The Washington herald., 1908-07-08

L =
had a deficit for many years in the postal
| service.
The reduction OF postal rates leads 10
an increased business and larger receipts
/ in the end The history Of the United
States postal service proves this. In the
case of our foreign mail business with
Great Britain. for instance. the number
of letters received from that country was
/ i, 10000 annually ten years ago. Since
then there has been an Increase Of nearly
100 per cent the total number Of letters
received here from Great Britain having
been 100000 last year. Ii has been esti-
mated that during the first years opera
tioin Of the new postal agreement there
will be a falling of Of $4,000 in the re-
oeipts OF the British treasury. A SIMILAR
deficit is expected in the United States.
but within a very few years. II is be
Ilieved. the revenues will increase over
what they are now. by reason OF the ex-
pected growth in international postal bus
liness.
Last year the total weight OF mails dis
patched by sea 70 different foreign coun-
tries aggregated 1872 $50 pounds. Of
which 2.O7S.ll7 pounds were letters and
postcards. During the same period, II
lis estimated. 500. 546 was received by
THE Post-office Department as postage on
articles exchanged with all foreign coun-
tries. Of which S6,579. .043.4S was collected
on mail matter from countries other than
Canada and Mexico. This sum was 81
I637, ,226.sI IN excess Of the net cost of the
service with all countries except those
named. However. the cost referred to does
mot include the cost Of transporting for
leign mail matter or articles destined for
foreign countries 10 and from the Offices
where they are delivered and mailed. This
expense is borne out Of the annual appro-
lpriation for transportation Of mails. II
lis stated however that the receipts from
the foreign mail service are large enough
10 pay all the expense Of that service in
cluding transportation in the United
: States. and leave a comfortable surplus
( besides.
In return for the two-cent rate from this
country. Great Britain will charge a
penny. equivalent to two cents, on letters
coming 10 America. This rate has been
in force between Canada and England for
some time. and II has even been possible
10 get a letter from Great Britain delv-
cred In this country for a penny by send
r ing 1t to Canada and having II forwarded
, from there. Indeed, a penny will now
take a British letter 10 Mexico Cuba, or
Panama, provided It Is first landed at
some Canadian port
, The new British rate will be long ster
4 toward the simplificaton OF the worlds
postal system. which simplifying process
: ought TO end. in the opinion of postal re-
s formers. only in the establishment OF a
= universal rate for letters. another for
: printed matter. and perhaps a third for
e miscellaneous matter, all Of them as low
+ as possible. This ideal state Of affairs is
: not expected, however. for some time tc
S come. There are so many governments
= with different policies TO be considered
and II would seem unfair and impractical
, ble to charge the same rate on a letter
mailed and delivered In the city Of Wash
a ington. for instance. as on a letter sent e
o Patagonia or Pekin. But there is a dis
5 tinct tendency in that direction. For q
d century or more the rates of postage her,
e and abroad have been gradually reduced
: and postal facilities improved. Each steI
: has marked an increase in the amount Of
e mails handled and the receipts Of tn,
e postal service.
h In the infancy OF the republic ther,
d were countless different rates of postage
y according 10 the number of sheets in
|, letter or newspaper the distance carried
g &c. There were single. double and trlpl,
h letters. and an ounce, the present mini
?, mum weight for letters. was counted Al
II four letters. and charged for accordingly
The first act OF Congress fixing the rate
Of postage was passed in 1892 IL mad
? cents the minimum charge for a singh
" letter carried thirty miles or less, and s.
!. on up TO 25 cents for 40 miles. In othe
= words. an ounce letter sent across III
% continent If IT could have been delivered
!, would have cost about 81. Now a lette
~ Is carried 10000 miles TO the Philippine
n for 2 cents.
ie In 179e the gross revenue of the Post
" Office Department was only S67. .443. whic
10 is not to be wondered at, considering tn
. high price of postage and the poor IA
IA clities offered. The growth OF posta
at business following the reduction Of rate
II and increase of facilities. and incidental
ID the increase Of population. Is strlkingl
"a illustrated by the fact that in 1870 onl
~ 10000 pieces of mail matter were han
died in the United States, whereas. dur
=. ing the past fiscal year II is estimate
that from twelve to fifteen billion piece
~ OF mail matter were handled. producin
81 a gross revenue OF nearly SS4. .OO0 600. T
lie perform this service cost the governmer
D. over $780, 100000
70 From time 10 time Congress has passe