REDUCTION OF POSTAGE.
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AS there appears to be deep and general in
terest in favor Of reducing postage, it may be
well to hear what Mr. Kendall said upon that
subject in his report to the President under date
of December 5, 1886, and we will let him tell
his own story. He says: " 1t is expected tha,
the Department will have surplus of cash in
bank before the lst of August next exceeding
$7OO,OOO.


:" In view Of these facts and estimates, the un-
dersigned does not hesitate to recommend re-
vision of the present rates Of postage, to take
effect on the 1st Of July next, with view to the
reduction Of about t,centy per cent To this end,
he suggests the following scale Of letter postage
in lieu of the present, viz:


rs miles and under s cents


$50 over rs 10


300 $50 Is


coo 800 20 g


Over 600 miles 25


No better plan than the present suggests
itself in relation to charges of double, triple, and
quadruple postage, and postage by weight.


From its simplicity, this scale will be easily
remembered. 1t proposes to introduce the fed
eral currency, renders copper coins unnecessary
in making change, and saves the loss to the peo-
pie arising from fractions. 1t will reduce the
labor now required in making up and examining
postmasters' accounts about one-fourth"


The plan suggested by Mr.. Kendall would
doubtless have been highly beneficial to the
public generally, and, in all probability, would
certainly would not have diminished it. We be-
lieve that we can hereafter demonstrate to every
impartial reader that its adoption would have
been eminently useful in fiscal point of view,
and prevent the bankruptcy of the Department
which soon followed, and which we will endea-
vor to do when more at leisure.


The Lexington (Ky.) Reporter of the 18th in
slant says


Mr.. Clay left here on Thursday last for New
Orleans, where he expects to be detained some
time on business. Thence he will proceed to
Washington, via Georgia, South Carolina and
North Carolina. He is in fine health and spirits