Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1842-01-08
We give below q condensing Of the following
document from the Cincinnati Chronicle.
REPORT OF IL POST OFFICE A
lent.

MENI.
We have again another able Repor, from tn,
administration at Washington, and we nre obi
god in candor to say, that Mr.. Tyler's Secretaries
appear TO us TO be pretty strong thinkers ana
pretty good writers.-The Report Of Mr.. Wick
life is IA good enc, and especially so IN its sugges
tons Of amendment, in the Post Office Depart
ment.
Repenue.-Upon assuming the discharge Of the
duties pertaining to The Office OF Postmaster Leh'
eraI, my first object was 10 investigate lis imam
cial condition; and it becomes my duty TO inform
YOU that | did not fad ii in that prosperous state
the demands upon II require.
The Income of that department is always la
bic TO be affected by the fluctuations Of the busi-
ness Of The country. II IS increased or dePres-
sion of that business.
Besides this cause of nuctuation in It's income,
other causes Of IA reduction, more or less ~ eve
nv wear, may be found in the increased facilities
which tho travel upon railroads and steamboats,
furnishes for tbs transmission Of letters and news
papers by private conveyance; secondly, IN the
great extension, to say nothing OF the abuse Of
the frank,ng privilege; thirdly, IN the recent es-
ta~blishmen III of what are called private expresses,
upon the great mail routes of the United States;
tuurthly, IN the frauds prnctised upon the Depart
,nent, in evading, by various devices, the payment
Of Tho postage imposed by law. While all OF
these causes operate to lessen tho revenue OF the
Department., tho expenses OF transporting the
mail are no, aft :cted or lessencd by them; and |
respectfully suggest whether the evils to which l
have referred d, not deserve the serious attention
If Congress, 50 far as TO call for sIme more spe~
clic legislation, whereby they may be removed
or suppressed.
Tho total gross revenue Of the Pos, OTics for
The fiscal wear commencing on the LIST OF Jliv,
1910, and terminating on tue 3nth June, lSil,
was Si.30o,l27 rs; the total expenditure for the
same year vas Sl,5G7,23S 80. A statement, of
the expenditures, more IN detail, viii 10 due time,
as required by law, DO reported To Congress.
This part of the report Is not very hlttering
10 The income Of the Department., which appears
10 be getting in debt
Reduction in Po~stagc-MammoM Papers--It
is con,ended by many, whose opInion are entitled
10 respectful conside ration, that the reduction of
postage would give an increase of revenue
Without Undertaking to discuss this question at
present, am not prepared, from The present hnan-
ciaI condition Of the Department, 10 recommend
a reduction uf the rates of postage, as now fixed
bv law, but invite a modification OF them so far
as to make them conform more general. to tho
smaller coin of the United States, and solicit, a
revision of The laws regulating the postage on
newspapers. ! do no, desire that the rates of
postage on newspapers proper should be in
creased, though much might be saved TO the De
parttnent il The principle OF pre- postage was ap
Piled To Newspapers. provided snch regulation,
was deemed acceptable TO public oplnloa. must,
however, earnestly invite your attention., aud
hope you viii call that of Congress TO the neces
s,iy of the enactment of some law by which a
ilst discrimination may he made III tho iInpos,-
non uf postage on no"spapers proper and those
mammoth periodicals which assume the shape
aud name Of newspapers, but which are IN fact,
The republication Of books, reviews aud novels.
sont through the post office, not always to sub,
cribers, hui IN iarg~ masses to agents, TO vend in
the markets Of the more distant cities, towns and
villages, which greatly increase tho size and
weight of The mails and the expense of iranspor
,aiion, a corresponding remuneration TO the De
partnt Mt. The great number of these large pub
LEGATIONS which have been sent by the mail from
B,ltimore 10 Wheeling has mainly contributed to
the frequent irregularities OF the last twelve
months. respectfully inquire whether i, is Just
that the United States mail shall be compelled to
transport one of these papers, weighing nearly
a pound. FIR n cent and a half, from Boston or
New York 10 Louisville XIV. to a factor, 10 sell
for The benefit OF the publisher, while the letter
OF friendship or of business is taxed with twenty
FIVE cents postage between the same points"
We are sincerely glad TO see this proper notice
from the Pos, Office Department, of these public
nuisances, tie mammoth periodicals.
These mammoth papers are well enough as mat
ters Of curiosity; but what a gross imposition are
they upon a large class of persons, and indeed
the whole nation. who have a right to some equali-
~ Of privileges. These mammoth papers boas,
that they have a great circulatIon; and why
because, they publish nore's cheaper than The
eau iheS HHso hEtHis " ~ III
all the principal towns and sell books, not news
papers. cheaper than the trade. because they are
not bound. Now. there arc three classes of in-
terests most grossly imposed upon BY this opera
ton. lst the revenue of the Government is
cheated, and Tor the reason stated bv the Post Mas
ter General: because a mammoth sheet .-eichiup
acGr a pound. gees for a cent and Il half, while
n penny paper is charged no less, and a letter of
urgent business is charged twenty five cents
The mammoth sheet cost the Government more.
and clogs the mail more in lis transportation,
than fifty letters and small papers. There ought.
by the plainesi rules of common sense, 10 be a
discrimination made. WHY has not the regular
booksellers a right 10 send his Annals, Novels.
&c. By mail, Is there any difference IN send
ing the book in one sheet or a dozen?-in one