94 
of monopoly to periodicals, has com- 
pelled authors and publishers to issue 
almost all publications periodicaly so 
as to enjoy the benefit of the lessen- 
ed postage, and thus the mails have 
been loaded with them as heretofore 
and even often with pamphlets and 
books, such being the need of the 
people. 
Upon newspapers the tax amounts 
to about twenty-five per cent on , the 
average for weekly papers. 
On a paper of g 2 per anuum, 52 
numbers at 1 cent 52 cents, or 26 
per cent. When sent far 2 cents 
g 1.4 or 52 per cent! 
On a daily paper of g 8 per annum 
about 800 papers at 1 cent g 3 or 
3 7i per cent, or 75 per cent when 
sent far! 
On periodicals, monthly or quar- 
terly, of about g 5 per annum, and 
about 60 sheets at l! cent 90 cents 
or nearly 20 per cent, when sent far 
2£ cents the sheet g 1.50 or 3 71 per 
cent! 
Even these rates are extravagant 
and useless. This tax is not re- 
quired by our treasury, which is now 
overflowing. It is not required by 
the people who loudly complain of 
it. It is a tax on industry and 
knowledge, the very reverse of the 
protective taxes on industry. Last- 
ly it is not required by the post 
office department, because the tax 
on letters pays all expenses. It is 
said that half of it alone goes into 
the post office treasury, the other 
half being allowed to the postmas- 
ters as a compensation for the trou- 
ble of distribution. The half go- 
ing to the post office is such a trifle 
as not to be wanted by it. If all 
postages on these were abolished 
there would be no lack of applicants 
for the office of postmasters every 
where, with the express condition of 
distributing periodicals gratis. Or 
if that would be too liberal, a small 
compensation of one cent for every 
periodical distributed, might be al- 
lowed to the postmasters alone, the 
United States or post office depart- 
ment charging nothing. There is 
already a precedent for this practice 
in the city letters, on which 1 cent 
is allowed to the postmaster alone 
on each letter large or small. 
No more trouble is found to dis- 
tribute a pamphlet or book, than a 
periodical pamphlet, and therefore 
one cent to postmasters on each 
would also be an adequate compen- 
sation. Eut with the actual abomi- 
nable tax of 200 per cent on them, 
any modification would be accepta- 
ble, even one cent a sheet which 
would reduce the tax to one-sixth. 
Now a pamphlet of 64 pages 8vo. 
or 4 sheets, pays 25 cents postage, 
or 150 per cent! on first cost of about 
10 cents, or 100 per cent on selling 
cost of 25 cents ! ! ! 
At this new rate they would pay 
4 cents or 40 per cent on cost or 17 
per cent on selling price. 
A book of g 2 and 25 sheets now 
pays g 1.56 postage tax or 78 per 
cent; but on the prime cost of about 
75 cents, it is above 200 per cent. 
While by the new rate it would be 
16 per cent on selling price or 33 
per cent on the prime cost. 
If it is contended that the mails 
would be loaded with books and 
pamphlets at this rate, so much the 
better, since knowledge would cir- 
culate freely and rapidly. Pamph- 
lets and periodicals could be carried 
by the mail in weekly wagons, at a 
cheap rate, instead of daily mail 
bags, by new and easy arrangements. 
At present a single book or pamph- 
let can hardly circulate. It must 
be sent with others in packages, at a 
great expense of time if not money. 
The same facilities ought to be 
extended to every kind of printed 
materials sent by mail, as handbills, 
circulars, engravings, prints, music., 
&c. It is a shame to charge letter 
postage for any printing less than 2 
sheets. They certainly cannot be 
heavier for the mail nor more trou- 
blesome to deliver. There is no 
excuse for this imposition and pro- 
hibition of knowledge. Handbills 
