Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1845-03-03
Matters at Washington.
Correspondence of the N. Y. Morning News.
POST OFFICE BILL.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 8, ls4;

The new Post Office bill has undergone
so many changes in the Senate, tina, doubt
may exist as 10 the form in which it has
been sent TO the House Of Representatives.
Briefly then it may be stated to stand thus
the postage on all single letters for any
distance IL reduces to five cents ; newspa-
pers may be sent by publishers to subscri-
bcrs free of postage for any distance no,
exceeding thirty miles; circulars, &C., are
to be chargeable with postage Of two
cents for any distance pamphlets, periodi-
Gals, and magazines, not weighing more
than one ounce, are 10 be chargeable with
postage Of two and half cents, with an
additional cent for each additional ounce,
whatever may be the distance
The Thanking privilege has been copsi-
derably diminished. All officers Of the
government who have hitherto had the
Thanking privilege are hereafter 10 be
charged with postage Of which an account,
is TO be kept, and the amour, repaid from
the conlingen, fund Of their respective bu
reau or department. The three assistant
Posimasters General are to be entitled to
have RENTED all postage charges on COM
municaiioas touching the business Of the
Post Office Department, and they are each
empowered to frank letters relating exclu-
svely to their official duties, or TO the bus-
ness Of tho Post Office Department, and
not otherwise, under penalty Of $500
Tho deputy postmasters, too, throughout
the United States, are TO he allowed, on the
settlement OF their accounts, the postage
which they may pay on letters relating to
the business Of their Offices, upon a verif-
cation on oath Of their amounts, and tho
Transmission Of the charged letters as
vouchers. They may also frank letters
on post Office business only. The penal: :
in these cases Of any violation of the law
is $500. But the commissions If the post
masters, which amount to less Than $25
per annum. may be increased az the dis
cre:;on Of the Post Mssler General, provi
ded they do no, exceed fifty per cent. on
letter postage accruing at such Office
This is doubtless intended as compensa-
ton for The deprivation Of the Iranking
privilege.
The contingent funds OF the two Houses
Of Congress are also to be chargeable with
postage on all the matter sent under frank
by their members and officers, of which The
Post Office Department is TO keep an &c.
count. But besides, tho Thanking privilege
Of the members ia limited TO letters, news
papers or packets not exceeding two ounces
weight; they may also receive such pack
cts, letters aud newspapers, petitions, me-
MORALS, and other matter relating to their
legislative duties, free of postage, and the
charge Of The access Of weight above two
ounces, IS TO be paid from the contingent
fund of the House. They may frank let
ters written by themselve during the whole
year, as now authorized by law, and all
documents printed by order Of either House
OF Congress.
The Thanking privilege is continued TO
the widows Of the Presidents, NJ rs Madison
and Mrs. Harrison, and both Presidents
and Ex-Presdents Of the United States !;
and for the purpose of guarding against the
possibility of any embarrassment in the
operations Of the Post Office Department,
consequent upon any deficiency of It's re-
venues, which may be occasloned by The
reduction Of the rates Of postage, this act
approprates the sum OF $3.50, 900 to be
paid out Of the treasury; and if the rates of
postage, together with the appropriation,
should DO still inadequate the deficiency is
TO be charged on the treasury, provided
the entire expenditure for the Post Office
Department shalt not, exclusive of salaries
of officers, clerks, and messengers of the
Genera Post Office, and the contingent
fund OF the same, exceed annually ST.
500, 900.
The other sections of the bill are strin.
gent provisions lof the suppression Of pri'
vate expresses &c.
This bill as it now stands is much
more just and liberal measure than was ex
pected, butt is scar cev possible that il vii
vet become law. 1t mel with the mos
strenuous opposition from Mr.. Merrick
who represents the head of the Post Office
Department in the Senate, and Mr.. NJ,
DulIic al the last hour made a stron,
speech agains, il. His whole speech
however, was based on the error that tiv,
cents postage i'll be inadequate for tn
transmission of the correspon cnce OF tn
people of the entire country. There vii
probably be no dispute on the question
whether tho letter writing and letter recei
wing portion of the people should pay sucl
rate OF postage as will defray the expen
ses which the Department incurs for tn
transmission Of their letters, but Mr.. Nc
Dutlio Inl'ed to show why that portion o
our private citizens should also pay the ex
pense of transmitting The many tons weigh
OF dncumen's which ure despatched from
the two Houses Of Congress, all the CORES
pondence fraukcd by the members of Con
gress, (includiog the speeches Of the mem
bess which are sent 10 their own Congress
SIGNAL d.stricts,) and all the cores pondenc
and documents-of the Departments of tn
Governu oni, IN which the citizen who re
ceivcs letter has no none interest tina
he who does not. Ii this matter is for ind
yidual benefit, individuals should pay tn
postage on that which they receive bt
for SO much rs relates 10 the general int
rest of the whole, the treasury ct the Who'll
should pay, and j; is unjust TO Impose TIN
expense on a part. The Post Office sy:
TEN has been hitherto one Of glaring wrou
and palpable injustice. The expenditure
for the Department las, year amounted I
81 o6(i SGT 10 and of This the lettsr M,