Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1841-12-31
AUSTIN MONTGOMERY.
THE POST OFFICE AND THE
RAILROADS.
ETtrGCt from the Postmaster Generals
Report.


manent arrangement with the railroad
companies for the transportation oI the
mail, upon basis which shall be both
just and uniform, considering the nature
OF the service performed by each, IN
duced me to invite meeting OF the
presidents of the different companies,
in the city Of Washington, on the first
of January next; and am gratIfad at
the prompt manner in which all VINO
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 intercommu
nicaton by railroad aud steam, operat-
ing under chartered rights granted by
the States, aud over which it is not pre-
tended that the General Government,
much less the Post Office Department, (,
can exercise any control, imposes upon
Congress, in my opinion, new duties
and obligations, which can only be can
ceIIed by the adoption of some measure
whereby the Post Office Department
may, upon adequate consideration, Sc
cure by compact the right to transport
the mail in the cars OF railroad compa
MES, and at the same time give to the
Department the power to control the
departure and arrival ofthe same.
There is now paid to the different
railroad companies, annually, over
$400, 900 for The service, without pow
or in the Department to regulate the
travel, arrival, and departure Of the
mail and constant and frequent Difficult
lies, both in entering into and the exc
cution of contracts, are presented.
sit has occurred 10 me that the pre-
sent was a 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 10 come, free of
any annual charge upon the Post Office
Department, by tho advancement Of q
sum in gross, which may be agreed up
on, to each Of these companies, or such
of them as may be willing to contract
Many of tho railroad companies, and
some Of them constituting most impor-
tant links in the great chain Of inter
communication between Boston and
Charleston, owing to the great derange-
mont Of the monetary concerns of the
world, and the depression Of all State
and company stocks, find themselves
laboring under embarrassments and tlf
ficuIlies, which tho aid of the General
Government, applied in the way pro-
posed, would efl'ectually remove, and at
the same time secure 10 the United
States the advantage aud the ample
equivalent of Transporting the mail upon
these roads.
"The credit of the United States TO an
amount moi greater than the sum no
cessary to produce, at five per cent in
terest, the amount paid by the Post Office
Department to these companies annu
ally, would, | have no doubt, be sufficient
to accomplish this desirable end. The
prompt and favorable action OF Congress
upon this subject at the present time
would enectually secure the Government
against the danger Of being called upon
for occasional and large appropriations
to meet the balances due by the Depart
ment.
"Do | ask tho United States to do
more for the Post Office Department
than Justice would seem TO demand es.
pecially when it is remembered that the
whole expense of tho official corrospon-
dence of the Government and the pub
lie, aud private correspondence OF those
entitled by law to the franking privilege,
is sustained aud paid by tax upon the
correspondence OF the community If
by this arrangement the Department is
relieved from the heavy annual charge
as now rated, (and it has neither the
power TO lessen il nor to prevent It's in
crease it may be- hoped that the object
so much demanded by considerations OF
public justice Chat of reducing the tax
upon the friendly and business cores
pondence of individuals will be attained,
and, at the same time, the usefulness o
the public mail greatly enlarged anG
extended TO those portions of the Unior
hitherto moasurably denied the necessa
ry mail facilities.
"lC the Government was required tC
pay postage upon official correspon-
denre, and if the fraDking privilege wa
abolished or reduced to proper limits
the revenue Of the Department woult
be increased TO an amount Sufficient o
itself to pay the interest upon the deb
10 be incurred BY tho proposed arrange
ment, and llquidale the principal 10 les
than thirty years,
It" respectfully submit to the Presldeu
the proprlely of communicating 10 Cor
RreN The views which | entertain an
5 have here EXPRESSED upon this subiec,