The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-07-09

4
| safely and advantsgeonsly be carried farther; an
re was almost prepared TO believe thar the lower III
rate OF postage, the greater would be the revenu
produced. Ii not his intention, then, 10 90 int
| a discussion OF that question; but when that ques
| ton was discussed il would be shown that durln
the quarter for which we have returns the increas
Of letters of the fye-cent rate has been nearly a
tbree to one those Of the en-cent rate; the frs
Icing eghtythTee per cent, and the latter but thir
ty-three per cent These were strong facts whicl
show the working Of the principle of low postage il
respect TO revenue whilst lis beneficial influence IA
other respects must be proporionably great, affect
lag all classes and all interests ia the community.
Mr.. N. had but few words TO say in explana
ION OF the amendment he had offered. Ii provide,
for taking away all discretion from the Postmaste
General IN Increasing the compensation Of postmas
tiers beyond their commissions, which is all the Law
allows them. He could not approve Of the con
slruction given TO tho act Of last session by IN.
Postmaster General, based on the opinion OF the
Attorney General, which in his judgment was 4
very extraordinary one. a.
The necessity Of the case may have been urgent
hut II will not do TO permit executive officers TO in
terpolate important provisions into law by way O
a liberal construction, which does violence both u
the letter and the spirit Of the law. The compensa
on Of all officers should be fixed by law, and no
he LEFT 10 executive regulation discretion. Ii was
no doubt true that the law did not give to some o.
the postmasters, and particularly those OF the dis
tributing Offices, adequate compensation for de-
fraying the necessary charges oftheir Offices and oI
their own services. The amendment provides for
Increasing their commissions five per cent. on the
hostages collected and three per cent the amount
Of mails distributed. Ii will also restore post
masters their commissions on newspapers conveyed
less than thirty miles, which now free from
postage. There was sound principle on which
this discrimination can be made between newspa pers
conveyed more or less than thirty miles; and Il is
imposing burden on postmasters for which they
receive no compensation whatever. This 10 unjust,
and takes away from the small Offices a considera.
bic share ofthe income they yield 10 the postmaster,
as his commission on newspapers are half Of the
postage chargeable. The provision was intended
10 favor the small newspaper establishments, but
far as he was informed, has had a contrary effect
and the publishers Of newspapers are generally OPP
posed 10 II. Formerly the postmasters we're their
agents, and exerted themselves to procure subser-
hers and increase the circulation Of newspapers and
the interest they had served a stimulus for so
doing. Now their interest lies the other way as the
less number Of papers not bect postage received
at their Offices, the less gratultous labor they have
to perform.
Besides the sending newspapers in the mail free Of
postage, has interfered with and broken up many
post.riders, who had been employed in distributing
newspapers for as portion Of their subscribers
get their papers more conveniently through the mail
their receiving them in that way rendered the BUSH
ness not worth pursuing Nor is there any general
TO the public, for il is only those living
near post Offices who can obtain their papers through
the mail as conveniently as from post.riders, and
other modes OF conveyance
In regard, Mr.. President, TO the amendment Of
fered by the honorable senator from Rhode Island
Mr. SIMMONS, providing for uniform postage Of
FIVE cents, | do not propose to discuss il at this
time, more especially after the full and able exami
nation Of the question by that senator. | will only
say that concur generally, il not entirely, in the
correctness of the facts and views presented by him.
and the conclusions to which they lead. have
great confidence in the principle Of low postage and
do not think any one can now say to what extent
that principle can be safely carried. SO far as we
can Judge from the experience Of single quarter il
seems nearly certain that the uniform rate Of five
cents for single letter would increase, rather than
diminish the aggregate revenues of the department.
The strong fact that the increase Of letters within
three hundred miles subject to FIVE cents postage,
has been as two and half to one over the increase
Of those sent over three hundred miles and paying
len cents postage, would seem to be conclusive on
this point. But il may be thought-and perhaps
with much propriety-lhat it would be prudent and
wise TO give the present law the trial Of one year,
before disturbing any Of its material provisions, as
we can then act upon il with the light Of better ex-
oerIence. He had no objection to this course, and
yet was himself prepared at this time to establish
Uniform rate Of fve-cent postage, which will give
he principle OF cheap postage more satisfactory
and fair trial.
tbeing minated by several senators that these
amendments did not properly belong to an appropri-
ltion BILL they were both withdrawH; and Mr.. ~
hen offered an amendment appropriatng twenty
i've thousand dollars for line of mail steamers TO
liverpool, and like sum for line to Cowes and
Bremen.
Mr.. N. said the question presented by this
nj m desc rved
he serious consideration of the Senate; and he
,oped he might have the attention of senators whilst
he presented the facts and considerations on which
he friends Of the measure relied as emitting it to
avorable judgment. During the last session of
Congress- law was passed authorizing the Post
master General to enter into contracts for con- |
eying mail from the United States to
oreign countries; and in pursuance of that
aw, the Postmaster General had made a
ontract with Mr.. Mills, of New York, for trans
orting mail from the city Of New York to Bre-
men, stopping at Cowes, and every alternate trip
/ Havre. As the steamships were to be built, the |
ervlce would not commence until another year, |
nd the appropriation would not be required, but
vas asked for to obtain the sanction of Congress to
he contract which had been entered into, subject
0 the approval OF Congress- in making an appropri
ton for the expense. The terms Of contract for
mother line of mail steamers between New York |
nd Liverpool have been agreed on between the
rising merchant of New York, which would be |
oncluded if il met the appreciation and sanction Of
congress; and he had moved the appropriation for
nat service to obtain the action and decision of Con-
ress on the question.
lMr. DAVIS inquired what were the terms of the
ontractsi n
Mr. N. said they had been laid before the Sem |
te in full report Of the Postmaster General The
ontract for Bremen is for four steamships Of not
ss than fourteen hundred tons each, to make TWEEN
Y trips year, two each month for eight months,
nd one month for four months, each trip stopping
t Cowes. For this service, three hundred and ff-
Y thousand dollars annually was to be paid. The
hips were to be strong and well fitted for war
eamers; and the government had the right Of pur-
basing them for the public service, should they be
,anted inihe event OF war The line to Liverpool
'as to consist of five steamships, of tonnage not
IS than two thousand TONS and would probably
xceed that--to make twenty trips year for a
compensation of three hundred and eigh,y-fve thou
and dollars per annum. The appropriation for the
,remen line was in the bill, as it came from the
House, and had been stricken out as a part Of the
mendment of the senator from Rhode Island, Mr..
IMMoNs but without his (Mr. N.'s) notice at the
me, and he presumed nnnoticed by most of the