The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-11-16

The powers and duties OF tie Postmaster General,
are the subject of general discussion now -lays,
much OF which Is OF an angry description, and has
drawn upon that iunctouarl great deal OF undo
served abuse. writer 10 the New York journal Of
Commerce has extended the scope Of his remark. on
the subject, to include the Post Office Depart
ment Itself against which, organized, lac sd-
duccs many objections.
lie is Of the opinion that the power given Congress
in the Constitution, TO " establish Post Offices aud
Post Roads, has been trInscended, and has been
used 10 build up . great aud "odious monopoly. -
IL 1882 Mr.. Bell, Of Tennessee, submitted in the
House OF Representatives, series Of resolutions
atve to that Department denouncing the Post Office
a. " Government monopoly which should not be
tolerated m the present state Of thepublic finances
The 9Th and 9Th of these resolutions follows
). Rs,oirtd That the business of carrying letters
FOR hire ike every other branch Of industry connect
ed with IL, prosperity ard happiness Of the country,
should be thrONu op,n TO the enjoyment of all the
citizens Of the United States that the public may
alize the advantages OF increased regularity cheap
ness, security, and expedition, which TO fol-
low from free competition OF private capital aud
enterprise, IN this and all other pursuits.
"6, RSolrtd, That, III order to secure these great
benefits, well as TO maintain principles in
the administration OF tie Government IT is expedi.
ent that tie less productive pest routes or such as
offer no present uducemeut to private competition
should be sustained # necessary by appro ration
out of the common treasury revenues arising from
other sources"
Although the business Of carrying letters &c seems
TO US TO be a monopoly, yet we do not think IT liable
to the objections urged against other monopolits IN
general. Ii would be wrong for the Government TO
endeayor 10 make the Post Office Department
source Of revenue beyond us expenses. but even if
were converted into medium of taxation for the
support Of the government, believe a majority Of
the people would rather pay their quota in postage
than in direct tax However we strongly question
the utility at present, Of adoI ting the suggestions OF
these resolutions. The writer admits that thew won
not be OF universal applcalion-that there could only
be competition portion of the roads IN the coun-
try, and that the " less productive post routes"
mails should be run by appropriations out Of the
common trcasury.n We cannot see that this " on ID
be any mpro, emI nj on the existing system The
money IN the common treasury" must, Of course,
come from the same common source whence hostages
are derVed-the pockets Of the peoplS-aDd as the
profits OF the productive mail routes used TO
furnish mail accommodations IN the sparsey settled
portions Of the country, the citizens Of which are
equally as well entitled TO such conyeniences as il
they lived IN country Of Rail Roads and Turnpikes
we cannot perceive that very great injustice is done
to any portion Of our people
The writer IN the Journal Of Commerce exhibits
what he considers some very strong facts in support
Of what he pronounces the yrannuus oxaclions Of
the Post Office Department lie says.it charges
hve times the price, the service would be done
for by individuals, and instances the fact that for the
postage of a letter weighing a Of an ounce from
Troy to New York city, as much IS charged as ind-
slduas require for carrying barrel OF flour the same
distance lie also asserts that the merchants of New
York have to pay cents letter for the privilege of
having Branch Post Office near the business quarter
OF the city, and that this tax them brings so 900
into the Treasury of the Post Office Department
] he writer who complains Of tins enaction would
strangely enough, as seems, regard II as less one.
rous, Il II went into the pocket Of the Postmaster at
New York instead Of the Post Office Treasury lie
complains too, about The city Of New York having to
pay large amount Of postage one-tenth he says Of
The whole revenue Of the DEPARTMENT. forgetting
that she derives the means of paying this amount Of
postage from the profits Of her traffic with those very
portions OF the country whose mail advantages bo
would restrict or cut off by his new arrangements
the Western States and territories Of the confedracy