New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-19
TO STOP FRANK ABUSE.
Philippine Government Sets Exam
pie for the United States.
IFrom The Tribune Bureau


Washington. March lS-The postal administra-
ton of the Philippines has taken the step advo-
Gated so strongly by Edwin c. Madden. Third AS
sistaat Postmaster General, for the United States
government. to wit; The ranking privilege has
been entirely abolished the islands. and every
piece Of mail matter, whether private official,
must bear a postage stamp.
The motives actUatng the insular government in
taking this step the same that suggested 10
General Madden the desrabiIity Of aboshing the
ranking privilege in the United Statesa deficit in
the postal bureau. The Philippine officials were
satisfied that the postal department Of the Islands
would take of itself. provided Il could be
placed a business basis. Under the old regime
vast quantities Of Official mail was being trans
ported and handled rom which no revenue was de-
rived. The matter simply bore the usual penalty
card" and was carried free.
The insular bureau is In a sense law 10 itself,
and has authority 10 handle its postal affairs
co-dlng 10 tho desires Of the department, without
invoking legislation by Congress. The postal de
partment weary Of its regular annual deficit and
the unfavorable comment that naturally followed.
took the matter into its hands and issued an
order that hereafter all mail of the insular govern
ment must carry the requisite stamps. The order
went into effect and the various bureaus of the
insUIar government are paying their good money
to the postof5ce department Of the islands and
afixing postage stamps to every piece Of mail de-
posted in the Office, whether II be domestic or for
eign mail
insular government buy quantities OF stamps of
various denominations, and with a rubber stamp
overprint them with the initials go. B." which
signifies "offical business" Money TO purchase the
stamps is taken from the insular treasury. paid to
the postal department, which in turn deposits tho
money in the insular treasury. 1t is literally case
OF taking money out Of one pocket and putting it
into the other yet II enables the postal department
10 obtain credit for the business it actually does
and requires the other departments to charge them
selves with a legitimate expense. The insular gov
eminent. as whole, has not made or lost cent
beyond the actual cost Of printing the postage
stamps. which IS about 10 cents for a thousand
stamps.
In his annual report to Congress. General Mad
den recommended that the ranking privilege be
abolished, and that members Of Congress and Off
Gals In the departments be required affix pos
tage stamps to all mail sent out. He proposed
specific appropriations which should cover the
amount Of the cost Of stamps used by members Of
Congress and the departments In official CORE
spOndence or for prepayment of postage docu-
scheme would result in aHv net saving TO the
government. but it would enable the PostofHce De
100000 and this amount would he added to the
expenditure Of the other departments according to
the amount Of postage stamps required.
IT IS not expected that action will be taken along
ter has had attention at the hands Of the House
Iostoflce Commltlee. aqc It IS ackn9wedged that
POstofice Department The campaign I'm this d-
reetion will be continued. and it is only question
OF Few years when all departments and officials
will be using postage stamps.
the ranking privilege be required to obtain from
the POstofrCe Department stamped envelopes for
use Of correspondence and specially designed
postage stamp for use on documents. Upon the
upper right hand corner would appear the
bossed stamp E in ordinary stamped envelopes. and
in the left hand the and address of the
member Of Congress or department and bureau.
with tho words beneath: within mail is official"
This would Obviate the objection thai might he
raised 70 the labor required 70 affix stamps upon
letter mail. and while II would require some add
uonal help and there would be some expense for
the embossiug Of the stamp on the envelope this
expense would undoubtedly be small compared
with the saving in other directions. Members Of
Congress would exercise more care i'm the Of
stamped envelopes which would he charged
them and a record kept which would be COM
parable with the records Of other members, and the
would be true i'm the case Of the use Of special
stamps FOR documeUtE, etc. At least this system
would do away with the sending Of millions Of
speeches broadcast during political campaign and
the fra1king Of iron safes. furniture and farm
harness.
IT is proposed that the adhesive stamps for docu-
meuta-v mail shah be Of various denomius tons.
from one cent 20 81, Of distinctive design and
shape and all OF one color. preferably black These
stamps would be unavailable for use ordinary
private mail, and Of no mOuey value except they
might he desired for use in violation Of law, to
save the Of regular postage stamps.
The entire additional expense Of the plan would
he than met by the Increased revenues from
matter row believed 70 be transported by the hun
drlds Of tons. for which present the government
receives cent Meanwhile the deficit increases