayment of
postage, their recipients are placed un-
der practical penalty Of being obliged
to pay double postage to be collected
upon receipt. Other disadvantages Of
the present methods, as the unused
stamps Of the different countries are
difficult to obtain, were shown, as were
the many advantages which would ac-
crue to the corresponding public If
an international stamp Were obtain
able.
"These arguments were without
avail, however, and one Of the main
reasons is that the international stamps
might be bought in n country where
the fixed standard of money value was
less than in another country, and they
could bep urchased in the first instance
at less actual gold value, and sold in
another, where the standard was
higher, at ii speculative profit. The
postal revenues of the first country
would be enhanced at the expense of
the postal revenues Of the second coun-
try. This is a point, which is here
gone into very briefly, which would
not occur to the public, as the question
of revenue would be overlooked by the
paramount one OF convenience, from
the publcs standpoint These stamps
would also be used as currency.
such stamp would be of decided
convenience to authors, business men,
travellers, etc. In sending manuscript
abroad, TO London, say, it is necessary
to buy British postage stamps at a
slight premium, and the same is true
IN all instances where the sender
wishes reply. have never seen 1t
officially announced that the present
administration is in favor Of or against
snch a stamp. Postage stamps are
used too much nov as currency in the
absence Of a more convenient medium
Of transmission of small amounts
through the mail, where it is not de-
sired to obtain money order, or to
register letter. To more or less ex-
tent the Government loses on the trans.
action in two ways not generally un-
derstood, first, the pcstmaster's sal
airy, and allowances at Presidential
offices, and it is in the large offices
where the great bulk Of postage stamps
are sold, are largely regulated by these
sales, and where persons buy their
stamps in quantities at large post
office and then deposit their letters
for mailing in fourth.class office,
where the postmaster's salary Is regu-
lated by his cancellations, the Gov
ernment pays two individuals for what
should be practically one service or
transaction.
However the international post
age stamp may yet come. The return
international postal card now in use
is the first step. 1t is proposed to have
a return envelope When this last
proposition carries in an international
postal congress, there may be some
hope Of an international postage
stamp, but until then the public may
rest content that such stamp is
long way from realization. ."-Washing
ton Star.