The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-12-09

ordered m 81 cases involving only the sum Of 50 III
whilst during me period los formerly pending
have been settled, and the money paid Amounting 10
>le655 This large collected within the n rec wears
has been discussed without the loss OF dollar IN pay
men OF the public creditors, due and proper tine il IS
believed, without exception.
PFlOr 10 the of july, lS43 there debt. fu- IN.
department., many OF long standing amounting 10 $780,
$50 OF his there has been collected within The 0at
year Siosos aad credits allowed upon the settlement OF
accounts Of -S,II9, leastng YET balance due the de-
PartEneAt OF e2973el Vey Large proportion OF TINS
sum vii De probably lost
The present rates of postage VIII Afford ample means
10 meet ne expenditure and probable increase OF the
wee ant leave surplus that viii IN few wears enable
the department repay the treasury the amount ecs we'd
iron i since the passage CT the act or Iss5.
Under these circumstances shall further reduction OF
me hostages De made The means which we'll digested
cheap NAL affords OF rapid interchange Of IDEAS
between different and distant sections Of the country and
the consequent increase OF knowledge Us influence upon
society bat little, any, less than mat OF printing Is
npoftaAce TO every interest social commercial and po
htcal. womb Justify ne that loer ale Of post
age should be adopted, Il il be done without de-
partare from that pnncple heretofore maintained IN tae
country thai this department should DC sustained from
system 80 ultimately connected with all other inter
ests and the hapsness and prosperity OF the peopeso
diversified in It's operations, minute In rs teras-Te
qulre, careful examination OF suggestions for It's
improvement and the adoption OF such only expert
proves viii De useful TO TIE citizens and render
more perfect.
/ The Importance as well general desire for cheap
postage system has attracted much OF public attention 10
the beet only ths, but other countries within
the last few years. To this object most coun
tines placed under the control OF the government,
though perhaps strictly OF is attributes Had
been lett 10 private enterprise, the wealthy and
popuous portions OF the community would doubt have
been amply provided ioc bat others less favored, would
have been lefr destitute Of the OF dIu-ln nte
yenee among the people OF 40 much Importance
well regulated esteemed By who framed the
constitution of the United States. that the States
were not permitted have any control II, lest the
diversity OF legsalnn should destroy s uniformity and
q rrta~ H.
questioned whether free government such
sve territories those OF the United States could be
maintained withsat II The perfection OF every such
system consists The cheapness, speed, aI -ecuty tn
which COMMUNICATIONS are Interchanged between iIiter
ent and distant portions OF the community OF between
different nations
4 Whatever may be the system aioptsi the means for
! Its support must be pad "a way BY the
people for whose benefit Il established In the United
States, upon this point there has been httle diver
fy OF OPINION That Il should De collected OF those who
ENJOY The benefits Of the system 0y charge the
Ter conveyed the mails obviously pst scarcely
ID have been Questioned IL does not eIther lusi
fair that those whose condition IN life does not enable
them participate ~ adj antages shoul De cael
By other motes OF TAXATION TO contribute It's support
The arising IRON II have heretofore been
applied TO any other purpose, except Tor shoE- nne
during the OF I,I-; have the derived
from other sources 0eeh appl Ell 10 s except a
IN the eiDrt recently made for Improvement Il has
been maize 10 depend upon itself, aai thereby -gag
the government the best security Tor the ihI ul.as-
tralinn OF lis finances Perhaps no other means could De
adopted more equitable and just.
large number OF the people have little no cCnnex
with The mai system To subject that class share
the burden OF Is support by dIrecl tax by lmposts
.evIed upon the necessities OF hie would be-
eVed, the APPRECIATION OF bat few dsinieres,ed citizens
II his De me correct principle, OF which the uniersgHe
has no doubt every letter package conveyed the
mails should pay lust and fair proportion of cost of
transportation, and other expenses attending the del very
There should De no exception Amy departure from It
would unnecessarily increase the amount to others who
were taxed for IT'S maintenance If the government does
not seek revenue from II other than that necessary for
the support Of the system, no higher charge shouh be
made than the cost OF transportation AMI the expenses
attending the delivery OF each letter package
/ L - difficult 4 not impossible, 10 ascertain with any
degree OF accuracy the actual cost OF each letter pack
age conveyed IN the mails. In a country Ike ours ey
tendlng from the Atastic the Pacific and from the
Lakes 10 the Gulf, one portion OF It covered with cities
and villages, demanding daily AMI dou5le-iay mails,
with every facility Tor speei and cheap transportation;
others splrsey populated, without any improvements
whatever, scarcely requiring weekly mal-the cost Of
transportation must necessarily vary and change often
new contracts have 10 be made. In 10 two sections
OF the couatry-prOoably two mall-r0utes-wOuid
the cost OF transportation be the same short time
since the mail was transported daily route
seyeny-four mdes. four horse post coaches, the
rate OF cents per annun. On other routes, similar
vice viii cost from fifty ttousan dollars In all
such the cDst o each letter package fepent
N some degree upon the amount pad the contractors
The contract changes every four years AM The price for
the service depends upon considerations connected with
travel the route, chances OF compeon cost
oil supplies, Sac, well upon the distance.
The expense OF Receiving, ling, and delivery
distance conveyed the number OF persons through
whose hands II pass but neither OF these ali OF
them together, wi aecl the oil each than the
number conveyed IN the mails, and that depends in great
degree upon the rate of postage.
IT, however the OF each could be easily ami accu
raeiy ascertaned It's want of uniformity would prevent
its adoption as the
In ascerainng standard by which the rates are to be
adjusted, the cost different the several
ions OF The Union, the distance be conveyed the
pense in the Offices OF vIn- forwarding and delivery,
too minute and unlmpor,ani 10 deserve much consi
eraton.
The best and the only practicable criterion will be the
expense OF the whole system compared with the
nue. and the adoption OF such rate experience shows
20 be enough 70 make the meet the Other approach
ing nearly a. possible the cost
Prior to the passage Of the OF 1s4J the rates Of
postage on letters adjusted according the number
OF pieces making each single letter, and different
pad according the distance .hey conveyed,
Il that the principal element in estimating the
cost This principle entirely abandoned by the
act OF SIS, though much slmplIfed and improved while
charging by the piece entirely surrendered and the
more Just and equitable mode By weight substituted
Experience proved that the prior TO the passage of
that too high for the purposes OF revenue For
series OF years PRIOR 10 that time, the expenditures e,u
larry exceeded The income, eyhI biting annual average
deficiency of about $4,000 for the eight years prece-
ding the passage oil the act
These deficiencies occurred while the transportation
gradually diminished within the last four or five years
about twelve thousand miles in extent 50 that If the
high rates OF postage had been continued the service
must have been greatly diminished or large sums OF
money drawn annually from the treasury TOR It's use
This result may be mainly attributed to two causes
First the multiplication OF railroads and steamboat lines
augmented the expense oil the mail transportation from
SiO4,43 IN 1888 10 $50 40 the }9th OF June ~