Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1847-12-31

~A- - go 'AA'SAS1tiAS anu Satisfactorily uuCu-
ment, and will. we doubt not, meet with
more favorable reception at the hands of the
people, than any which has been presented
by other departments of the Government.
1t exhibits the successful working of the
cheap postage system, the revenues of the
department for the year ending Goth June
last, amounting TO within a few thousands
Of its expenditures, and this while there has
been great addition TO the number of post
routes, and the extent Of mail transporta-
ton. The Post Master General, who was
originally somewhat unfriendly TO the new
system, now says: 1t is gratifying to find
that within so short period after the great
reduction of the rates of postage, the reven-
ues of the department have increased so
much beyond the expectations of the friends
of the cheap postage system; while the ex-
pcnditnrcs for the same time have diminish
ed more than half a million of dollars annu-
ally; and that the department is in condi-
ton to sustain itself without further aid from
the Treasury" lie further says:
1.-The favorable operation of the act of
1915 upon the finances of the department
leads to the conclusion, that by the adoption
oisuch notifications as have been suggested
by this department for the improvement of
its revenues and the suppression of abuses
practsed under it, the present low rates of
postage will not only produce revenue
enough to meet the expenditures, but leave
a considerable surplus annually, to be APP
piled to the extension of the mail service to
the new and rapidly increasing sections Of
our country, or would Justify still further
reduction of the rates of postage. In the
opinion of the undersigned, with such mod
iGcations of the act of 1915 as have been
suggested, a uniform less rate might in a
few wears be made to cover the expenses of
the department; but by its adoption, the
department would be compelled TO rely upon
the treasury for some years. At this time
during the existence Of a foreign war, I'M
posing such heavy burdens upon the trea-
sury, it might not be wise or prudent to in-
crease them, or to do any thing which
would tend to impair the public credit; and,
on this account alone, recommendation for
such a reduction is not made"
In the two following paragraphs, howe.
yer, Mr.. Johnson has given reasons of the
very strongest character for an immediate
reduction to the lowest possible Standard
reasons which should far outweigh the Pc
cuniary considerations which at present
seem to exist against such reduction. 1t is
true that the principle of making the post
office department sustain itself has uniform
l. been acted on; but we are unable to see
the justice or propriety Of this principle,
as insisted upon in regard to the most neces-
sary and useful department of the govern
ment, while, as respects the least useful de-
parments, we never hear it urged, The
Postmaster General very Justly says:
postage is a tax not only on the bust
ress of the country, but upon the intelli-
gence. knowledge, and the exercise of the
friendly and social feelings; and. ~ the opln~
ion of the undersigned, should be reduced
TO the lowest point which would enable the
department to sustain itself.
AS our country expands, and its circle
Of business and cores pondence ehiarges, as
civilization progresses, ii becomes more Inn
portant to maintain between the different
sections of our country a speedy, safe, and
cheap intercourse. BY so doing, energy is
infused into the trade of the country; the
business of the people enlarged and made
more active, and an Irresistible impulse given
to industry of every kind; by it, wealth is
created and ditlused in numberless ways
throughout the community, and the most
noble and generous feelings of our nature,
between distant friends, are cherished and
preserved, and the Union itself more closely
bound together
Among the notifications of the present
law suggested, are that the weight of the
single letter be fixed at quarter or third of
an ounce, instead of half, Except when
written on a single sheet of paper,) to be
prepaid, or double postage required when
not prepaid; that the postage on newspapers
be equalzed, and be regulated by weight,
The same as on letters; the payment OF post
age, or double postage, on all letters passing
through the mails for delivery within the
United States, and prepayment on letters
destined for foreign countries not having
postal arrangements with the United States,
and on all printed matter; the abolition or
modification of the frankng privilege, so as
10 cover only official correspondence.
The report bears testimony 10 the zeal,
puretuality, and fidelity of post-masters gen.
erallv. The Post Master General says
ct is with pleasure state that, of the
l5,l46 postmasters in the United States,
whose accounts have TO be rendered and set
tied quarterly, there were only ia deitff-
ouent in making their returns at the close
of the last wear, and most of these cases
arose from inability to supply some OF the
offices with mails, for the transportation of
which contracts could not be obtained on
the new routes" &c.
The affairs of the General Post-Office ap-
near TO be in as good condition as they
have ever been, notwithstanding the heavy
increase of business and responsibility de-