Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-02
A NEW POSTAL TREATY
THE PRESENT CON
vENTIoN WITH CANADA.
May Be Sent to That
Country for One Cent for Each
Four Ounces in Bulk.

An agreement to amend the postal con-
vention existing between this country and
Canada has been reached by Postmaster
General Meyer and Postmaster General
Lemieux of the latter country, who has
been In this city since Thursday. The con-
vention will be amended only in so far as
1t concerns the transmission of newspapers
| and periodicals, known as second-class mat
ter, between the two countries. Canada ac-
cepts the tentative proposal of this country
that second-class matter mailed in one
country and addressed to the other might
be subject to rate Of l cent for each four
ounces or fraction thereof on each bulk
| package. prepaid by stamps affixed.
Under the arrangement which has here
tofore existed such mail matter has been
transmitted to destination in either -coun-
try on payment of the regular second-class
rate, no fiscal settlement being made on ac-
count of the difference in volume of the
| mail received by one country over that
| received by the other. On account of the
very large preponderance of mail matter
going from this country to Canada over
that received from that country, the agree
ment has operated very materially to the
advantage of this country.
Notice Of Abrogation.
The Canadian postal administration last
November gave notice that after May
next the paragraph Of the existing con-
| vention relating to the admission Of news
papers and periodicals from the United
States to the Canadian mails on payment
| of the 1 cent per pound rate at the Office
of origin would be abrogated, but later Of
| fered compromises.
These proposed that the rate upon news
papers and periodicals sent from the Office
and newsdealers in the other should be
either two cents per pound. each packet
stamped separately, or four cents per
pound bulk rate, the sender to have
send his mail in bulk or in separately ad-
dressed packets at the optional rates
named. This proposition appeared to be
| complicated and difficult of administration
and application, and it was, therefore, re-
jected by the United States postal authoE-
| tiles, who, In turn, submitted the tentative
proposal which has been accepted by the
Canadian officials.
| The rate agreed upon is substantially the
| transient second-class rate which the indi-
vidual citizen OF the United States now en-
| joys, the exception being that publishers
of the United States have an additional
privilege of mailing in bulk packages at
| the rate named. separately addressed news
| papers and periodicals intended for deliv-
the cost to publishers of the United States
| will be at least 90 per cent less than il the
Postal Union rate should be applied.
| The Compromise Reached.
| Postmaster General Meyer endeavored to
I secure a continuance of the old agreement
| until Congress shall have had an oppor-
| tunity to legislate upon the question of
| second-class postage. contemplated by
| the appointment Of the postal commission
! to investigate the subject, but 1t did not
| appear to be possible to maintain the status
quo, and the new agreement was. there
| fore, entered into for the protection of
| American publishers.
The conference between the postal off,
Gals Of the two countries. which has been
| in progress since last Thursday, was sup
Elemental to one recently held at Ottawa.
The negotiations on behalf of the Canadian
\ postal administration were conducted by
Postmaster General Lemieux. Deputy Post
master General Coulter and Postal Secretary
Smith; and on behalf of the United States
Post Office Department by Postmaster Cen
eral Meyer. Second Assistant Postmaster
| General Shallenberger and his successor,
Second Assistant Postmaster General Nc
Cleary. and Capt N. NJ Brooks. superin-
tendent division of foreign mails of the Of
flee Of the second assistant postmaster gen.
eral, and Third Assistant Postmaster Gen.
eral Lawshe and H. NJ. Bacon, superintend-
ent division of classification, Office of the
third assistant postmaster general.