The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1841-12-25

REPORT OF THE POST MASTER Gle.
NER AL.

REPORT OF THE POST MASTER GE-
NERAL.
This document, which we insctt on our first page,
is straightforward business paper, concise in It's
language pertinent in its apics clear and comprehen-
slye IN It's suggestions
The increase of the business Of this Department al
most siaggcrs the authority OF figures
In 1890, the whele number Of post Offices in the
United States did not exceed seventy five; the mum
Der OF miles of road S74 the revenue, 49,
936 the expenditures 1872 l4O. In 1910, it will be
that the whole number OF post offices in the NJ
ted States Is lSS the number Of miles Of post
road l5oij9; the gross revenue for the same yeai
was = 339 @05 and the expenditure was 81 ~ 10
The Department is now embarrassed and rctrcnch-
rienl is proposed II was not perhaps originality m
tendclhat this Department should be annual charge
on The Treasury. Sull if silct economy and at-
couhtabt9 enforced in The details Of IT'S operas
lions md arrears still remain tey should he promptly
met by The General Government Only let the Post
Master General exercise his placca good sense IN
The selection ana extension of the routes, and his
wontGd economy IN making the contracts then let
the Treasury take care Of the Consequences, If the
prrcaragcs are million, the benefits conferred viii
more than rutweeh the cost. Money can never he
better expended than in these inttrlaclng conmunc1-
GDs ior these arc the subtle bonds of our Union
Reduce the iranking privilege OF those IN station, II
Wili hut let the common pCopc have every i4clly
!oi Gn.inlctchangc Of sentiment For this purpose,
reduce the present rate G postage at least enc hal
and ii the y ptartmcft is not Undermined IN the in
crea eo is business let difference be provided ioI
10y legislation.
TIE oldrulr that the more you charge the more
money you will make, has been exploded, the more
you charge thelesS business you Will have, IS rutr
AKIN The man Of cxtravngant charges IN such
times as these is left without customers, while he
VINO II tottcut ,.ti sgnt advances, c'liI;ea on all
the profits This is as true OF the United States
mail as it IS ofa string tape.
The suggeS IONS Of the Postmaster General in re-
ference to permanent arrangement with rafoad
companies, secure the Transmission Of The
mail without further di+agrcemenis worthy Of
earnest attention. The Department now pays over
100000 annually u these companies, and IL is sug
gostcd that the credit Of the Government to ain
amount not greater than the necessary, Ill FIVE
per cent to produce tbs sum, world be sufficient 70
secure the permant transportation Of the mail
these lines and atthe same time the power To
lro the arrival and departure ofthe mail. The re.
port intlmaes that it all letters connected with public
legislation and the Government, which are now
transmitted under JrdHkY were to pay the customa.
ry postage, the annual amount did not lie less
thQnhe interest the sum required to cifrc. the
rangement proposed $50, the Government ought
TO make The afrangcmnt and that too without taxing
the Department. It is shame that letters OF mi
vatc business friendship should be GENEROUSLY taxed
SO that the CSosoramen may have lis immense
correspondence carried on free Of expense. It's
hardship that ught not To endured and which
teW not be endured without refnnnstrance.