Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-12-16

the close Of the year. surplus Of Sl72, 2s2 beyond the
expenses properly chargeabe upon it.
Accompanying this report (marked b will be found
that of the Auditor r the Post Office Department made
my peques The energy and zeal of the officers engaged in
collection and disbursement Of the funds OF the Depart
mt, well TIE punctuality and pronptude Of post
in making payments and settling their accounts, de-
sfrve the highest commendation.
1t appears that rom the LIST day Of July, ls45 until the
3h of June, le4 the exclusive of the annual
appropriation of SO0000 for services rendered the Govern
ment, amounted to 81, 53s,6l4.
The whole has been collected except the following
OF the amount due June 80, lS46 the sum Of 80, l62
Do. do. ls47, ........ 5,O56
Do........... do. -. ls4s, ........ .26,74
1892
More than half the reported for the last year will be-
probably collected within the next three months
The balance yet due less than onehird Of per cent
| on the whole amount.
The last years accounts have been generally collected
without resort to the Of justice Suits have been
dered in ninetyone involving only the sum Of
whilst during the period one hundred and eight cases,
formerly pending, have been settled and the money PAID
amounting to Sl0,655.
This large sum, collected within the three years. has been
dsbused without the loss Of dollar in payment OF the pub
public creditors due and proper time is believed, without
an exception.
Prior to the ls of July s45 there debts due the
Department many long landing, amounting S3l9 $50.
OF this sum there has ben collected within the past year
$40 sO9 and credits aowd upon the settlement of
of S5 no. leaving vet balance due the Department of
S257 36l very largeproporon Of this sum will proba
bly, be lost.
The present rates of stage will afford ample to
meet the expenditure aid probable increase of the
vice. and leave surplus that will in few years enable the
Department to repay the Treasury the amount received from
| 1t since the passage of thI act Of lS45.
Under these circumstances shall further reduction Of the
hostages be made Til means which we-digesed cheap
mail system affords rapid interchange Of ideas between
different and distant sections Of the country, and the
quent increase of kndvledge its influence upon society
but little if any less tlan that Of printing its importance
to eyery interest socit commercial and POLITICAL would
Justify the answer hat lower of postage should be adopt
ed if it can be dine without departure from that principle
heretofore mantdned in the country that this Department
should be SUSTAINED from its own'resources
system 30 Intimately connected with all other interests
and the happiness and prosperity of the people, diversified
in its operations so minute in its Details requires careful
examination of ny suggestions for its improvement and the
adoption of such only experience proves will be useful to
the citizens and ender it more perfect
The importance, well general desire for cheap pos
tage SYSTEM has attracted much Of public attention to the
subject not onn this but other countries, within the last
few years. secure this object in most countries it placed
under the contro of the Govenme though, perhaps no.
strictly one Of its rbutes Had been left TO private enter
PRISE the WEALTHY and popuous portions OF the commu'
nifty would debt have been amply provided for but others
less favored would have been le destitute Of the means Of
dfusing intelligence among the people Of much impor-
lance was weFeguated system esteemed by those who
framed the constitution Of the United States that the
States permitted to have any control over it. lest
diversity Of Legislation should destroy Its uniformity and egu
Iay and impair its usefulness may indeed be questioned
whether free Government over such extensive territories as
those Of the United States could be maintained without it.
The perfection every such system consists in the cheapness
speed and security with which communications are inter-
changed between different and distant portions Of the COM
munity, or between different nations.
Whatever ma be the adopted the means Tor its
support must be paid in by tar on the people Tor
whose benefit is established In the United States upon
this point there has been little or no diversity Of opinion
That should collected Of those who enjoy the benefits oil
the system by charge the matter conveyed IN the mails
obviously Just scarcely TO have been questioned
does not ether just fair that those whose condition in
life does not entbe them TO participate in its advantages,
should be called by other modes oil taxation to contribute
to its support The arising from have not here
toore been applied any other purpose, except for short
time during the war Of 1872 Nor have the dcrv
ed from other been applied to its USE except to aid in
the effort recently made for its Improvement has been
made to depend upon itself and thereby giving to the Gov
eminent the be security for the faithful administration Of ts
finances. Peraps other means could be adopted more
equitable and jsst
large nuner of the people have little or no conne1on
with the mail To subject that class TO share the bur
den Of its supp by direct by impost levied upon the
necessares Of lie would meet is believed the appreciation
Of but few dsreested citizens If this be the correct in
cipe Of which the undersigned has no doubt every letter OF
package conveyd in the mails should pay Just and fair pro
portion Of It's cost Of transportation and other expenses at
tending the delivery There should be exception. Any
departure from would unnecessarily increase the amount
| others who wee taxed for its maintenance.
II the Government does not seek revenue fom II, ohe
than that necessary for the support Of the system, hghe
charge should made than the cost OF transportation, and
the expenses attending the delivery Of each letter package
II is difficult ii impossible, to ascertain with any degree
Of accuracy The actual Of each letter package
veyed in the nails
In country like ours, extending from the Atlantic to the
Pacific, and from the Lakes to the Gulf; portion Of Il
covered with cities and villages demanding daily and double
daily mails with every facility for speed and cheap tanspo
n1ents
whatever scarcely requiring weekly mail the cost Of
poration necessarily vary, and change often
have be made In sections Of the country,
probably mail routes, would the cost Of ansporta
ton be the same.
short time since The mail transported daily
route seventy -four miles fourhorse post coaches at the
of FIVE per On other routes similar service
will from fifty thousand dollars In all such
the Of each letter package must depend in de-
gree upon the amount paid the contractors The contract
changes every four years. and the price Of the service depends
upon considerations connecd with travel the route the
chances Of competon the cost Of supplies &C., well
upon the distance
The expense Of receiving, forwarding, and delivery will
slightly increase the cost of EACH according the distance il
conveyed the number persons through whose hands
pass but neither Of these all Of them together, will
affect the cost Of each than the number conveyed in
the nails and that depends in great degree upon the rate Of
postage.
however, the cost Of each could be easily and
ascerained. its want Of uniformity would prevent its adop
1 ton the rate.
In ascertaning standard by which the rates be adj
used the cost different in the several sections Of
the Union the distances to be conveyed the expense in the
ar(-