The St. Landry whig., 1844-12-25

1914, was as follows
Letter Postage, $~3,676,16I So
Newspaper do. 519,743 SO
Fines, 1876 90
Miscellaneous, 1925 1T
$4,237,2s5 81
The expenditures paid during the year wers
$4,296,867 10. There has been no materia
loss from defaulters. On the absorbing qtes
ton of lower postage, Mr. Wicklifie says
~ pom the most mature and deliberate re1ec
ton, am satisfied it would be unwise to aban
don the principle of requiring the Department,
TO sustain its own expenses. An adherence te
this principle is not at war with a prudent ane
discreet reform in the rates of postage.
Public opinion seems to demand a reduction
of the rates Of the letter postage. But so far as
| have been enabled to understand that public
opinion, it is based upon the necessity and pro-
priety Of adherng to this vital principle, and sus.
tanned by the argument that a reduction Of post.
age would be followed by an increase ofthe mail
matter, producing an amount sufficient to sustain
the Department in all its legitimate expenditures.
He does not think that at present, lower rates
than 5 and 10 cents would raise revenue enough
for the department. In relation to private mails,
Mr.. Wicklilfe argues that the laws heretofore
enacted TO restrain the establishment of private
mails or posts, have been found Inadequate to de-
ter individuals from transporting letters upon
mail routes. Prosecutions have been instituted,
with various Tesults-the penalty he considers
too small $50 He refers to the case Of Mr..
Hale, tried in philadelphia, says the case is to be
carried to the St,Iupreme Court, and adds -
1t will not doEfor Congress to await the deci-
sion of the SupEme Court upon this question
a question which, has been regarded as settled,
not oniyby iudiTs 4 decisions, but the legislation
OF the countrye7 acquiesced in by the States
and the Peep X. near halfcentury. A pow
er of PunishIqSZ9 and restraint sufficient to main
tain the psJHas.ey ofthe laws4fsl~etland, and
s95t T9aHRdl,1 Noupeae Orleans N affairs should at
.orfos ne vested NINE Judiciary Department.
y cannot concur in the opinion | have heard
often expressed, that the only remedy for this
evil a reduction Of postage. There is no rate
ofreduction which prudent legislation can. at
this time, make, that will prevent successful com.
petition in the business of carrying letters by in
dlvlduals, over Post Roads. If we take the sys-
tenn as a whole, the Government, has conveyed,
and will convey letters as cheap as it can be done
by individuals. But if private mails are permit.
ted to occupy the most productive routes, it is
conceded that individuals can transport letters
on these routes than the department.
Without further Legislation by Congress upon
this subject, it is idle to expect the Department to
sustain itself at any rate of postage. The fail
ure to pass some act amendatory Of the existing
W at the last session, quadrupled the number
private mails then in operation. Prompt and
efficient legislation on this subject is demanded
BY every consideration ofpublic policy.
MIR. w. has done nothing to regulate the in
OF mail matter with other Govern.
and the prepayment of postage r%ecipro-
sally-he suggests the use of stamps to be ex.
changed with other governments o rforeign pos
age. The only other important portion Of the
Report is the following:
Under existing laws, the Postmaster General
s not authorized TO contract for transporting the
nation the high seas, or beyond the limits ofthe
United States.-Ihe necessity and public utility
= regular mail etween this countryand Cuba,
other foreign ports, must be apparent to all
md such mail would have been put in operation
meiong since, ifthe power to do so existed.
respectfully suggest the power toScontract for
ne transportation ofmails to foreign ports be au.
horned, and the rates ofpostage fixed by law.
This policy will be more obvious, if we take
nto consideration the amount of postage paid
or letters which now pass to and from the uni
- oeo.os III lorelSh vessels The number OIL
stters which are transported in the Cunardline
| steamers alone, between Boston and Liver.
is about 10000 per month, charged with a
$4,000. equal to 1901 600 per annum.
ne greater part Of which is a tax upon Ameri.
an citizens and American commerce. Would
not be better that this sum should be paid to
american citizens, thereby encouraging and
American enterprise and the Ameri.
commercial marine, than the marine of any
power.
Such a power at this time is peculiarly desi.
apie' should the enterprise, now in contempla-
on; oil establishing a line of American steam.
rs between the United States and Liverpool
nd Hayre, be contaminated.
A New MovE.-In the House of Representa-.
yes, on the motion being made to print a certain {
lmber ofcopies of the Presidents Message. sc.
sral amendments providing for the printing in
'feral languages were offered. Among others.
following was submitted by a certain Renre.
ntatlve from Alabama, who acquired an unen. .
able notoriety during the last session ofCon. :
, e. We find the report in the National In. ,
lligencer. '
Mr.. Mcdaniel also moved to print 1000 co. !
IN the original African or Congo language. : !
sIng there We're many persons in Alabama who . .