New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1845-07-14

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We fear the Postmaster General has been too
orscipita,e in increasing the compensation OF many
n.outy Postmas,ers That there would at first DC
= falling of in the receipts Of Postages and conse
,uently in the compensation Of Postmasters was
expected and admitted by the friends OF the Postage
Reform. That the business of mailing and deliy
sr;ns Letters, &c. would largely change hands, we
have always anticipated. We think this SO far
from being calamity, will prove one Of the best
features of the Reform. Hitherto the Post Office OF
country village, with that Of our Cities has generally
been conferred az a reward for active craftsmanship
on some prominent politician, who happened to
stand well with the managing junto OF the State or
County. The business practically Of this so-called
Postmaster was ranking his own, his wifes, daugh
ter. and cousins lciters-often exceeding in num-
Der those sent of tina, paid Postage-and taking
share Of the regular compensation OF the once
sometimes the great man would relnquish all me
CONDENSATION TO his nephew, clerk or toady who
did the work. contenting himself with the privilege
of franking and receiving all his and his hrn ana
family's correspondence. Now this sort OF Post
masters will resign under the new Law-you can
stop it by giving them all the receipts OF their sew
eral ofHces-and another class will come in who
actually do the work. When the department be
gins to look simply for competent persons to per
form the service for the compensation 1t Will rarely
have difficulty in finding them.
Let us illustrate this point We will suppose
there is a village where the Mail arrives three times
week and the whole receipts are but s75 year
of course the twenty odd dollars compensation Is
mo object TO a lawyer A. or Judge Is. to take the
Office and will hardly Justify the employment of q
clerk But do not too ba silly conclude that nobody
will take the office. Look around the village, and
YOU will find some energetic young merchant anx
ious TO extend his business, who will gladly encoun
ter a little extra labor if only to get the whole
township in the habit Of calling at his store once Of
oftener each week they may be shy at first, bu
they will in time something that they want an'
20 grow into customers If there is no merchan
wise enough for this, you will find poorly pai'
clergyman, an honest thrifty shoemaker, or som'
such who will not think even 40 small sum
twenty odd dollars year to be despsed' WHINE ou
little Of his time will be taken to earn II and the Of
fee will bring all the town rapidly within tn
snbere of his acquaintance his business or his inu
ence And finally, il there is no honest, capable
man ready 10 take the place, there is quite likely II
be some poor widow--pcrhaps OF clergyman
schoolmaster-who will thankfully take it, and
connecting with it some small millinery, ruitstore
or other honest means of gaining livelihood, will
find the Post Office substantial help to indepen
dence, indirectly if not directly.
We wish therefore. that the Postmaster Genera
had not been so hasy in increasing the compensation
of Postmasiers and so farther Gripping his already
insufficient revenue. Depend on it, wherever there
is need Of Post Office, there will person be ouno
to keep one, be the compensation ever so small
Many an intelligent unfrequcnted cross
roads will sooner keep the Post Office for nothing
than travel three four miles every day or two foi
his letters and papers Some Post Offices will be
discontinued az they should be. On many impor
tant routes the mail stages running day night
are stopped every three or four miles "erhaul
Mails at places where the letters will n, average
two by each Mail II some of these pocket Post
Offices shall be discontinued, 1t will be great relief
TO contractors and travellers. But wherever Posi-
Office is really needed, there somebody WILDE found
to take charge of il at the established rates OF com
pensation-ct none fear the contrary. 1t would be
unreasonable TO expect that so radical change as
that contemplated by the new Postage Law should
be effected without some temporary confusion. BE
steady and all will work clear.