The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-12-04

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ID was thought, Ia the infancy OF our hepup,s
that was unwise IL not unjust that those VINO 1'o
not ure the Post Office, should he dnee'y 'at
the benent OF those who did. Hence 'hsy '"po,II
such a tariff of postage as, IN thsr Judgment "ou ,
best attain the great olJec OF sustaining 'no D'f
me ut al the least pracucsble amount
The wisdom and justice OF this rule are moi wv
turned by the fact that the mode Of collecting tue 10
venue has been changed from system OF dreci va
alton and excise 10 the imposition OF revenue 'sA
upon imports. Il,
IL the Department is TO be continued under the
control of the General Government, as II should
canno. imagine any mode by which lis expenses can
be met equitable, more just than by the eoiieo
ton of as much postage, and no more upon 'he NAV
Ter which passes through the mail as VIII be equai 10
the demands of the service.
II is TO The fact that the Post Office Department
has been compelled rely upon lis own energies a"d
that It's great aud rapid extension anu use
fuIness are mainly TO he attributed.
The Head of this Department, feeling his resRons-
biity TO the public, would not permit the service "
expand without a correspondent increase IN It's re-
ceipts, which would at The same time, furnish ev'-
dence of extended Usefulness. His responsibility 10
the Government, and d Just regard for his own rePu-
tston would admonish him 30 to regulate the ser
vice. that, while il gave the greatest possible oeneh's
to the county, it should produce an amount OF fe'e-
nue. equal TO its wants.
II the Department, in accordance with The views
Of some, recently promulgated, should be made an
annual charge upon the general treasury, anu us
Head required to dsburse the amount appropriated
from year TO year, relying upon Congress 10 appro-
pirate whatever sum the real or imaginary wants OF
the community might demand, it may be well ques-
toned whether much of that vigilance SO necessary
to superintend Department. complicated and extend
ed ar this is would not be lost in the simple routine
Of duty in expending whatever Congress may have
appropriated, matter whether useiully or not, 30
that the expenditure be properly vouched.
The very nature Of the ODeratiOns OF this Depart
ment if its uncertain demands are to be met by an
nua appropriations from the Treasury, would gene
rate abuse and extravaganza both IN the aPPropria-
ting and discussing power. The limit OF appropria'
ton would be regulated alone by the imaginary wants
in the various sections of the Union, each section
vieng with the other to obtain the grsatest possible
amount to be expended within its limits.
Upon the most mature and deliberate reflection,
am satisfied it would be unwse to abandon the prn,
ciple of requiring the Department to sustain its own
expenses. An adherence TO this principle Is not al
war with prudent and discreet reform in the rates
of postage.
Public opinion seems to demand reduction in the
rates Of letter postage. But so tar as have been en-
abled TO understand that public opinion, it is based
upon the necessity and proprely of adhering to tins
vital principle, and sustained by the argument that
reduction of postage would be followed by an increase
of mail matter, producing amount sufficient to sus
tain the Department in all OF It's legitimate expendi
lures.
am sustained in the expression OF this opinion
not only from the ordinary channels of public lnior
nation, but by the judgment OF The very Intelligent
and highly respectable Chamber of Commerce of the
city OF New York, expressed in their letter TO the
Department, copy of which and the reply to 1t &C
companies this report.
In the views which ! have heretofore expressed
upon he subject of the reduction of pos age, and par
ticularly my report to the Senate the 9th Of Jan
uary, 1913, recommending reduction 10 the lwC
of five and ten cents upon the conditions there
in stated, i have absained from recommending III,
adoption of the postal arrangements now in operation
in England because was satisfied that system ould
yield the amount of revenue necessary for the ser
vice Of the Department, and IN many OF its ieatu ei
it was unsuiied 10 the United States.
Prior TO the reduction OF postage In England The Pos
OfceD Department yielded revenue to the Crown ove
and above its whole expenses, of about OOOO 600
was just if not wise policy IN the English Govern
ment to release this amount Of net revenue from
postage, operating a tax the espon
deDce f the country, If its Exchequer could sustain
il the subject willing TO have that K hcheq ue
repenshed by the substitution Of other taxes such
excise upon paper &c.
Offices in the Kingdom of Great Britain is not onl,
different from, but much LEES expensive than that in
the United States.
la England, the Postmaster and bis clerks if any
are paid an annual salary stipend la this coun-
Try, Posmasers and their clerks are paid by CON-
mission on he amount Of postage collected.
Post Offices IN England are managed by Postmas-
tiers who consider themselves amply conn ensated by
salaries much less IN amount than would command
the services OF competent Postmasters in the United
States.
If the same mode and ratio Of compensa,ing Post
masters were adopted in England which has been
adopted in the United States 1t might be well ques-
toned whether the amount of Pos, Office revenue in
England would equal the expenses of the service.
am convinced upon a most thorough examination
Z lahtis nd hus soi
pie of thetwo countries-thc circumsc bed limits md
dense population OF the one, the extensive boundaries
and sparse population of the o,her-hat nothing like
the same ratio OF increase of the correspondence in
this country would follow the like reduction of post.
age as has taken place in England
Ii may be asked, what is the nature and character
OF the reduction Of postage which is deemed by the
Department prudent and safe at this time 10 be
adopted
The answer 10 this inquiry will depend mainly
upon The tact how Congress will settle the question
now moocd, as Ia the best mode Of deayinp the e1-
penses OF the Department Shall H. as heretofore, be
required to sustain ITSELF or shall il be thrown as N
annual charge upon the Treasury
If the Department ~ TO be left TO lean on its own
resources, am prepared TO recomme nd reduction Of
e'er TO hve end ten cents The single letter rs
heretofore recommended by me in a report TO The
Snaie ofthe United States ofthe 5th ofJsnuary IS43
upon the terms and conditions indicated in thai re
port to which respectfully ask leave to refer You.
In precious reports, have had the honor TO er
press to the President Of the United States. and
through him to Congress, the opinion il was unius,
that the whole expense of Transporting the public cor
respondence Of the Government should be charged
upon the business aud friendly letters Of the citizen
also to urge the necessity of repeating or modifyipo
The ranking privilege These opinions remain nm,
changed.
also suggested the mode by which the Govern
meni should compensate the Department for the trans
mission and delivery Of lis public correspondence ana
,he ranked letters Of public functionane. That
mode was TIE assumrtion, by the Government of ,hs
amount paid by The Department for railroad t,,u. we
ia'on either by The purchase Of The right permanent,
y, or by annual appropriations
lhs portion OF expenditure for transportation no.
ing hSeu or nearly so, and not Of character 10 no
unnecessarily increased under the influence 81 -