Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1846-05-09

Mr. r. knew perfectly Well that this cry OF cheap post
age was good election cry. II furnished fine eleconeer
ing hobby in quarters and had been tried his dis
uct TO rde over him man opposed TO the law, but the
nag broke down. and the cry nothing How did this
saving OF postage work the pocket Of the farmer He
ccived say ten dozen letters in year. and he used
70 pay his twenty-five cents piece for them now he got
them for ten for five So far all looked very fair
But there was merchant In Of the Eastern States who
mailed hundred five hundred letters day, and kept
dozen twenty clerks continually writing He used TO
pay his twenty-five cents he paid ten, and the difference
had TO be made up by which the farmer shared equally
with the merchant The farmer loser by the average
1t would be better for him still to pay his twenty-five cents
postage that he used grumbe The whole matter was
wrong The Post Office Department was created for the
benefit of those who used and their support ought be
in proportion TO their enjoyment Of its benefits they,
and they alone, who ought TO pay its expenses Put the
postage down to cent, reduce nothing and who
would camor loadest in favor of the law The merchant
who received his hundred letters Of morning free Of expense
while all the farmers helped to pay for bringing them his
door, The merchants and traders raised cano against Mr.
r. for his opposition TO the law he did not wonder it,
and did complain his them was, que natural
gentlemen-perfectly natural" But what difference was
there, in the principle Of the thing, between transporting
mans letters free Of cost for nominal compensation, and
transporting his goods Would gentlemen go for law that
brought the merchants goods his door free And
you transported his letters and his merchandise why not
transport his person also No doubt he would be very glad
and, he entered his door, would make handsome
bow the gentlemen who passed economical and public
spirited statute But Government would appropriate no
money that did not first draw from the people. To carry
the letters, the goods, and the persons Of portion Of the
community free you must tax all the rest for the money
taken out Of treasury filled by the contributions Of
ALL The who received either letter goods and
put his foot into railroad car paid much the
chant This game much like the peltng Of the frogs
in the fable might be excellent fun for the boys but it
was death to the frogs
The law fixed the to be paid to the posmasters
this right Mr. r. approved Of this he cared little what
the amount might be- but let be fixed and fixed by law
high gentlemen thought but in the
of prudence in the JUSTICE make definite Give the
all the postage he received, half of it. any other
proportion, allow him specific but, in the name Of
all that independent in the of all that De-
mocrac leave not the amount of his living at the discretion
Of the Postmaster General.
As to the number of designations who did not know when
he voted for the bill, that numbers would resign II
known to all, and freely spoken Of in anticipation.
Mr. p had made these remarks out of unknd feelings
he had all due respect for the Postmaster Gene
rail- but this was discretion he would not allow the best
friend he had in the world. He trusted the proviso would
not be stricken out.
Mr.. MCKAY observed that the appropriations in this bill
all payable Of the Of the Post Office De-
partment These by law to be kept distinct
from the other funds in the Treasury The appropriations
paid out Of il arranged under different heads The
Of last year reduced the Of the post office revenue
and provided that whatever deficit might the exgen-
ces Of the post Office service, should be paid of any
moneys in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated pro-
viso added to the BILL intended guard against the ope
ratons Of the Department being brought to stop by the
operation of the law None however, supposed the time
that any thing would under this provso have to be taken
Of the Treasury.
Mr. SIMS, of South Carolina, inquired whether that law
did not make specific appropriation to meet contingencies in
the pay OF postmases different from the general provision
meet all other contingencies
Mr. MCKAY understood TO say in reply that specific
Of hundred and fifty thousand dollars had been
apart for this end while provided that the other expend
lures should not exceed four and half millions
He herr Quote The law.
Mr. SIMS then inquired whether the decision of the Aor
ney General had been confined the application the
specific appropriation alone
Mr. Mckay said that his purpose to make any
attack the decision of the Attorney General the
Of the Postmaster General in conformity with that de-
cision He had nothing in regard either He had
been observing that when the law passed it in
to take any additional of the Treasury
1t had been distinctly foeseen that there would be large
falling off in the of the Department. and
quen reduction in the allowance postmasers and the Sem
in view Of such result had made amendment the
bill allowing the Postmaster General to increase the compen
saon of the small post Offices provided should never ex
coed onehalf of the postage received. Mr. Mex. here
again quoted the bill The Attorney General had given
his opinion that under this provision Of the bill the Post
master General authorized to take additional
out Of the Treasury. II estimated that the deficit
for next year would amount million of dollars and the
present bill contained provision that if such deficit should
occur the sums necessary to make up should be taken
of the Treasury.
Mr. Nick expressed himself in favor Of raising the present
rates Of postage extent and expressed his hope that
the Committee the Post Office would speedily report bill
for that purpose But until then poviso added that
the necessary might be drawn from the Treasury keep
the service Of the Post Office Department from coming
stop which it certainly would unless provision should
be made to prevent it.
Mr. Mex. said he did consider il very important that
the proviso question should be retained Should il be
stricken the General could still act under the
law Of the last session in making up these postmasers allow
and the only practical result would be to shin the deficit
from one head Of appropriation to another.
Mr. HOPKINS, chairman of the Committee on the Post
Office and Post Roads, sgnfed to the committee that bill
might be expected shortly to be reported from that committee
increasing the present rates Of postage Meanwhile the
mee substantially agreed that would be best TO strike
out the provso and thereby sanction the construction given
the law by the Attorney General Should that proyso be
tanned the most inconvenience would have be
counieed and the service might receive great detment In
the practical result would be only deprive
postmas,ers Of all compensation but actually bring them in
debt TO the Government This would probably be the
the great post offices Of Boston, New York. Philadelphia
Baltimore, Cincinnati, Louisville, and New Orleans Unes
provision made, the effect Of which would be
nue the allowances paid, responsible person would
be prevailed 10 accept office under the Department The
practice that the postmaster should pay for office rent
clerk hire fuel &C. of the gross received by him
Now under the reduction OF rates. and with
remedial provision such existed these post
would be left without cent of actual salary, and in
some would fall in debt to the Government.
Mr. II. had predicted such result when the bill had been
under consideration but he then told that the posmas
tiers might confidently to the justice Of Congress in their
He hoped that bill would be reported to
provide for the whole matter Meanwhile, IL the poviso should
be stricken out the would proceed at present OBJ
eciionabe the present construction might be- il pre-
erabe disturbing and payzng the business Of the office
all over the country which would be the inevitable result Of