The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-12-11

lures OF the last year 1898 5S7 The expenditures for the
year ending the 30th Of June Is H. amounted to 1920
57o63-nakng only s33,677 30 than the revenues.
The expenditures of the present year will exceed those
of the last by the following sums
For the mail steamer Washington 800 900
| For the steamer Hermann for seven months 1888
For cost OF the mail-roues established by the
! act OF the 81 of March, 1917 $4,000
| Add for contingencies 10000
ss2s, 1898
From this sum may be deducted the savings which
were made IN the southern section at the lettings in the
| spring, amounting to $l0S,697
The means OF the department for the present year are
/ tmaied at $l,3l3, 157
Expenditures estimated for the same time 1O99 200
Leaving surplus of $2l3,951
1t is gratifying TO find, that within so short period
after the great reduction OF the rates of postage, the
nues OF the department have increased much beyond the
expectations of the friends of the cheap postage system
while the expenditures for the time have diminish
ed more than hall million OF dollars annually; and that
the department is in condition to sustain itself without
further aid from the treasury.
These results have been produced mainly by two
portant provisions adopted in the act of 1Si5
FIRST The reduction in the of postage has pro.
duced so great increase in the business of the offices,
that the will equal those received under
the former high rates.
| Second The direction to the Postmaster General to
contract with the lowest bidder without the allowance
of any advantage to the former contractor had been
the before its passage had the effect of enargng the
field OF competition and reducing the price of transporta-
on except on railroads and in steamboats,, to the lowest
amount for which the service be performed and will
reduce the whole cost of transportation, when the other
section is let to contract under it, but little less than
million of dollars per annum from the former prices.
II Is not doubted that these results would have been
still more favorable If the notifications of the act OF
1885, heretofore suggested by this department, had been
adopted
First. Private expresses still continue to be run be-
tween the principal cities, and seriously affect the
nues OF the department from the want of adequate pow
ers Tor their suppression
Second The privilege of sending sealed letters 'in rela
ton to the cargo free over mail routes, is the source Of
innnmerabe frauds upon its revenues.
i InTd Ii the single letter ma lie the quarter or
third of an ounce, instead of half Except when written
on single sheet of paper and prepaid double postage
required when not prepaid, the revenues of the depart
nent would have been greatly improved.
FOURTH The postage on newspapers is unequal and
unjust TO the publishers themselves The postage
charged on each, without regard 10 weight Many
OF the larger class OF papers weigh two and half
ounces EACH and pay but cent and half for any dis
lance over 100 miles, and if charged as letter postage
would pay under 300 miles, IS cents and over 30 cents
Other papers weigh as low as half an ounce-only
fifth OF that weight and pay the rates. Some of
the larger size periodicals. weigh over Ia ounces, and
pay Ia cents 100 miles; and if charged with letter
postage. would pay, under 300 miles, 81 80, and over
50 CO. This inequality of tax the different pubica-
tons should be regulated in some way and reason is
perceived why the postage should not be regulated by
weight letters The weight and bulk of the mails,
which add SO greatly TO the of transportation and
impede the progress of the mail attributable to the
mass OF printed matter daily forwarded from the princi
pal cities in the Union every part of the country
Justice requires that the expense OF their transportation
should be paid by the hostages charged them and it
believed that the present rates would meet that object
II the hostages could be equalized and in all col
! lected
Fifth The payment Of postage, or double postage, on
all letters passing through the mails for delivery within
the United States and prepayment letters destined for
the United States, and OR all printed matter.
| S,rh. The abolition or modification of the Thanking
privilege so as TO only official correspondence for
which payment is made to the department, by the 18th
section OF the act of 1s47.
These suggestions for the modification of the act of
lS45 have been presented in former reports of this de-
partmen and the therefor given at large
To them may now add, that since the introduction OF
postage stamps directed by the 18th section OF the
OF the 30 OF March, 1917 the prepayment of letters would
be less tet as an inconvenience to the people than for
meIly.
The favorable operation of the act of 1915 upon the
finances OF the department leads to the conclusion, that
by the adoption OF such notifications have been sug
gested by this department for the Improvement of its
revenues and the suppression OF abuses pr.csed under
IT. the present low rates OF postage will not only produce
revenue enough to meet the expenditures, but leave
considerable surplus annually to be applied to the extern
sion OF the mail service to the and rapidly increas
ing sections OF country, would Justify still fur
Their reduction OF the rates OF postage In the opinion of
the Undersigned with such notifications of the act of
S4a as have been suggested, uniform less rate might
in few years be made 10 the expenses of the de-
parment but, by its adoption, the department would be
compelled to rely upon the treasury for years At
this time, during the existence of foreign imposing
such heavy burdens upon the treasury might not be
wise or prudent to increase them, to do anything
which would tend TO impair the public credit; and, on
this account alone recommendation for such reduction
is not made.
Postage is tax not only the business of the coun-
try, but upon the intelligence, knowledge and the
else OF the friendly and social feelings and in the opin-
ION of the undersigned should be reduced to the lowest
point which would enable the department to sustain it.
self. That principle has been uniformly acted in the
United States the true standard for the regulation Of
postage and the cheaper it be made, consistently
with that rule, the better
As our country expands, and its circle of business and
correspondence enarges civilization progresses, it
becomes more important to maintain between the differ
ent sections OF our country speedy, safe, and cheap
intercourse BY DOING energy infused into the trade
OF the country the business OF the people enlarged and
male more active, and irresistible impulse given to
industry OF every kind; by it, wealth is created and diff
fused IN nnmberless ways throughout the community
and the most noble and generous feelings of nature
between distant friends cherished and preserved and
the Union itself more closely bound together
After presenting the condition of the finances, thought
would not be unacceptable TO submit statements of the
operations OF those branches of the department having
control OF Them well their organization, aud
questet the Third Assistant Postmaster General, John
Marion, esq., and the Auditor for the Department, p. q
Washington esq to report to the detailed operations
OF their Offices for the last two ycarsthe latter being
charged by provision of law with the adjustment of the
accounts as well with the collection of debts and the
former, by regulation, with keeping summary cash
counts IN advance of the official settlements, be
prepared Tor the timely issue of drafts and warrants in
payment OF the balances certified by the Auditor be due
from the department These reports, marked and F
exhibit the duties assigned each the great OF
labor performed by them and the zeal punctualty and
hlety with which their duties discharged, well
as those OF other officers connected with the collection
and disbursement OF the Ii with pleasure