Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1842-01-08

amount of expenditure will exceed the
amount of revenue, as estimated, by Sl10,-
600.
With this deficit presenting itself so pal |
pably to my mind, have essayed to infuse
into the administration of the service a
rigid economy; yet, with all the savings
which it may be possible to make by the
most rigid economy, / am satisfied the ex-
penditurc cannot be reduced within the
income, without either reducing the trans
portation of the mail below the just wants
of the community, or in some other mode
increasing the revenue of the Department.
To continue the present amount of SER
vice, and extend it with the growth and
spread of our population, particularly in
the West, the present revenue, with its
former charges, is evidently inadequate;
and reduction of that service greatly be-
low its present standard would have to take
place, unless Congress make an appropria-
ton from the public Treasury, which
neither ask nor desire to see made.
Upon a view of all the circumstances,
and with perfect sense of the responsible
ity assumed, have felt myself imperiously
called upon to exercise power vested by
the act of 1926 in the Postmaster General,
and have rcadiusted the commissions here
tofore allowed to deputy postmasters. BY
this regulation, copy of which is an
nexed, there will be added to the nett annual
income Of the Department about 100000.
thought it better to do this than either to
ask Congress for an appropriation or to re-
duce the transportation Of the mail below
the just wants of the community.
When it is known that this reduction has
been made 10 enable the Department to
send intelligence among the people, by con-
tinuing and extending mail facilities, and
not in spirit of parsimonious economy, the
liberal and enlightened of all sections will,
! ain persuaded, approve what has been
done; and | will not allow myself to believe
that those whom it most Immediately af-
fects will view it in an Liberal spirit.
Should Congress, however, not approve
of this measure, they will have it in their
power, before the order takes effect, to ar
rest its force; and will no doubt adopt the
necessary measures to require the reduc-
ton of mail service, or to provide the
means Of paying the balance which will be
due TO contractors at the end Of the year.
The annexed report of the Auditor of
the Post Office Department (marked b.
will exhibit the progress which has been
made in the adjustment and liquidation OF
the accounts Of postmastcrs since the 4th
of March last.
1t is to be expected that among the
$4,000 deputy postmasters (appoin;ed gen.
orally without personal knowledge Of the
individuals or their securities) there vii! be
found some who will prove faithessto their
trusts, and whose securities are not good
for the amount due the Department. In
view Of this, | have instituted a rigid in
qury, not only into the fitness and bust
ness qualifications of the posmastcrs, but
the solvency Of their securities, from which
the best results may be anticipated. This
operation, performed in part by the special
agents Of the Department, under the letter
of instructions annexed (marked c. and
the prompt scttEQshent of the accounts of
all postmasters, will more cfectuallv guard
th" department from losses by defauting
2masters.
The reduction Of the postage upon let
RS is a subject which has engaged the
II public attention for years, and is one OF
great interest to the whole community.
Ii is commended by many, whose opin
ions are entitled TO respectful consideration
that the reduction of postage would give
an increase of revenue. Without under
taking to discuss this question at present,
am not prepared, from the present financia
condition of the department, to recon-
mend reduction Of the rates of postage
as now fixed by law, but invite modifi
cation Of them SO far as to make them con
form more generally to the smaller coin o
the United States, and solicit revision o
the laws regulating the postage on ncwspa
pcrs. | do not desire that the rates o
postage on newspapers proper should b
increased, though much might be saved t
tho Department if the principle of pre-
postage was applied to newspapers, pro
vided such regulation was deemed accepta
BILE to public opinion. must, however
earnestly invite your attention, and hop;
you will call that Of Congress, to the ne
ccssity of the enactment of some law b.
which a just discrimination may be mad
in the imposition Of postage on newspaper
proper and those mammoth periodical
which assume the name and shape of news
papers; but which are, in fact, the repubIi
cation Of books. reviews, and novels, sen
through the postofficc, not always to sub
scribers, bat in large masses to agents, Il
vend in the markets of the more distan
cities, towns, and villages. which great,
increase the size and weight Of the mail
and the expense Of transportation, withou
a corresponding remuneration 10 the De
partment. The great number of these large
publications which have been sent by tht
r. IL