Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-02-13
ONE CENT POSTAGE.
Bill Has Been Introduced In Both
Branches Of Congress.

Bill Has Been Introduced IN Both
Branches Of Congress.
Washington. February 5.-LeGsla-
ton looking towards a one-cent letter
postage rate has been introduced In
congress by Senator Theodore e. Bur-
ton, of Ohio. who offered bill In the
senate. and Representative John w.
Weeks. of Massachusetts,. who pre-
sented a similar one in the house.
Senator Burton. known throughout
the United States for his advocacy OF
important river and harbor legislation
land chairman of the United States
senate committee on expenditures In
the treasury department. has indica-
ted that he will lead the campaign in
the senate for the passage Of the one
cent postage bill. Representative
John w. Weeks, Of Massachusetts,.
will look after the interest Of the bill
In the house.
July is the date set for the In
auguration of the new rate. provided
congress passes the bill at this ses-
sion. The bill itself is brief. but It's
preamble indicates very clearly the
reasons for a one-cent letter postage
rate.
The bill is as follows:
"The rate of postage on letter OF
one-half ounce weight or fraction
thereof, II carried from New York city
to Buffalo. q distance Of less than 500
miles, was in 1S4S 25 cents, and similar
rates, high as compared with present
rates prevailed elsewhere"
by successive and frequent reduce
tions this rate was reduced. until by;
act Of March 3, 1883. becoming opera
ltiye- October -i.-1883. the rate was 2
cents only for letter weighing one
half ounce or fraction thereof. to
be carried any distance whatever with
in the limits Of the entire country"
These reductions 80 stimulated the
growth Of mail of the first class that
no reduction, or only small tempor-
airy reduction in revenue occurred.
These manifold reductions all took
place In the first 40 Of the last 70
years, while no reduction In first-ciass
postage rates. save that an extension
Of the weight limit from one-half
ounce or fraction thereof to one full
ounce or fraction thereof was made
in 1885, but that no other reduction
save this above named has been made
| in the period of nearly thirty years that
has elapsed since october 1, 1888.
During most of this time the first
class mail has produced q revenue
vastly In excess Of the costs Of Its
service, as an instance Of which the
revenue for the latest fiscal year, end
ing June 80, 1911. has been over $751;
600 900, of which amount s62.0o0.00o is
estimated profit to the department, thus
indicating that a considerable lower
rate, which would enormously stimu-
late the growth Of this class Of mail
with a resultant further increase OF
revenue therefrom, would probably
lamply compensate the government,
particularly bearing in mind that no
reduction is contemplated In postage
on postal cards.
ut was never intended that the de-
partment should make a profit from
any class Of mail.
Now, therefore be 1t enacted by
the senate and the house Of representa-
tives Of the United States OF America
in congress assembled, that upon all
mail matters Of the flrst-class postage
shall be charged, on and after the
/ first day Of July, 1912, the rate or i
cent per ounce or fraction thereof"