The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1843-11-16
From the Pitsbu,g Morning Post.
THE POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT.

The powers and duties Of the Postmaster General,
are the subject of general discussion nowadays,
much of which is of an angry description, and has
drawn upon that functonary great deal of unde
served abuse. A writer in the New York Journal of
Commerce has extended the scope Of his remarks on
the subject as to include the Post Office Depart
ment itself, against which, organized, he adj
duces many objections.
lie is Of the opinion that the power given Congress
in the Constitution, TO establish Post Offices and
Post Roads" has been transcribed, and has been
used to build up great and I" odous monopoly. ~
In 1889, Mr.. Bell, Of Tennessee, submitted in the
House OF Representatives, series of resolutions re-
ative to that Department denouncng the Post Office
as Government monopoly" which should not be
tolerated in the present state OF thepubc finances.
The 9Th and 9th Of these resolutions are as follows
IS. Resolved That the business Of carrying letters
for hire like every other branch Of industry connect
ed with The prosperity and happiness of the country
should be thrown open 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 and
enterprise, in this and all other pursuits.
6. Resolved That, in order TO secure these great
benefits as well as TO maintain correct principles in
the administration Of the Government, it is expedi-
ent that the less productive post routes or such as
offer present inducement TO private competition,
should be sustained if necessary, by appro, ration
out OF the common treasury revenues arising from
other sources"
Although the business Of carrying letters sc. seems
to us TO be monopoly, yet do not think it liable
to the objections urged against other mopopoes in
general. 1t would be wrong for the Government to
endeavor TO make The Post Office Department a
source Of revenue beyond its expenses, but even if II
were converted into medium OF taxation for the
support Of the government we believe majority OF
the people would rather pay their quota in postage
than in direct tax. However, we strongly question
the utility, at present, Of ado ting the suggestions OF
these resolutions. The writer admits that they
not be Of universal applicaonthat 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
I" common treasury We cannot see that this would
be any improvement on the existing system. The
money IN the common treasury" must, Of course,
come from the same common source whence hostages
are derived-the pockets Of the peope--and 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 well entitled to such conveDences as If
they lived in country Of Rail Roads and Turnpikes,
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 very strong facts in support
Of what he pronounces The tyrannous exsctions of
tho Post Office Department He says it charges
ve times the price" the same service would be done
for by individuals and instances the fact that for the
postage of letter weighing Of an ounce from
Troy TO New York city, as much is charged as ind-
vduaIs require for carrying barrel Of flour the same
distance. He 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 $40 600
into the Treasury Of the Post Office Department
The writer who complains Of this cnsctiop, would,
strangely enough, it seems regard it as less one
rous, if went into the pocket Of the Postmaster at
New York, instead Of the Post Office Treasury. He
complains, too, about the city Of New York having to
pay large amount of postage (onetenb 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 he
would restrict or cut off by his arrangements
the Western States and territories Of the confedrscy.