The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-12-12

Making a loss of revenue the first year I'M
der the new law, when compared with
the annual average OF the nine preceding
Years, OF S7I,i2j 30
And making loss of revenue the first year under the
new law, as compared with the preceding.
of $>02,6I2 IS
The revenues, as above stated, include the
hostages paid on matter which went free
through the mails prior to the passage of
the late law, of which no account was
kept prior to the commencement of the
last fiscal year This diminutjon of the
revenues of the department arises PrinCi-
paIly. from the loss on letter postage,
which, when compared with that OF the
preceding year, amounted to 1888 Ct
Being the entire loss sustained by the de-
art,nent except $?l,IO9 81
No nconsiderabc portion of this deficiency in the
of the past year may be traced to other than
reduction of the rates OF postage by the act OF the Sd OF
March, 1Nl5.
F,ra Expresses still continue to be run between the
principal cities with much regularity the mails, and,
is believed collect and transport letters for pay ont
of the mails in great numbers. The penalty provided by
law for the commission OF such offences rarely be
enforced for the want of sufficient proof The writer, the
receiver, and the carrier refuse to testify against each
other, because by doing they may subject themse Ives
TO similar penalty The agents of the department have
no authority to arrest the offenders and seize upon their
bags or trunks, and have them examined before proper
tribunal though morally certain that they contain letters
and hence convictions seldom take place and if they do
recovery of the money after Judgment from inability Of
such offenders TO pay, uncertain the convictions
Scc0nd Advantage is taken OF that provision of the
law which limits the weight OF single letter to half an
ounce the correspondence OF third PERSONS and
even packages of letters addressed TO different Individuals
are collected together and placed undc single cover,
and directed to some third person Tor distribution, by
which means hundred letters thus enveopcd weigh
ING eight ounces charged under 300 miles 50 cents,
and over 300, 81 60, when the department is entitled to
receive, under the law, five ten dollars according to
the distance These practices seldom be detected,
and when detected the only penalty is the payment of the
true postage. The department is thus compelled to pay
tnttA bn ,IS
tribute receive the profits
Third Advantage is taken of that provision of the law
which authorizes letters in relation TO the cargo to be
taken over mail routes free of postage TO
pondence in relation TO other matters They general
y marked the outside of the etter-in relation to me
cdrgO'-frce. Agents unable to detect the mposi-
ston those engaged IN the practice refuse to disclose
the facts, and the carriers themselves often ignorant
of the truth of the case and the offenders escape with
puny. If that privilege had been restricted to the bills
of laden or open letters relating to the cargo much abuse
would have been avoided the principal railroad and
steamboat routes.
Fourth. Transient newspapers advertisements, printed
or autographed circulars in great numbers are addressed
to postmasers and others ordering them which are
not called for, and if called for refused 10 be taken from
the Offices
These and similar practices to evade the payment o
postage, with the immense of dead-eers averaging
annually between and half and two millions If
number cucumber the mails unnecessarily, and whou
any profit to the department
To remedy these evils, respectfully suggest that the
law be amended to make the single letters weigh
quarter instead of the half ounce, except in the of
letter weighing less than half ounce and written upor
a single sheet OF paper
That the same power be given to the Post Office De
parment, to prevent violation OF IFS revenue laws
now given the Secretary Of the Treasury against snug
glers.
That all letters passing over mail routes which relat
to the cargo be free when they unseaed and subec
to the inspection of the post Office agents when fraud
suspected. ..