Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1843-12-29
The Postmaster Generals
Report.
Correspondence of the N Y Tribune.
WASHINGTON Dec. s, l843

ASHlNGION, DeC. o. 1910.
| have just reached The metropolis,
and have some things to say which must !
give way 20 the Postmaster Generals
Report, which he's just made its appear.
ance. Sad am | that Mr. Wickllfe wHl
persist in opposing arv comprehensive
and adequate Post Office Reform; but
since it is as it is and regret will not
mend it. | viii endeavor 10 counleract
some OF the unfaVorsbIe impressions
which this Report, unoPposed, Is calcu
lated to make
The Postmaster General admits that
his affairs are in a bad way. During
lhe last fiscal year, his receipts have
fallen off more than S250,000. This
year, be it remembered, Is ono OF decld
ed improvement in business and 10
creased diffusion Of intelligence. Con
gress was in session but three months,
and probably sent out not ono fourth
The average number Of political docu-
ments and speeches 10 eaI up the reVe
nue. OF the department by the Postmas
ters' charges OF two cents on each for
the delivery of 'lree letters. There
will be few years in twenty more favor
able to the Department than this. Yet
It's revenue falls off quarter Of a mil
lion, amounting to bul 81 295 925. while
the expenditures were S4 374 4l3-
showing de6ciI Of about $50 ,000.-
Thus, then the Postmaster General,
with an increase Of Mail transportation,
Post Offices, population, wealth, inlelli-
gence, businsss-eVery thing which
should increase postage but additional
wisdom al head quarlers-fnds his re
venue failing off and his Department
running in debt, Is it not evident that
something must be doneP
And now 10 the other matter-ihs
feasibility OF a radical reduction OF Pos
tage. Mr.. WickIffe most unfairly as,
sumo il as incontrovertlbls that 10 reduce
Postage TO low rates, is 10 throw the
Department on the Treasury for its
maintenance We say not so. II may
need liIle aid for lime, but it will
soon recover itself. Now 10 the facts
Great Britain has population OF
which a proportion far below that OF our
own people can write or even read
Her people are less erterprising and
inquirng than ours own; her members
OF tho same family are not scattere ed
over tho land as ours are; they do not
read fourthias many newspapers, com
pArAtiVely, as ours do. She, up 10
1889, exscisd rates Of postage higher
than our own. Since 1910, but one pen
my Two cents) has been charged Tor the
conveyance Of any letter from point to
point within the United Kingdoms.-
This reduction took effect January 10Th,
lS4O; consequently, we have since had
Jess than -four years. trial Of the cheap
system. What have been The results2
|. The number Of letters now mailed
and paid in Great Britain and Ireland is
moro than tUiCe and half what it was
three and half years ago, under the
high rates, though great part OF the
number then sent were franked, and
paid no postage.
2. The revenue, which for the last
year of the old system was less than
eleven and q half million of dollars, fell,
on The reduction, 10 less than elk and
half millions, and rose the next year to
over seven millions. Thus in the very
second year Of the reduced rates the
postage reached two thirds the highest
previous aggregate, and is still incrsas'
ing.
3. Even at the penny rate, the Brit
sh Post Office paid all lis own expenses
the second year oI that rale and more
than two and half millions surplus into
the Treasury. All this time, be il re-
membersd, it was carrying all newspa.
pers for nothing at dh-the revenue
from that source being called stamp du
ty and paid directly into the Treasury,
leaving the Post Office to carry and dis
tribute them absolutely Tor nothing,
! Such are the dAlA from which the