Year: 1875

The mode in which this table has been prepared lde-
scrbed in the accompanying note assures It's substan
tal accuracy and fully justfes any fair reasoning
which may be based upon IT, That II may be clearly
understood by those who desire full information on tho
subject t may be well state that the three classes
OF mail matter may be briefly described as ollows@
First Cldss-Wrtten correspondence; practically,
Seeond Class-Prnted matter regularly sent out At
stated periods from known offices OF publications; prac
ticaly, newspapers, magazines and reviews maleu to
regular subscribers.


Third Miscellaneous printed matter and other
articles declared malabe by law; practically, pamph
let's occasional publications. transient newspapers and
magazines, handbls posters, unsealed CIRCULARS pros
pectuses, books, manuscripts Tor publication, PROOF
Sheets revises maps, prints, engravings blanks pal
terms samples Of merchandise, cards. envelopes, Pho
tographs Seeds cuttings, bulbs ROOTS scions, &c, &C.
all obscene publications being excluded.


CHEAP POSTAGE.


As II Is the government loses annually large sum
Of money in the transportation OF the mails This loss
the system being wisely and economically managed the
people cheeruily pay as an indirect tax IN consdera
tion the great benefit done 10 public and private IN
tegence by the mails, and to trade and commerce
through the spread Of that intelligence. II am cor
rect in this idea Of the legitimate province OF postal
system IL is clear that the true problem for Congress
to solve in amending the act to which reference has
been made s this-To cheaper postage for the whole
people by such Amendments to the act as shall not SO
Increase the cost OF the postal service IN the ranspor
taton OF articles in which comparatively few are inter
ested TO nulify the proposed lower posages III TINS
can be done the will De universally acknowledged as
one OF wisdom and propriety. II, on the contrary,
hostages on mail almost universally used by the
people be reduced think they ought TO be, and at
the same time postages be also reduced on articles
which were not originally maiable matter, which are
carried by and grace rather than by natural 1T
ness and In which only few are interested, In tnat
only benefit the few at the expense ofthe many
indirect one.


think the problem can be solved in favor of cheaper
postage without this additional indirect tax


PRACTICAL SOLUTION OF rHE PROBLEM


While am opposed therefore, as have said, 70 tho
exclusion from the mails Of any matter now mailable
believe the practical solution OF the problem which is
this time presented for solution lies IN plain and
simple amendment the law as IL stands. That
amendment would be as tollows:-


Let the law remain precisely as H. except 10 ex
clude from the operation OF the OF Congress ncreas
ing rates third all transient newspapers
aud magazines, unscaled circulars and prospectuses
and expressly m the rates OF these @ they we're before
This is very simple proposition and needs little
gumentaton. The things upon which postages are
here proposed to be reduced among those which all
men will recognize natural mailable matter Let the
mails carry them cheaply, at loss Ii need be- The
general tax thereby s legitimate and will be cheerfuy
paid by the public at large but 1t is unjust unphilo
sophical and unfair to mako the general public
pay tax in support OF the private business OF ndi-
viduals and companies and In this category must be
placed all the other malable articles embraced in
class There will be little or no dispute as to tho
truth Of this statement except perhaps as TO books
1t will be claimed that books being notable for
the dissemination OF intelligence, ought especially TO
be designated as maabe matter


There Is apparent than real force in this state
ment, applied 70 the mails. The value Of very many
books as medium Of intelligence Is cheerfuy admitted





published goes through the mails Nearly all books
bought at the counters Of local booksellers, who
| who have handsome discount In their purchases
| from the publishers. What does IL avail a in
| Washington, for example, 10 send to New York pub
Usher for book which he can get at Washington
bookstore for precisely what IL will cost him in New
| York; BY sending TO New York he simply pays the
price OF his letters postage in addition, and runs
| the risk or the loss OF his remittance.
| The publisher, however, gets more for the
book after he has paid the postage it, than the
price OF It TO 1.-THE trade Thus the local dealer loses
hItua ltft
the book, and only the public benefited This Is but
an illustration OF a general truth. The claim that
books ought TO be specially privileged by the mails 10
not made IN the interests Of tue many but In that OF
the few II Is not the interest OF the great body OF
readers Of books II is not in the interests OF the great
body of booksellers. That am right this matter Is
shown by the fact that Notwithstanding the dineren,
changes that have been made In the rate OF postage
books, IL being sometimes twice as high others
and then again the reverse there has been no change
in the advertised price of books by mail Where
FORE Notwithstanding my high regard for books their
authors and publishers rule, cannot think their
| works properly should be placed among privileged
packages in the United States mails. However II may
be with authors publishers OF books not primarily
governed by desire disseminate intelligence Their
acknowledged motive tile concentration Of profits in
their own Golfers. do not understand that it Is the
business OF our public postal system TO aid them this
private kind OF enterprise, no matter how commend
able Il may be-


IT. now, the postage on transient newspapers peri.
odicals and other tems OF mail matter before men
toned be reduced TO the former rate leaving rates
OF other third class matter they are, we shall
have an act OF genuine cheap postage, based upon
sound business principles and discriminating in favor
OF The interests OF the whole people rather than Of the
few The larger number OF packages OF transient
newspapers &C, sent under these reduced would
in my opinion, increase the revenue more than the
augmented cost OF their transmission would TO-
On the other hand, the transportation In tho mails Of
samples Of merchandise, &c, done present rates
at loss to the government and this matter Is
rather irregular than regular mail matter think Il
would be manifest injustice and a needless burden
upon the whole people to reduce the rates.








have thus given you my views upon subject now
attracting much attention with considerable funess
and have set forth In detail the upon which they
are based because believe the solution the problem
which ! have herein set forth is the true remedy for
the Ills which are complained Of In this matter, and
because believe furthermore that II the suggestion
have vcntured 70 make be carried by Congress
IL will result in good 70 the public and good TO tho
postal service Win great respect, your obedient
servant, GEORGE 8 BANGS.


Sunerfntendeut Railway Mail Scryce