OCR Text |
Show POSTAL STAMP BUSINESS. The sales of postage stamps at the New York poetoffice for the quarter ending September 30th, shows a decrease de-crease of $36,127 from the corresponding correspond-ing quarter of 1876. Postmaster - -- JameB attributes this decrease to the sales of Btamps made by country post-"masters post-"masters outside of their offices, which ha.ve greatly increased during -the last few months. This practice, however, is not confined to the vicinity-of New York, but is becoming general in all sections of the country, small post-; post-; : . masters having discovered in this re-W re-W source a convenient way of increasing their revenue. The New York Times explains the method by which these transactions are effected:' j Tha law allows a class of postmasters . 50 ptr cent of the money they receive fir wiling $200 worth, or less, of poitage stamps in one quarter; 40 per cent, on all Balsa amounting to bolwaen $100 and - $400; SO per cent, on all amounts between 9400 adu $2,400, and 10 per cent, on all sums above $400. Thus they can sell stamps at sv discount of 10 or Id per cent, and still make a large profit upon the ( Bales. Moreover, many couotry poat- masters arc alio store keepers, and they frequently buy goods of city dealer-, pay i ' for them with postage stamps, and then charge the government a percentage for the tale of the stamps. iSotne postmasters postmast-ers whoie salaries amount to $300 a year have increased their yearly income from tbair offices to $1,200 er $1,500 by selling pottage stamps in thia way. Letters from postmasters containing propositions to dispose of stamps at a di: count, which . hare been handed to the postoffice authorities "by the persons receiving them, and proposals to purchase etamps sent t honest postmasters, and by thorn furnished to the postmaster general, hare furnished clues to tbe special agents. . Congress will probably cut off this source of income at the approaching '; session and bring postage stamps up to their par value. |