The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-01-19
Price Two Cents.
Washington.
Washington.
Correspondence of the Herald
WASHINGTON, ID. G., Jan. III, 1874.
Post Office Rffornl-Hs Prosperfs.


WASHINGTON, ID. G., Jan IT, 1874
Post Office Refornl-Hs Prospects
JAMES GORDON BENNETT ESQ.
DEAR SIR =
take leave to write you upon that which so ma
terialy affects the interest OF every citizen of The
United Staes-:he probable action Of the Posi-
once Committee appointed by Congress.
discussion arose IN the House OF Representa-
tlves yesterday, (Monday) upon motion made
bya member Tor an account OF the number of free
letters which have passed through the Post Office
durlhs one year, NC, which elected remark
from Mr.. Hopkins chairman of the Post Office
COMMITTEE OF the gratifying character, that % he
believed the committee were unanimous IN favor
OF thorough and etlectua REFORM And am
happy TO INFORM YOU that IN conversation with
veral members OF that body, they manifested an
ardent desire To meet the views of their consti-
tuents, by the largest reduction in the rates OF
postage, especially on letters containing enclosures,
and such equitable regulation regard 10 the
newspaper press, both as TO reduced Tor trans
mission and mode OF transit. But IN this as in
every other body, there is portion OF the mem
bers who appear 10 be blinded with deeply root
ed idea, that reduction IN rates can only be made
In proportion TO the amount Of the present revenue;
consequently, as there IS no excess there ought to
be no reduction, as II might render resort 10 the
treasury necessary 10 meet the defclency-a mea-
sure under Their belief not TO be resorted to under
any emergency. How absurd and yet amongst
the western members IN the INTERIOR but too preva-
lent.
II is perfectly obvious that if such views are
suffered TO influence Congress, and the present
rates continued that the revenue actually collected
by the Post Oihce Department would diminish III
proportion to the facilities afforded 10 the public
by private expresses, until the department would
not be IN receipt OF sufficient revenue TO pay the
salary OF ITS eihcers Charles A Wicklife IN his
last report shows that Notwithstanding his jealous
eXerIons TO suppress every means of Illicit cores
pondence, the revenue during the year lSi3, as
| compared with the year preceding, had fallen off
S25O,OOO, and this dlmlbulion during year OF ac-
| ualmprovement IN every other department Of re-
| venue, produced by the revival which had taken
| place In every description Of trade and commerce
Mr.. Kennedy OF Indiana, a member of the Post
Once Committee, who stands forward as the cham-
plon OF the iallacous and exploded doctrine that
| the department can only be reformed 10 the extent
OF the excess OF revenue, and TO illustrate his views
II may be well TO copy the following sentence from
| his speech upon tins subject, reported IN the In
eligencer of this day, The 10Th instant
"As one member of the Post Office Commute, he would
never consent under circumstances make the Post
Office Department charge upon the Treasury proper
He was willing that any reform should be made that could
be- provided the expenses OF the department kept
within its He would TO reduction OF
postage other regulation that to max. hostages
charge the of the people OF the country who
had so little TO do with the commercial community who
ought TO pay its own hostages Amy reduction that could
be made n postage so long the department could be
kept within its own revenue was right and proper. Be
| You'd that he would never GO"
How Mr. kennedy can sustain, by argument, any
OF these views, appears worthy Of conjecture, but
surely such views are his own, and cannot be sup
posed TO be IN accordance with these OF hs cons-
tuenis In Indiana.
All tAdIlIudtlon OF InlS SnDJect would snow, that
although the commercial community have actively
agitaed tins question, yet by awaiting themselves
OF the improved facilities afforded them by private
expresses-they are IN great measure exempt from
the evil OF the present tariff which cruelty OPP
presses the correspondence of the rest of the com
| mnnity, which facilities beyond the reach OF
private citizens, both III cities and IN the interior OF
the United Sases and by reference 10 the Herald
| OF this day, which is now before me, observe an
excellent article exhibiting the outline OF conpa-
ny about To be established ~ New \ orl for the
conveyance Of letters between the principal cities,
to be called 1.-The American Mail Letter Comps
n.y." which, IL carried into effect, will increase
the mercantile facilities of private conveyance and
diminish the present Post Office revenue. Sub
jectlng the constituency OF Mr.. kennedy in the
wlds oi Indiana, and all the remote sections of
the United States, to tire largest OF hostages,
| whereby their correspondence with the larger CT
ties Will be confined 10 the present limited extent
| to the prejudice of the landowner farmer lumber
merchant, and the welfare and happiness Of private
citizens having relatives or connexions IN distant
| sections.
Happily Mr.. Kennedy is but an unit IN the Post
Ofhce Committee; the majority entertain enlarged
| views and as Mr. Merrick chairman will shortly
bring In bill embracing the whole question, which,
but tor an untoward event IN his family, he would
| probably have done before this this tact, added
TO the manly declaration of M Hopkins The Chair
| man OF the House OF Representatives Post Office
Committee are strong grounds to hope that The
ertions OF the community, aided by the press, IN
which the Herald has stood boldly forward, will
not have been IN vain, and the hostages will this
session be reduced upon letters not exceeding half
an ounce IN weight be hive cents II prepaid and
cents If not prepaid, and such liberal rates and re-
gulatlons made IN relation 10 the transmission OF
newspapers, II sent through the mails, az the true
interests OF the reading public demand &c.
/