Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-12-15
No. G5.--voLUME xxx.

celleBcy, that every legal demand b. the contractors
properly vouched, upon the Departing mt, for services
rendered since have had the honor Of experimenting
its operations, have been promptly paid,
Fl Justice to contractors requires that as they
have performed the service, they should be paid To
enable the Department to do this, punc,uality the
part of postmasers the payment OF the balances due
from them at the end each quarter, is al-mportant
In instance where there has been failure
the part Of such posmasters the drafts of the
General Post Office, have felt itu duty not to be
omitted TO relieve such from the burden of official duty.
The knowledge Of the existence of this rule has Danish
4 ed defalcation from the Department.
n 1t ia fact worthy OF notice. that although the aggre
gate amount received from postage during the past yeer
has been greater by the stated receipts at the large
Offices, for 1912, have been less than in lSI- The az
gregae increase has been at the medium and smaller
offices.
This is accounted by the fac, that the means Of
INSTRUMENTATION between the great commercial
points have been such invite constant and increas
ing nfracons and violations of The laws Of Congress
regulating the General Post Office.
took occasion TO invite your attention 10 this sub
ject in my report OF last year, under The hope that
legislation, in aid of the present laws would take
place 10 enable the Department more efecually 10 pro.
tect itself.
II is made the exclusive duty of the General Go.
vernment TO establish post Offices and post roads. Tho
State Governments have right TO interfere with the
subject neither has any individual or company of ind
duals such right.
Upon most of the railroads in the U. S, over which
the mail is transported at an immense expense there
are to be found individuals engaged i'll the ransporla
ton Of mail matter in violation of the laws Of the land
laws which prohibit the offence but do punish it
BY adequate sanctions.
A modification Of the laws regulating the Thanking
privilege, is essential 10 the continued prosperity of the
Department. The original grant Of this privilege,
designed the better to enable the public officer
discharge his Off ia! dnes, without burden upon his
private 1t is now generally esteemed more al
private and ndivdas! right, than official privilege
If persons entitled to this privilege, were content 10
enjoy it themselves without lending their franks t.
Others the bur!hen and loss to the Department would
not be great, and there would be less cause OF Just
complaint by the public.
Although the Of 1926 expressly declares that "f
any person shall frank any letter. letters other than
those written by himself, by his order, the bus
ness of his Office, he SHALL conviction thereof, pay
a fine Of ten dollars, and il shall be the especial Guy
Of Posmasters TO prosecute, for said o!ience"-ihe
penalty, declared by this law has not been sufficient
prevent the too frequent violation Of lis provisions.
II Congress shall deem il eSpedient to limit or fur
her restrain this right, imposton Of the same peu
atty upon hm who uses the irank OF another, is i'm
posed upon the person who abuses his privilege, would
| tend greatly 10 cssfn the evil.
i The whole number Of free letters sent through the
post Office annually, lar the feurne OF posinasters
! exhibit, is about ;hree millions.
Assuming fifteen cents the average rate OF each
letter, if charged with postage, four hundred and fifty
thousand dollars would be the amount received. Thus
il will We seen that nearly one ninth Of all the matter
which passes through the MAIL passes free OF postage
The loss to the Department does not stop here. Two
cents paid to posmasters each OF these letters
constituting an annual charge upon the revenue OF
$4,000. Ar evil OF this magnitude, trust, will not
tail the attention Of Congress- who alone can
apply the proper Give II is wrong to burden tie
basins and friendly correspondence Of the community
with this heavy charge.
rates Of postage upon letters and whilst have felt liz
force and constrained TO acknowledge it's justice
have heretofore been deferred from making any specific
recommendation upon this subject, lest, by sudden
reduction the only source OF income might fail 10
The demands Of the service. With proper regulation
of the ranking privilege, and further protection
against the violations Of The laws of The Department,
have doubt considerable reduction postage might
be solely made and the benefits and Advantages Of the
Department extended TO many portions of the country
which row, IN great measure, destitute Of proper
mail accommodations. More especially could this La
done, if Congress, by some permanent arrangement
with the raroad companies, would relieve the Depart
ment from the immense, and Constantly increasing
amount annually paid those companies for transporting
the public mail.
ven:ured 10 recommend. in my former report TO you
that Congress should then legislae upon this subject
Nothing has occurred since TO cause 10 doubt the
correctness Of the opinions then expressed. On the
contrary, subsequent developments have strengthened
the views then obtrnded upon your consideration.
Il Without the right in the Department 10 control tho
arrival and departure Of the mails regularity and dcs
railroad companies, in their periodical contracts, viii
yield willingly; end when they do yield it, make
ground to increase their demands upon the Depart.
ment for transporting the mail For the service Of
railroad transportation there be competition
| Why then subject the Department TO The useless cer2,
mony Of advertising periodically for bds carry the
mail on railroads, requiring il to take the lowest bid,
when there will be bet one bid for the route;-
Each letting has heretofore BEEN and will hereafter be,
but invitation TO the companies 10 increase the prices
previously paid.
It is in vain to disguise the fact tia, the u S. arc
compelled employ these roads carriers THE mail
Justice ind policy c!ne require of the Government 10
send the mail by the most expeditions means Of
veynnce and il cannot employ any ofi,s own creation
equal to the railroads. AS Government, il cannot, b.
leg sa,ion, control those companies which have ther
corporate existence by State ennc.ments. The u. s.
must therefore purchase the right and the question
presented is whether is best purchase this rsh.
every four years. for the period Of the charter Ct tho
road.
# is more question of ability at this time, on the
part of the Government, than policy, in my humble
opinion.
| The plan which | proposed was, that Congress
should authorize the Department TO purchase this right
enter into the s,ipua,ions of contract with the
panies and report those contracts, made, from TING
time, TO Congress, TO be binding only when ratified
by Congress. Nothing dangerous arise from thus
treating with the companies. No enlargement of Exe-
cuve power is asked. On The contrary, II is proposed
TO subject Executive power directly TO The controlling
influence Of Congress. as the law stands, the
Department has the power 10 contract with these
panies for four years, with nominal limitation 10
The amount 10 be paid them per mile Surely no dan
ger can arise TO public liberty legislative authority,
by authorizing the Department to make provisional
permanent contract, subject TO the approval Of both
Houses of Congress.
The great question involved is, whether Congress
should make these contracts, and the pay consideration
Of the resources of the Government, whether the
Department shall levy the amount BY continuing the
present rates of postage upon letters, AID all time
come, devote large portion thereof to the payment
for railroad transportation, to deny the hope
the distant and favored portions Of country OF
any increased mail facilities' The cost Of railroad
sporation for Tie last year, stands at 1885,, sos
The whole length Of railroad in the United States is
$40, 732 miles, costing S3GS7196 Of this length Of