The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1840-12-23

erGrsmru.. L.. Paine have been employed on
the coast Of Africa. in the suppression OF the
slave trade. They returned at The commence
men, OF the sickly season. hut have since sailed
10 pursuit of the .srne object.
Three small schooners under the command
of 1t. Nc Laushiin, have been employed on the
coast OF Florda. for the protection of the lives
and property Of the citizens and the prevention
of the introduction of supplies for the use of
the enemy.
The Two steam frigafes commenced under
the second section of the act approved 3D. OF
March. 1899, one At New York the other a,
Philadelphia. have been so far completed that
the former will be ready for launching in few
days, and the latter in the ensuing spring, as
soon as The Delaware is free from ice.
The apprentice system is spoken of 10 the
highest terms, and the Secretary recommends
that il be losteIed to the utmost extent of which
IL is susceptible.
Much complaint is made of scarcity OF sea-
men which is ascribed TO higher wages in tlfe
merchant service. the absence of the rpprentice
system in that service, and the discharge OF
seamen when their terms have expired on for
elgn stations. where the seductons of climate
and The allnrements OF pleasure attach them to
The soil. and whence many of them never re-
turn, or return SO enervated as 10 he compara-
lively unfit for active service, The inquiries
instituted upon this subject result in the fact
that many Of our seamen are now scattered n
moDg the islands of the Pacific, and on the
coast of South America-and though directions
have been given 10 reclaim them whenever IL
may be found practicable, there can he little
doubt that a Large number are thus lrreiricva-
bly, lost TO the country.
ANNUAL POST OFFICE REPORT.
From the Evening Post.
In the annual report of the Postmaster Gen
era, which we publish to-day. are contained
10 addition TO the usual statements of the con-
dion of the department. many useful and lib
erdl suggestions.
Mr.. Niles rrcomlre nds thar tho res;iic,nan on
carrying newspapers ont of the mails be abol-
ished. The reason which lie gives for this
change strikes us as a very sound one, even if
there were no other. namely that the resirc-
ton could not be enforced without inconvcn-
ience to the public, and rha, il would nor, prob
ably, cause greater number of newspapers TO
be conveyed in The mail, than at present.
The abuse Of the tranking privilege has been
the subject of much complaint. TO do away
with the mschieis Of this privilege. which Mr..
Niles justly observes, naturally runs, like other
exclusive privileges, into abuse, Mr.. Niles pro-
poses that il be abolished alto oseiher, except as
10 the Executive and the heads of departments
lie advises that the allowance Of Two cents up
n every free package 10 the postmasters in the
small post offices should be done away The
Post Office Department now pays upon these
packages about Sl50,0 900 yearly.
The Report shows that nearly the whole ex-
pendi,ures of the mail establishment are thrown
upon those who send letters by mail. Letters
pay the whole expense of the free matter and
the great proportion of the cost of carrying
newspapers and other printed matter He sug
ges,s that the postage on letters should be re
duced ,w w,niy five per cent. TO preserve. how
ever, the revenues Of the department, he rec
onmcnds that the postage on pamphlets and
periodicals should be the same, and that the
postage on newspapers should be eQualized
with an advance of a hundred per cent. upon
the rates now paid. The advance upon the
rates. however. he does not consider necessary
to the plan, but the rroporrionment Of the rates
to the size Of The paper. he considers as very
important reform.
The compensation OF carrying the mail
should in The opinion Of the Postmaster Gen
eral be fixed by special provisions below a Ger.
tain limit, which canno, in any case be exceed
ed. The rates OF postage Oh letters, Mr.. Niles
thinks, should the system recommended be 4
dopted, may be ultimately yet further reduced,
SO as to bring them to half the present rates.
There are various other suggestions in the
report. which are worthy of considerations
Without entering into the discussion whether
all the changes which the Postmaster Genera
advises ought to be carried into effect, we mus
express our high satisfaction AZ the good sense
aud practical talent by which this state paper
is di,tu. .uished.
cy-