Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1908-01-09
REDUCING; J. Of POSTAGE /
Immediate Legislation Advocated
by Postal Progress League.
GREAT SAVING TO THE PUBLIC

~ss67s o7VuVA ~ I'LL OO6SO
Congress to 30 Asked to Consolidate
First, Third and Fourth Class Of
Mail, With Common Rate of One
Cent For Each Two Ounces or Frac-
ton Thereof.
At the instance of the Postal Progress
league bill will be introduced in con-
gress at an early date for the consoli-
dation of the first. third and fourth
classes of mail matter with common
rate of / cent for each two ounces or
fraction thereof. says the New York
Post.
The idea represented TN this bill will
constitute the principal point Of the
leagues programme for the coming
year. 1t is hardly to be expected that
so radical move will receive the sane
ton Of legislative enactment, but that
prospect does not deter the association
from furthering a reform the accept
ance of which it considers to be only
a question Of time.
In statement issued by the league
explaining this move the reasonable
ness and feasibility Of the demands are
set forth and its timeliness Is empha-
sized. The prevailing depression in
business, according to the league, must
lead to an irresistible demand for rea-
sonable postal legislation that will re-
duce business expenses and widen
business opportunities.
Our domestic letter revenues for the
past year amounted to about $16O, OOO,-
600. Reducing the rate from 2 cents
per ounce to 1 cent for two ounces
would therefore. according to the
league, save the public about $80,0OO,-
600 year In postage, and this saving
would grow as business increased.
There might be slight reduction in
revenues for year or two, but ex-
perience teaches that the postal income
would soon be larger than ever. In the
present case. moreover. any possible
reduction in the general revenues
would be fully met by the increased
rural income that would follow the es-
The first notable reduction in the
letter rates Of this country occurred in
1915, when the previously exorbitant
rates were reduced to cents per half
ounce up to 300 miles and 10 cents for
greater distances. The effect of this
reform in the revenue was to bring
about temporary reduction, but by
1913 the figures of 1916 had been sur
passed.
In 1851 the rates were again reduced
to 3 cents per half ounce up to 5000
miles and cents for greater distances.
Again the revenue showed temporary
slump; but by 1855 the previous figures
were again surpassed. The act of 1869
making the three cent half ounce rate
of 1851 the uniform rate for all dis
tances was followed by a steady in
crease Of postal income. During the
interval 1SS3-1SS5 the letter rates were
reduced from 3 cents per half ounce
to 2 cents per ounce, and the publish
ers and newsdealers' rates on maya
zines and newspapers were cut from
to 2 cents per pound. Again there
was slight temporary falling Off in
revenue from $45.5OO.OOO in 1888, but
by 1887 it had reached $48,SOO,OOO and
by 1890 $6O,S00,00O. In 1900 it was
$1O2,000.000. The postal deficiency for
1883 was less than for any year dur
ing the period from 1867 to 1879.
AS result Of the 33 1-3 per cent
reduction of the letter rate in 1883 the
postal revenues fell off less than per
cent in the two succeeding years. and
the 100 per cent increase Of the letter
unit-from half ounce to an ounce
in 1885 was accompanied by an i'm
mediate increase in the revenues which
in 1887 were per cent, in 1890 SO 1-3
per cent and in 1900 100 per cent high
er than in 1888. the year of the letter
rate reduction.
The rapid increase In our population,
which contributed largely to the in
creased use Of the mails and the con-
sequent increase Of income that quick
~ followed the reduced rates of 1916,
1851 and 1888, will prove a yet more
potent factor in increasing our postal
income under the proposed reduction
Of rates, for our population is growing
more rapidly today than ever before.
If the ratio Of increase Of the last sew
en- years continues. the growth of our
population during the decade 10000
will be over 100000. or 33 1-3 per
cent more than in any previous decade.
The immigration of each of the last
three years-over 100000 year-has
been double that of any Of the seven
years following the postal reduction in
rates of 1883.
The experience Of England as to the
effect of bringing her letter service
within the use of the common people
has been precisely the same as ours.
The reduction from the distance sys-
tenn Of postage with rates cents per
half ounce up to fifteen miles or "a
cents for the greatest distance to the
uniform 2 cents half ounce rate Of 1880
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