The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1841-12-18

Il W..
| dihcation OF them so far as 10 make them conform
| more generally 10 the smaller coin Of the u States
and socit revision of the laws reg uatinp the post
age on newspapers. do desire that the rates of
hostage ON newspapers proper should be increased
though much might be saved 10 the Depa rtent If the
principle of pre-postage applied to newspapers
provided such regulation was deemed acceptable 10
public opinion. | must, however, earnestly invite
your attention, and hope you will call that of Congress
10 the necessity of the enactment OF some law by
which just discrimination may be- made in the mpo-
siilon OF newspapers proper and those mammoth peri
odicals which assume the shape and Of newspa-
pers but which are in fact the republication of books
reviews and novels sent through the post Office not
always 10 subscribers, but in large masses TO agents.
TO yend in the markets Of the more distant cities
towns, and villages which greatly increase the size
and weight ofthe mails and the expense Of
tion without corresponding remuneration TO the De
partment The great number OF these large pubca-
lions which have been SAINT by the mail from Bali-
more to Wheeling has mainly contributed TO the FREE
quent irregularities of the Western mails for the last
Twelve months. respectfully inquire whether it is
just that the United States mail shall be compelled
transport one ofthese papers, weighing nearly pound
Tor cent and half from Boston or New York TO
Louisville, Kentucky, Ia factor TO sell for the benefit
Of the publisher while the letter of friendship or Of bn
siness rs taxed with twenty five cents postage between
the same points.
have already alluded to the establishment of what
are called private expresses for the carrying OF letters
packages and newspapers upon the post roads Of the
nited States, Tor pay and compensation cause
tending greatly to the reduction of the revenue of the
Department must beg leave again 10 bring the sub
Ject more particularly 10 your notice. under hope
that You will invite that OF Congress TO the necessity
OF some further legislation, eeclualy to protect
the interests and the rights Of The General
in its Post Office Department.
II there il any grant Of exclusive power TO Con
gress upon which all unite in opinion, il is the power
10 establish post Offices and post roads; and may
fairly be assumed as an admitted principle, that when
Congress- in the exercise of that power has establish
ed post road the right Of Stale the individuals
ola Staeto establish lines Transportation for letters
packages and newspapers upon and over the same
roads, for compensation, cannot be successfully main
tanned.
How far this usurped power has been exercised by
individuals, and to what extent am not fully in
formed; but the information communicated to the De
partment induced me to avail mysefof the services OF
the First Assistant Postmaster General while
temporary visit Of business To Philadelphia 10 collect
and report to me such information upon the subject
as his other engagements would permit; and ! have
the honor now to submit to you his report
Another report from the Fnst Assistant Postmaster
General herewith submitted, will present you with
detailed statement of the amount OF mail service for the
year ending the 3Oh June 1871 and the rate of cost
for the in each State and Territory distinguish
ing between each character OF service BY this re-
port it will appear that the United States mail
transported railroads and steamboats, 3 946 ,450
niles the of 1856 S43 on horse and sulkeys
~ OSS, SG2 miles, at cost Of 1871 S97 in stages and
coaches 1891 2l3 miles, at the cost of 3 ,79 ,635;
making total aggregate of annual transportation of
81 996 .525 miles, at the rate ofcost OF s. l59,375
The act of 1888 declares that each railroad within
the limits Of the United States which now is or here
after may be completed shall be post road" and in
that law, and the act of 1889, provisions limiting the
amount beyond which the Postmaster General is pro-
hbited from paying for the transportation of the mail
on railways will he found
Great embarrassnents TO the Department have ar
sen in the making of contracts for the transportation
Of the mail with many Of the railroad companies
der the laws now in force These embs, easements
arise mainly from tw the one, that the price
which the Department is enabled to pay, whether in
reference to its means the maximum fixed by the
legislation of Congress- has been deemed lnadeGu
by many of the principal companies The other arises
from unwiingness the pant of some OF the
panies 10 run by schedule prescribed by the Depart
ment-preierring to run al such times will best suit
the travel upon the road-regarding &, as il Is natural
for them to do, the carrying OF the mail as secondary
to the transportation OF passengers. The latter evil
has been particularly felt in the great Southern mail
on its transit from Washington city to New York
The mail going South from New York is necessarily
thrown upon the Philadelphia and Baltimore railroad
in the night, between Philadelphia and Baltimore; ;
and the Southern mail for New York is compelled to
lie twelve hours in Baltimore, unless the Phila
delphia company can be induced to that trip also
in the night This they have declined doing unless
the Department would pay them a compensation
greater than is authorized by the laws of Congress
at least during the session Of Congress- if no longer
addressed TO the presidents of the railroad companies
| concerned in the transportation of the mail between
the city Of Washington letter, a copy of which,
and the report of the First Assistant Postmaster Gen
eral upon this subject, herewith submitted
An anxious desire to effect permanent arrange
ment with the railroad companies for the transpora-
ton of the mail upon basis which shall be both just
and uniform, considering the nature Of the service
performed by each, induced me TO invite meeting Of
the Presidents of the different companies in the city
OF Washington, on the LIST OF January next; and
am gratifed at the prompt manner in which all who
have been heard from have consented TO attend and
hope is cherished that some Arrangement satisfactory
to all parties, and beneficial to the public may yet be
effected.
The improved mode of INSTRUMENTATION by rail
road and steam, operating under chartered rights
granted by the States, and which il IL not pre-
tended that the General Government, much less the
Post Office Department, can exercise any control i'm
poses upon Congress, In my opinion, new duties and
obligations, which can only be cancelled by the adop
ton of some Whereby the Post Office Depart
| ment may upon adequate consideration secure by
compact the right TO transport the mail in the cars o
railroad companies, and al the time give to the
Department the power to control the departure AMI
| rival oftLe same.
Mes annually over $400 900 for the service without,
power in the Department TO regulate the travel arri
val and departure of the mail and constant and fire.
! que difficulties, both in entering into and the exc
cution of contracts, are presented
| 1t has occurred TO me that the present was most
favorable period for the adoption of some measure by
Congress- whereby to secure to the United States the
right to transport the mail upon these roads in all time
to come, free OF any annual charge upon the Post
Office Department, by the advancement Of sum in
gross, which may be agreed upon, to each of these
companies, such Of them as may be willing to CON
tract Many Of the railroad companies, and some Of
them constituting most important links in the great
chain Of INSTRUMENTATION between Boston and
Charleston, owing to the great arrangement Of the
monetary concerns of the world and the depression of
all State and company stocks, find themselves labor
ing under embarrassments and difficulties which the
aid. Of the General Government, applied in the way
proposed, would efiectually remove, and at the same
time the United states the advantage and the
ample equivalent OF transporting the mail upon these
| roads.
| een.lit Of he IIntnl Siates 10