The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-01-31
WASHINGTON, Jan. II. lS4S.

IOst0t SukkeSttOHs'
The Postmaster General, in answer to re-
solution of the House, of the 18th instant, has
communicated report of the measures he con-
siders necessary, under the present state of oul
foreign mail service.
l. The establishment of American packet
postage, which shall be chargeable as we'll upon
letters and newspapers sent or brought by the
packet boats or public vessels of other govern
ments, as our own.
2. The enlargement of the provision of the
18th section of the post office act of 1925, so as
to require all packet boats, or other ships, to de-
liver into the post office all letters and ne wspa-
Pers to be landed on our shores, wherever ad
dressed.
3. To prevent any packet boat, or other vessel,
from making clearances or departing from port
having on board any letters for Transmission
abroad, other than those received through the
American post office, and to require all outward
bound packe boats, or other vessels, to convey
letters and newspapers delivered to them through
the American post office.
a To allow the Postmaster General to release
from the packet postage the letters and newspa-
pers brought by the packet boats, or public ves-
sells, OF those governments that do not subject
the mails OF our packet boats, or public vessels
TO package postage, or other equivalent charge
The report goes on to say
The only packet postage allowed by acts of
Congress is applicable exclusively to the mails
conveyed Dy the SHIPS OF the Bremen line. Ii
is "A cents-of the same amount as the English
packet postage. Whilst / would fix our packet
postage, chargeabe on letters between the United
States and any port on the eastern continent, or
the islands thereof, at the same amount, would
advise that authority be given the Postmaster
General to reduce said rate to 20 cents with
those countries that would place their postage at
a like amount, and would make this postage
cover the inland as well as the sea convey
ance - that 10, that there shall be no super
addition OF inland postage. | would embrace
the occasion to fix packet postage, to and
from all ports on the Western continent or
the islands thereof, at 10 cents, excepting Mex
leo not on the Pacific coast; also excepting the
British North American POSSESSIONS; and on
packet mails between those points aud the Uni
ted States at 10 cents Postage by private ves-
sells should, In my judgment, be at 10 cents the
single letter; and newspaper postage by packets
across the Atlantic be fixed at the English rate
of 4 cents, without any addition of inland post.
age, subject TO be reduced by the Postmaster
General with those countries that will make
like reduction OF their newspaper packet postage.
The postage by ship from one port to another in
the United States, enquired of by the oiution,
should be at the regular inland rates, which are
now and 10 cents.
The report concludes with an account of " the
recent attempts made upon the jurisdiction and
sovereignty OF this government on the mail SER
vice In its territory by the subjects of another
government (the Canada affair,) and urges
the giving more power to the executive officers,
10 detect and bring to punishment such offenders
In future. b.