Part 41

Numbers-- 1887. 1900. Per cent. Per cent. Parcels not exceeding 1 kg. in weight 17.158 12.163 " " 1-5 kg. " 62.086 68.874 " " 5-6 kg. " 7.095 7.783 " " 6-7 kg. " 3.984 4.081 " " 7-8 kg. " 2.629 2.364 " " 8-9 kg. " 1.809 1.466 " " 9-10 kg. " 1.353 .986 " over 10 kg. in weight 3.886 2.193

Revenue and distance of transmission--

Per cent. Postage, M. Local parcels 0.216 42,826 Zone I 42.535 9,639,750 " II 15.865 6,849,005 " III 25.258 10,906,357 " IV 14.610 6,321,769 " V 1.452 604,909 " VI 0.064 29,200

--F. Haass, ibid. p. 77; _Finanz-Archiv_, 1906; vol. i. p. 89; cf. Statistik, 1900, p. 31.

[458] Total number in 1870, 37 millions; in 1880, 60 millions; in 1890, 97 millions; in 1913, 280 millions.

[459] "Infolge seiner Billigkeit hat sich f[:u]r viele Handels- und Erwerbszweige ein unmittelbarer Verkehr zwischen Produzenten und Konsumenten entwickelt (Butter-, Fleisch-, Fischsendungen, u.s.w.), der fr[:u]her durch Zwischenhandel verteuert und erschwert wurde. Ganz neue Erwerbszweige haben sich gebildet, indem Erzeugnisse, die fr[:u]her am Produktionsorte fast gar nicht verwertbar waren, in Massen billig nach weit entfernten Gegenden versandt werden k[:o]nnen, um dort Verwertung zu finden. Auch die Hausindustrie ist durch direkten Bezug von Rohstoffen f[:u]r Spinnerei, Weberei, u.s.w., neu belebt worden."--Dr. Artur Schmidt, _Finanz-Archiv_,1906, vol. i. p. 84.

[460] "'Der Eisenbahn den Gross- und Massenverkehr, der Post den Kleinverkehr,' empfiehlt auch _de Terra_. In der Tat erscheint dieser Vorschlag verlockend. Denn die Post kann den ungeheueren Paketverkehr schon jetzt nur mit M[:u]he bew[:a]ltigen und ist zu dem Zwecke oft zur Einstellung kostspieliger Transportmittel (Eisenbahnbeiwagen) gen[:o]tigt."--Ibid., p. 90.

[461] Ibid., p. 91.

[462] "Abgesehen aber von diesem rein politischen Einwand w[:u]rde die Aufstellung eines komplizierten Zonentarifs bei dem heutigen Umfang des Packetverkehrs den Dienst unertr[:a]glich erschweren und verz[:o]gern. Es l[:a]sst sich wohl fragen ob, wenn jedes Packet auf seine Bef[:o]rderungsentfernung zu pr[:u]fen w[:a]re, der Dienst sich technisch durchf[:u]hren liesse, wenigstens zu Geb[:u]hren, welche den Verkehr nicht allzusehr einschr[:a]nken w[:u]rden."--C. H. Hull, op. cit. p. 31; _vide_ also Dr. Artur Schmidt, _Finanz-Archiv_,1906, vol. i. p. 87.

[463] E.g. "Es ist sogar wahrscheinlich, dass, wenn zu den Kosten der Eisenbahnleistungen f[:u]r Packetpostzwecke ein Betrag f[:u]r Verzinzung des Eisenbahn-Anlagekapitals noch hinzugerechnet wird, die Packetpost dann mit einem Defizit arbeitet."--C. H. Hull, op. cit. p. 152; ibid., p. 139. Cf. G. Cohn, _Finanzwissenschaft_, Berlin, 1889, p. 383, F. W. Grunow, _Zur Reform des Paketportos in Deutschland und OEsterreich-Ungarn_, Leipzig, 1898, p. 131; contra, _Handw[:o]rterbuch der Staatswissenschaft_, Jena, 1910, vol. vi. p. 1092.

[464] _British Official Records_, 1847.

[465] _British Official Records_, 1847.

[466] The new rates were--

Not exceeding 4 ounces 1d. " " 8 ounces 2d. " " 1 pound 4d. 2d. for every additional half-pound.

[467] See _supra_, pp. 129-131.

[468] 6th April, 1869; _Parl. Debates_ (_Commons_), vol. cxcv. col. 258.

"The Post Office revenue is derived mainly from the circulation of letters which pay 1d. for half an ounce, and if they exceed half an ounce, another 1d. The writers of those letters are not necessarily rich people, or persons to whom the postage is a matter of indifference; they are, in a certain sense, the helots who bear the burden of the expense of the Department. Is it, then, not a question worth considering, whether--supposing we accede to this request and carry 2 ounces of printed matter for a 1/2d., for the benefit of a particular class of the community--that might not interfere with the possibility of maintaining the 1d. postage on letters?"--Chancellor of Exchequer in House of Commons, 6th April 1869; _Parl. Debates_ (_Commons_), vol. cxcv. col. 254.

[469] The growth of the traffic is shown by the following table:--

Average Annual Year. Number of Book Packets 1872-76 143,000,000 1882-86 323,000,000 1892-96 570,000,000 1900-05 811,000,000 1909-10 974,000,000 1912-13 1,079,000,000 1913-14 1,172,000,000

--_The Post Office: An Historical Summary_, London, 1911, p. 14; and _Annual Reports of Postmaster-General_.

[470] See _First Report of the Committee on Retrenchment in the Public Expenditure_, 1915 (Parliamentary Papers, Cd. 8067 and Cd. 8068); _Times_ newspaper, 28th September 1915.

[471] A. Belloc, _Les Postes francaises, Recherches historiques_, Paris, 1886, p. 353.

[472] Law of 4 thermidor, an IV (22nd July 1796).

[473] P. Jaccottey, op. cit. p. 327.

[474] "Gedruckte B[:u]cher und Aemter-Rechnungen, Akzise-, Zoll-, und Messzettel, sowie f[:u]r Stempelpapier."--_Archiv f[:u]r Post und Telegraphie_, 1880, p. 268.

[475] This rate was, e.g., 2 groschen per pound from Berlin to Xanten or Duisburg, 1 groschen to Hamburg, and 2 pf. to Spandau.--Ibid., p. 269.

[476] Ibid.

[477] Law of 21st December 1849.

[478] The first penalty applied also to sample packets.

[479] "Zeitungen, Journale, Preis-Courante, gedruckte Cirkularien, Empfehlungsschreiben, Correkturbogen ohne beigef[:u]gtes Manuskript und gedruckte Lotterie-Gewinnlisten."

[480] To include "Druckschriften, Ank[:u]ndigungen und sonstige Anzeigen."

[481] _Archiv f[:u]r Post und Telegraphie_, 1880, p. 273.

[482] Order of 11th April 1856.

[483] _Archiv f[:u]r Post und Telegraphie_, 1880, p. 274.

[484] Ibid., p. 275.

[485] _Archiv f[:u]r Post und Telegraphie_, 1880, p. 276.

[486] Ibid., p. 278.

[487] Order of 3rd March 1873.

[488] Order of 18th December 1874.

[489] "Alle durch Buchdruck, Kupferstich, Stahlstich, Holzschnitt, Lithographie, Metallographie, und Photographie vervielf[:a]ltigten Gegenst[:a]nde" (Sofern sie nach ihrer Form und sonstigen Beschaffenheit zur Versendung mit der Briefpost geeignet erscheinen).--_Archiv f[:u]r Post und Telegraphie_, 1880, p. 281.

[490] "Auch der Erh[:o]hung des Meistgewichts l[:a]sst sich das Wort nicht reden. Mit dieser Massnahme w[:a]chst sofort die Unhandlichkeit der Sendungen und damit die Vermehrung und Kostspieligkeit der Betriebsmittel. Bereits jetzt m[:u]ssen zur Bew[:a]ltigung der Massen v.a. in den Bahnposten, besonders infolge der vielfach vertretnen Rollenform, ausserordentliche Austrengungen gemacht werden. Zudem bietet das billige Paketporto hinreichend g[:u]nstige Gelegenheit zur Versendung schwerer Drucksachen. Zu einer Aenderung des Drucksachentarifs liegt demnach ein Bed[:u]rfniss nicht vor."--_Finanz-Archiv_, 1905, vol. ii. p. 178.

[491] _Statistik der Deutschen Reichs-Post- und Telegraphen-Verwaltung_, 1910, p. 15.

[492] H. Joyce, _History of the Post Office_, p. 177.

[493] "For the Port of every Single Letter, or Piece of Paper, to or from any Place not exceeding Eighty _English_ Miles distant from the said General Post Office in _London_, and within that Part of _Great Britain_ called _England_, and not coming from or directed on Shipboard, Three-pence; and for the like Port of every Double Letter, Sixpence; etc."--9 Anne, cap. 10, [S] 6.

[494] "For every Single Letter or Cover containing One or more Paper or Papers with Patterns, or containing One or more Pattern or Patterns of Cloth, Silk, Stuff, or One or more Sample or Samples of any other Sort of Goods, or One or more Piece or Pieces of any Sort of Thing enclosed therein, or affixed thereto, though not Paper, if the same together do not weigh an Ounce Weight, the Rates payable for a Double Letter shall be paid, and no more."--26 Geo. II, cap. 13, [S] 8.

[495] 35 Geo. III, cap. 53, [S] 9.

[496] 41 Geo. III, cap. 7, [S] 11.

[497] 45 Geo. III, cap. 1, [S] 1.

[498] 52 Geo. III, cap. 88, [S] 2.

[499] 7 Will. IV & 1 Vict., cap. 34, [S] 28.

[500] 2 & 3 Vict., cap. 52, [S] 1.

[501] 3 & 4 Vict., cap. 96, [S] 4.

[502] _Vide_ _Annual Reports of the Postmaster-General_ 1859 et seq.

[503] _British Official Records_, 1863.

[504] See _supra_, p. 31.

"The public felt aggrieved at the restriction, and, as the difficulty of defining samples in all cases could not be overcome, it was decided to reduce the inland letter postage to such an extent as would enable the public to send through the post in closed covers not only patterns and samples, but also any light articles for a moderate charge; thus abolishing altogether the distinction between letters and samples, and providing a cheap and convenient post for small parcels."--_Seventeenth Report of the Postmaster-General_, London, 1871, p. 4.

[505] _Report of Select Committee on Estimates of Revenue Departments_, 1888, p. 24.

It may be noted, in justification of the view sometimes advanced that additional traffic can without loss be undertaken by the Post Office at rates lower than those for the main services, that in this case the Post Office anticipated that no direct additional expense would be incurred in the provinces in dealing with the increase of traffic, and that in London the additional expense would only amount to some [L]500 a year.

[506] See _supra_, p. 223.

[507] Arr[^e]te of 4th March 1858. In 1881 these limits were raised slightly--to 350 grammes and to 30 centimetres respectively.

[508] In 1871 the Compagnie des Chemins de Fer de l'Est filed a petition in which they contested the right of the Post Office to send samples of merchandise by railway without specially remunerating the railway company. They claimed that under the law they were obliged to carry free only "letters" and "despatches." The case was, however, decided against the company.--P. Jaccottey, op. cit., p. 334.

[509] Ibid., p. 333.

[510] _Statistique g['e]n['e]rale du service postal_, Berne, 1914, p. 7.

[511] _Archiv f[:u]r Post und Telegraphie_, 1880, p. 270.

[512] _Archiv f[:u]r Post und Telegraphie_, 1880, p. 273.

[513] Dr. Artur Schmidt, _Finanz-Archiv_, 1905, vol. ii., p. 180.

[514] 9 Anne, cap. 10, [S] 13.

[515] H. Joyce, _History of the Post Office_, p. 332.

[516] 6 Geo. I, cap. 21.

[517] 41 Geo. III, cap. 7, [S] 4.

[518] "We find that in France, and generally on the Continent, the circulation of Prices Current, at a low charge, is encouraged by the Government, and we are of opinion that any facility which can be given for the transmission of mercantile information must tend to promote the commercial interests of the country; we therefore beg to recommend to your Lordships, in the first place, that English Prices Current, and Publications of a similar nature published in this country, be permitted to pass through the medium of the Post Office without the imposition of a charge so high as to impede their general circulation.... We hope ... your Lordships may find it practicable to permit the free transmission of Prices Current by post, if printed on paper bearing a halfpenny stamp."--_Fifth Report of Commissioners_ (11th April 1836), pp. 3, 4.

[519] "Cette assimilation les soumettait [a'] des taxes exorbitantes; elle provoquait la fraude, et multipliait les contraventions au monopole de la poste."--P. Jaccottey, op. cit., p. 319.

[520] See _supra_, p. 225.

[521] "Als Gesch[:a]ftspapiere sind zugelassen: alle Schriftst[:u]cke und Urkunden, ganz oder teilweise mit der Hand geschrieben oder gezeichnet, welche nicht die Eigenschaft einer eigentlichen und pers[:o]nlichen Korrespondenz haben, wie Prozessakten, von [:o]ffentlichen Beamten aufgenommene Urkunden jeder Art, Frachtbriefe oder Ladescheine, Rechnungen, Quittungen auf gestempelten oder ungestempelten Papier, die verschiedenen Dienstpapiers der Versicherungsgesellschaften, Abschriften oder Ausz[:u]ge aussergerichtlicher Vertr[:a]ge, gleichviel ob auf gestempelten oder ungestempelten Papier geschrieben, handschriftliche Partituren oder Notenbl[:a]tter, die abgesondert versandten Manuskripte von Werken oder Zeitungen, korrigierte Sch[:u]lerarbeiten mit Ausschluss jeglichen Urteils [:u]ber die Arbeit, Militarp[:a]sse, Lohn-, Dienst- oder Arbeitsb[:u]cher, u.s.w. ([S] 9, Postordnung)."--_Finanz-Archiv_, 1905, vol. ii., p. 180.

[522] _L'Union postale_, Berne, 1st July 1876.

[523] A proposal to introduce postcards in France was made by M. Wolowski in the National Assembly on the 23rd August 1871, in the debate on the Bill for raising the rates of postage. The proposal was rejected on account of the probable effect on the revenue. The cards would no doubt substitute letters to some extent, and at the time, of course, the chief object in view was an increase of revenue. M. Wolowski repeated his proposal in 1873 as an amendment to the Budget. He was able to point to the effect in England of the introduction of postcards--an increase of 6 per cent. in the number of letters, as compared with an increase of 6 per cent. in the year preceding their introduction. The proposal was opposed by the Budget Commission and by the Government, but the amendment was voted by the Assembly and was incorporated in the law of the 20th December 1872. The rate of postage was fixed at 10 centimes for cards circulating within the area served by the same office and 15 centimes for others. (The minimum letter rate was at this time 15 centimes for letters circulating in the area served by the same office and 25 centimes for others.) In 1878 the rate was made uniform at 10 centimes for all cards. This rate still continues in respect of cards bearing written messages in the nature of personal communications, but it has been reduced to 5 centimes in respect of picture postcards or commercial advertisement cards which do not boar a written communication of more than five words. The circulation of postcards is naturally much restricted, and the reduction of the general rate to 5 centimes is much desired. There has been a good deal of discussion of the matter by the parliamentary Budget Commissions, but financial considerations have so far prevented the concession of this boon.

[524] See _infra_, pp. 303-4; cf. C. H. Hull, op. cit., p. 146.

[525] _Annual Report of Postmaster-General_, 1913-14, p. 1.

[526] E.g., "As to books for the blind, there can be only one opinion. The afflicted must be looked after before anybody else."--Sir Adolphe Caron, _Parliamentary Debates, Canada_ (_Commons_), 13th May 1898.

[527] Cf. _supra_, Chapter II.

[528] "Inland post comprehends all matter deposited in a post office in Canada for delivery either from the same or from any other post office in Canada.

"Such matter is divided into four classes:--

"(1) Letters, postcards, and all matter either wholly or partly in writing or typewriting, except the manuscript of books or newspapers and certain documents of the Dominion and Provincial Governments and of Municipal Authorities, which belong to Class 3.

"(2) Newspapers and periodicals.

"(3) Printed matter not included in Class 2, samples, and certain miscellaneous matter.

"(4) Merchandise."--_Canada Official Postal Guide_, 1912, p. 4.

[529] See _supra_, p. 158.

[530] See _infra_, pp. 336-7.

[531] See _The Practical Method of the Penny Post_, London, 1681.

[532] The "General Post" was the term applied to the service throughout the country as distinguished from local services.

[533] The General Post Office only provided for the delivery of letters within a restricted area. See _Ninth Report of Commissioners of Post Office Inquiry_, 1837, p. 5.

[534] 12 Car. II, cap. 35, [S] 2.

[535] 9 Anne, cap. 10, [S] 6.

[536] 4 Geo. II, cap. 33. See D. Macpherson, op. cit., vol. iii., p. 169.

[537] _Ninth Report of the Commissioners of Post Office Inquiry_, 1837, pp. 1 and 2.

[538] "We have said that to us who live at the end of the nineteenth century it may appear incredible that up to April 1680 the General Post Office in Lombard Street was the only receptacle for letters in the whole of London. But it is by no means certain that our descendants may not think it more incredible still that London, with all its boasted progress, has only now recovered a post which, in point of convenience and cheapness, at all approaches that which an enterprising citizen established more than two hundred years ago."--H. Joyce, _History of the Post Office_, pp. 41, 42.

[539] "No stage-coach entered London without the driver's pockets being stuffed with letters and packets, and he was moderate indeed if he had not a bagful besides. The waggoner outstripped his waggon and the carrier his pack-horse: and each brought his contribution. The higgler's wares were the merest pretext. It was to the letters and packets that he looked for profit."--H. Joyce, ibid., p. 55.

[540] When threatened by the Postmasters-General with prosecution "according to the utmost rigour of the law," he replied, according to their account, that "he should not be so unjust to himself as to lay down his undertaking at our demand, that his case was not as Mr. Dockwra's was, neither did we live under such a constitution as he did when the penny post was first set up (that is, an arbitrary government and bribed judges)."--_Ninth Report of the Commissioners of Post Office Inquiry_, 1837, p. 71.

[541] 5 Geo. III, cap. 25, [S] 11.

[542] _Ninth Report of the Commissioners of Post Office Inquiry_, 1837, p. 66.

[543] 5 Geo. III, cap. 25, [S] 14.

[544] 34 Geo. III, cap. 17.

[545] 41 Geo. III, cap. 7.

[546] _Ninth Report of the Commissioners of Post Office Inquiry_, 1837, p. 6.

[547] 45 Geo. III, cap. 11.

[548] Clause 1.

[549] These changes followed the recommendations of the Commissioners of Revenue Inquiry, who, in their Twenty-first Report (1830), remarked strongly on the intricacy and confusion of the boundaries of the posts in London, viz. the General Post, the Foreign Post, the twopenny post (town delivery), and the twopenny post (country delivery). All these had different delivery areas, and in addition there was the "threepenny post town delivery," comprising the area lying between the limits of the General Post delivery and those of the town delivery of the twopenny post.

[550] The following statement shows the rates charged in the twopenny post:--

"For every letter transmitted by such Post within the limits of delivery for the time being of the General Post 2d.

For every letter transmitted by such Post between a place within the said limits and any place beyond the same, or between places, both of which are beyond the said limits 3d.

And for every letter originally sent by the General Post directed to places beyond the said limits, and for every letter originally sent by the Twopenny Post, and afterwards passing through the General Post, in addition to all other rates chargeable thereon 2d.

Newspapers sent by the Twopenny Post, and not passing or intended to pass by the General Post, are charged each 1d.

But newspapers by the General Post and delivered by the Twopenny Post, received by the Twopenny Post and afterwards passing by the General Post, have, since August 1836, been exempted from postage."--_Ninth Report of the Commissioners of Post Office Inquiry_, 1837, p. 4.

[551] "It is on this principle that it has been found that where a letter has been dropped into the post office in a city, and delivered by a letter-carrier, it does not pay to deliver it for 1 cent, which is just half the rate charged in any other country in the world; and this provision is to assimilate the rate to that prevailing in other countries."--Mr. Haggart, _Parliamentary Debates, Canada_ (_Commons_), 9th April 1889.

[552] "We have been influenced to make this change from the fact that in large cities and towns the departmental stores, the manufacturing establishments, and other concerns which do a large postal business, use the messenger service to deliver their letters as they found it cheaper, and in this way a large amount of revenue was lost to the Post Office.... Several firms will amalgamate their messenger service, employing say five or ten boys, to whom they will pay 1 cent or 1/2 cent for each letter, and in that way they will make a profit. Of course, this action on their part is illegal, but it is one of those illegalities that we can hardly prosecute, and we thought it was better to adopt the uniform 1-cent rate which we had formerly."--Hon. R. Lemieux (Postmaster-General), _Parliamentary Debates, Canada_ (_Commons_), 16th June 1908.

[553] A. de Rothschild, _Histoire de la Poste aux Lettres_, Paris, 1879, p. 98.

[554] "16 ao[^u]t 1653.--On fait [a'] scavoir [a'] tous ceux qui voudront ['e]crire d'un quartier de Paris en un autre, que leurs lettres, billets ou m['e]moires seront fid[e']lement port['e]s et diligemment rendus [a'] leur addresse, et qu'ils en auront promptement responce, pourvu que lorsqu'ils escriront, ils mettent avec leurs lettres un billet qui portera: _port-pay['e]_, parce que l'on ne prendra point d'argent; lequel billet sera attach['e] [a'] la dite lettre, ou mis autour de la lettre ou pass['e] dans ou en telle autre mani[e']re qu'ils trouveront [a'] propos, de telle sorte n['e]anmoins que le commis le puisse voir et oter ais['e]ment. La date sera remplis du jour ou du mois qu'il sera envoy['e]. Le commis g['e]n['e]ral qui sera au Palais rendra de ces billets de _port-pay['e]_ [a'] ceux qui en voudront avoir, pour le prix _d'un sol marqu['e]_; et chacun est adverti d'en acheter pour sa n['e]cessit['e] le nombre qu'il lui plaira, afin que lorsqu'on voudra escrire, l'on ne manque pas pour si peu de chose [a'] faire ses affaires."--Advertisement issued by M. Velayer, cited A. de Rothschild, _Histoire de la Poste aux Lettres_, Paris, 1879, p. 101.

[555] A. de Rothschild, ibid., p. 145.

[556] A. Belloc, _Les Postes francaises_, Paris, 1886, p. 200.

[557] Moch, _Archiv f[:u]r Post und Telegraphie_, 1893, p. 38.

[558] 30th May 1865.

[559] Order of 22nd October 1869.

[560] Moch, ibid.

[561] Moch, ibid.

[562] Administrative order of 18th December 1874.

[563] Moch, _Archiv f[:u]r Post und Telegraphie_, 1900, p. 735.

[564] "Als Nachbarorte im Sinne des Gesetzes sollen solche Orte der engen unmittelbaren Nachbarschaft gelten, deren bebaute Ortsgrenzen nicht zu weit von einander entfernt bleiben und die wegen ihrer Lage und ihres wirtschaftlichen Zusammenhanges als ein einheitlicher Verkehrsbezirk (Taxgruppe) angesehen werden k[:o]nnen, ferner aber solche Orte, die zwischen zwei hiernach eine Taxgruppe bildenden anderen Orten an der diese verbindenden Strasse oder Eisenbahn liegen, auch wenn ein wirtschaftlicher Zusammenhang hier nicht vorhanden ist."--Moch, ibid.

[565] Ibid., p. 736; Articles 2 and 3 of law of 20th December 1899.

[566] _Reichstag, Official Reports_, vol. ii., p. 1006.

[567] "Um ein klar wirkendes Bild von dem Umfange der Verkehrszunahme zu geben, sei nur erw[:a]hnt, dass die Ober-Postdirektion in Berlin im Kalenderjahre 1900 eine um 106 Beamte und 1,606 Unterbeamte h[:o]here. Personal verst[:a]rkung f[:u]r ihren Bezirk hat eintreten lassen mussen als im Jahre vorher; am 1 April 1900 sind allein--ohne die zahlreichen Aush[:u]lfskr[:a]fte--860 Unterbeamte neu eingestellt worden."--_Deutsche Verkehrs-Zeitung_, Berlin, 8th March 1901, p. 131.

[568] Ibid.

[569] Ibid., p. 132.