The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-09-02

laREGuLARTrY OF THE MAILs.--The freauon-
complains of the press, and of our citizens, OF
the irreguarity of the post Office department in
this and other cities, have at length reached the
Postmaster General at Washington, and that
worthy official has determined to correct the
evil, If possible. With this view, we are inform.
ed he has dcputed William J. Brown, Esq, Sc.
cond Assistant Postmaster General, to proceed on
tour OF inspection, visit the principal cities on
the sea board, and in the interor-especialy
New York, Philadelphia, Boston, and Albany
ascertain the causes of irr-gularity, and report
the same to him, to be obviated for the future if
! possible.
We are much gratfed at this determination OF
/ Mr. Cave Johnson, as it exhibits a praiseworthy
desire TO relieve the community from the annoy
! ances and embarrassments it has suffered for a
long time past The selection ofMr. Brown, too,
/ is iudicious; for from what we hear of that gem
teman's talents and business requirements, we
are confident that the mission will be attended
with the fullest and most perfect success. This
gentleman will make searching enquiry into the
manner of conducting the affairs of the offices
which he is commits sioned to visit and make
such suggestions and alterations as he may deem
| requisite, in discharging from the service of the
suggestions will be carried into effect by the Post
mas er General Immediately. We hope that no
obstacle will be thrown in his way, and that
every facility will be afforded him in fulfilling
his mission, as the public at large is interested in
the result.
We will venture to offer suggestion
to Mr.. Brown, in regard to the manner in
which the affairs of the office in this city
is conducted that needs correction. We
are satisfactorily informed that some OF the
clerks ia that establishment, for certain rea-
sons, entertain i'll will towards some par
ticuaf newspapers in this city-the Heruld
is, perhaps, among them-and that those papers
fail in reaching subscribers more frequently than
others against which no such pique is entertained
Now, if this be che case and we are assured Of
its truth, 1t certainly demands TO be investigated
We are further informed that it is mmaterial at
what time the latter papers are received at the
post ofiice-whether it be ten minutes or half an
hour after the regular time for closing the mails
those Lapers invariably are forwarded to their
places of destination, while the others fail when
deposited in proper season Again--we suggest
that we receive more complaints from subscribers
at the East of tn non.receipt of the Herald in
due season, than from all the other points com.
bined. From this we are led to believe that there
is room for improvement or radical change in the
persons employed in that particular branch Of
the New Yofk post-office. If the clerks on the
east table" are remiss, they ought at to be
discharged.
1t has been urged by the friends Of Mr.. Morri,
aud of the Postmaster General, that there is a
deficiency of clerks in many of the post offices
which precludes the prompt and efficient transac-
ton of business, but that the evil cannot be reme
died except by Congress, because the Postmasters
have no means wherewith to pay for additional
assistance, except the commissions accruing in
their respective offices, which. under the new
postage law, are not sufficient to pay greater
number than is at present employed. These COM
missions fixed by act of Congress at a GER
tain sum. to include all the expenses of each Office,
including rent, salaries Of the Postmasters and
their clerks--in fact, every thing. Neither the
Postmaster in New York, nor the Postmaster
General in Washington, has power, by law, to APP
ply any other fund to that object.
We are satisfied that there is a good deal OF
truth in this, and that a sudden and great accu
mutation OF business will always produce an un-
avoidable increase OF mistakes and confusion
but we were the strongest advocate for the cheap
! postage system ; we were willing to suffer, and
expected to be incommoded by the change, and
this we were willing to submit to for the public
good, until, in course of time, the defects were
remeded. But We cannot concede, in the face
of what we have above suggested. that the gla-
ring irregularities and wliul neglect that has
characterized the business of the post office in
this city, particularly since the beginning of the
session of the State Convention, can be attributed
to these causes. We are convinced that some
thing is rad cally wrong there, which ought to be
remedied speedily.
We trust Mr. Brown will institute rigid scru-
tiny into this office.