Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 152, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 June 1920 — Big Growth of ‘Special’ Mail [ARTICLE]

Big Growth of ‘Special’ Mail

Increased From 896,344 Pieces the First Year to 58,544,387 in 1919.’ HISTORY OF INAUGURATIOM Sponsor of Bill Providing for Special Delivery of Mail Tells of Hard Time He Had Getting It Through. New York. —How the much-used special delivery stamp was passed upon by congress after a bitter fight almost thirty-five years ago after a bill providing for its use was Introduced by Dr. Charles R. Skinner, now legislative librarian and formerly state superintendent of instruction, was recently related by the former congressman. The number of these stamps has increased from 896,344 during the first fiscal year of nine months to 58,544,387 in 1919. Between 1885, the year of the adoption of the- stamp bill, and last year. Doctor Skinner says, 450,072,072 pieces of mail bearing the ten-cent stamp ■were delivered. “In his report of 1883 as first assistant postmaster general Frank Hatton alluded to the success of many companies organized to deliver letters by messenger, and suggested that the govemment might with propriety adopt plans for the speedy delivery of letters, -using the malls and clerical force to accomplish the results sought,” writes Doctor Skinner in a recent issue of State Service, a magazine devoted to the government of New York state and its affairs. “Mr. Hatton’s suggestion quickly came to my notice as a representative in congress, and was the subject of many conferences between myself and my friend, Edward *M. Gates, then postmaster, at my home in Watertown. The plan seemed to be feasible and was favorably considered. As a result of frequent conferences..a bill providing for a special delivery stamp, embodying the features practically as they stand today, was prepared by me for intrduction at the first ‘ session of the Forty-eighth congress in December, 1883. Use at First Restricted. “The bill authorized the postmaster general to provide a special stamp of the value of ten cents, which when placed upon a letter in addition to the regular postage, should entitle such letter to immediate delivery at any free delivery office, or in any town of 4,000 or more Inhabitants, up to the hour of midnight each day. It provided that eight cents of the ten-cent fee might be used by the government to cover the cost of delivery by messenger, leaving the government a gross profit of two cents on each stamp sold. It was urged that in cases of sickjness, emergency or quick service to newspapers the immediate delivery of a letter would be a convenience which the public would appreciate. “The service was first restricted to the delivery of letters at any free delivery office, or in any town of 4,000

or more inhabitants. But on August 4, 1886, it was extended to provide for the delivery of mall matters specially stamped at any free delivery office, or within one mile of every other office.” From the introduction of the bill, when it was referred to the committee on post offices and post roads by Speaker John G. Carlisle, until its final enactment, dozeqs of pages in the Congressional Record were used to report the arguments on the bill between members of the house, writes Doctor Skinner. This committee, which had among its members the late Senator Money of Mississippi, Harry Bingham of. Philadelphia and John Cqsgrove of Missouri, reported favorably on the measure January 16, 1884, and it started Its “rough career” before the congressmen one week later, the writer continues. Fresh Opposition to It. It was made a special order for February 13, 1885, Doctor Skinner contin-

ues, and all went well until the paragraph relating to the special stamp was reached, when the opposition broke out afresh. Mr. McMillin, who, according to the present librarian, seemed to have a particular prejudice against the ten-cent stamp feature, said the proposition changed existing laws and that It was also legislation upon an appropriation bill, which was against the rules of the house, unless it could be shown that the proposition reduced expenditures. It was finally passed by the house, carrying with it the special stamp clause. But opposition to the stamp was even more vigorous in the senate than in the house of representatives, he says, and many amendmqats were voted upon and accepted, but they were Just as quickly disagreed with by'members of the house. After a bitter struggle the bill with the special stamp feature was finally passed by a vote of 79 to 66. It was signed by President Arthur and made a law. It went into effect October 1,1885, almost two years after its introduction. On March 2, 1902, the law was amended; providing that ten cents in ordinary stamps, in addition to regular postage affixed to a letter or package marked “special delivery,” entitled the matter to all privileges.