The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-12-05

sally increased the price for Transporting the mails
and in some instances TO the extent of 900 or 800
per cent over the former prices. II would be diff
fcut to find satisfactory reason for the difference
in the price Of transporting a thousand pounds of
newspapers and letters and thousand pounds Of
merchandise, in the same cars, between the same
places, and in the same time; yet, more than ten
times the amount probably is demanded for the one
than the other. Are such exactions right-and es-
peclally toward a government which made the IRON
laid on these roads free of duty for so many years,
and in numerous cases RENTED the duties when
paid, thus actually advancing them more than i've
millions of dollars since 1882?
The service performed by the railroads consti-
utes onetenh part of the entire service Of the de-
partment whilst they receive one-fffh part Of its
whole revenue. These exorbitant prices are justi-
fed in this country because similar prices said to
be paid in England for such service There, il may
be the policy OF the government 10 grant mon0poes
to establish and maintain privileged classes; TO give
undue preference TO wealth and capital over labor;
to sustain the few, at the expense of the Many our
institutions are based upon an equality among the
citizens and the different interests-justice 10 all,
and special favors to none. Il is highly gratifying
to see the enterprise of our citizens extending the
advantages and blessings of rapid intercommunica-
ton over so large portion of our country and il
affords pleasure TO add that the service rendered
by these companies to the department has been, in
the main, of the most acceptable character. 1t is,
however, my duty to inform you that if these faci-
tiles for transportation and travel continue to in
crease as rapidly as they have within the last few
years, and Congress cannot devise some means to
resist the heavy exactions made upon this depart
nent, It's revenues must be absorbed in few years
for the payment of that species of service.
The difficulty heretofore existing between the de-
partment and the Philadelphia and Baltimore Rail-
road Company, growing out Of the refusal Of the
company TO take the mail from Philadelphia i'm
niediately its arrival from New York in the night,
has been settled hv the 0f the
TO perform that highly necessary and important
vice on the opening of the spring, after they have
completed the repairs of their road--whch will in
crease the despatch of the mail west of Baltimore,
and south Of Washington, twenty-four hours.
1t is deeply to be regretted that the New York
and Philadelphia Railroad Company still persist in
their refusal to convey mail agents for the depart
ment over their road. This is service rendered
by all other companies where it is desired and upon
no other route is it more needed than this From
this-the most important route in the United States
and for which they receive the maximum pay al
lowed by law-the mail agent is excluded, and the
service thereby materially injured, in not having
some one the road to receive letters written after
the closing Of the mails to assert and deliver the
mails at the intermediate Offices and, above ALL to
when detected, those plunderers of the public
enues, who, we have reason to believe, yet ac-
lively engaged in taking letters out of the mails
this great thoroughfare. This may in some degree
account for the great falling off of the at
those two offices for the last quarter. 1t
hdenty believed, If the business of the department
was to increase in consequence of the low hostages
nj apv nonts in the ITn;on 4 would have been he
tween those great cities. What reasons exist for
this singular refusal the DEPARTMENT cannot well as
certain. That it has the effect to detract from the
character of the route agent in the mail SER
can he M donht
Il has been shown that the saynos in New York
and New England at the lettings last spring exceed
ed one quarter of a million of dollars. Should SINH
lar aayinss he realized in the other sections when
placed under the new law. there will be. In the west
ern section afier The 1sf az INV newt reduction in
the cost of the annual TRANSFORMATION Of about s335
600; in the southern section. ater the Ist Of Juv
ls47. about S23s. 600 per annum; and in the mid
die section, after the LIST Of July, l648 $3.50 900
per annum. The whole reduction thus made after
the LIST Of July l64S in the transportation of the
mails, will be 81 ,Ou5, 900 per annum. II may not
be safe to infer from the reduction of prices of trans
portation in New York and New England, that
similar one may be made in the other sections of the
Union, when subjected to the provisions of the new
low In the former. the higher grades of service
had been more generally employed, because of the
greater facilities for the mail service than in the latter.
The new law only recurring that species of service
which is necessary for the safe and speedy trans
portation of the mails, would enlarge the field of
competition, and reduce the prices more in the one
mails may be iniurousy affected by the state Of the
trade and markets of the country. The extent of
the country, its increasing population, will demand
additional and improved service, and, if extended to
Texas and Oregon, will not allow any reduction of
the expenditures in this branch of the service.
The compensaion to postmasters, and the expen-
ses Of Their offices, are the next principal source of
expenditure, and amounted for the year ending Both
of June last, TO the sum of Al, 4O9. SIS 1S.
This class of officers had been paid by a commits
sion depending on the amour, received at their Off
ces. and by the franking privilege. Their compen-
sation under the former laws, with the exception Of
few at the larger officers, was less in proportion
TO the eervices rendered and the Importance of the
duties performed by them, than that of any other
officers under the federal government. The new
law operated with peculiar hardship upon them. 1t
deprived them of the Thanking privilege and dimin-
shed their COMPENSATION in proportion to the reduc-
ton Of the revenue and greatly increased their la
bors. The number Of resgnations-oyer two thou
sandcrea,ed an apprehension that the public service
might suffer from the want of competent and faithful
men 10 take charge of the Offices The arguments