Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 38, Number 83, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 July 1906 — FOREIGN POSTAGE IS REDUCED. [ARTICLE]

FOREIGN POSTAGE IS REDUCED.

Universal Con<reaa Agree* Upon a Rate Beneficial to Commerce. In connection with the work of the recent universal postal congress, the Postoffice Department has given out the following statement as to the effect of one of the provisions of that cohventio’i as affecting this country : ‘The universal postal congress, recently In convention at Rome, Italy, ordered a ...substantial reduction in letter postage by increasing the unit of weight, effective on and after Oct. 1, 1907, Gom fifteen to twenty grams, and providin': that while pastage on the first twenty grams shall remain at 25 centimes (5 cents), every additional twenty grams shall be at the rate of 15 cejitimes (3 cents). “Great Britain and 'he United States strongly urged that the unit of weight for them should be fixed at one ounce, as it would be extremely difficult for them to express an equivalent weight tor twenty grams, not having adopted the metric system. This request was granted. This will give the two great countries exceptionally low rates for the exchange of letters. Under the reduced rates a letter to Great Britain will cost 5 cents for the first ounce and 3 cents for the second ounce, or 8 cents for two ounces. In other words, when the new rates become effective a letter packet weighing six ounces can be sent to Gieat Britain at the rate now charged for a two-ounce packet.”