The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-06-24

WAslIfNafoN. taae Vi, lsis.
Congress, Business. and Postage.

Congress, Business, and Postage.
If tediousness of action be any proof wisdom, the
people of these United States have cause to con-
graduate themselves on beng, par excellence,
wise set of Legislators. For months past have the
halls of the Capitol resounded with burning elo-
quence-wih wit and with bathos--bu the insult,
far the business of the country is concerned,
has been but small. In fact, scarcely single mea-
OF Importance has been passed. Ii is to be
hoped that, now the Mexican is over, the his
tory OF the annexation of Texas talked thread-bare,
and the Secretary of the Treasury's report picked
to atoms, that some time will be devoted TO such
commonplace affairs as remain. That the House
Of Representatives intend to go ahead we have al
ready evidence, since the conventions have been
disposed OF. "A resolution was passed, some time
since. to meet at ii A. NJ, instead OF as before at
IL. This worked very well, but some members,
more industrious than therfellows moved to meet
at still earlier hour--l0 O'Clock. This was also
carried, when the discovery was made that by
meeting thus early they got ahead of the commit
tees, who had no time to deliberate left, and the
consequence has been return to the old hour of
IL. All these discussions have consumed some
days, but they have concluslvely shown that the
Representatives. are anxious to give value for
their S.
In the Senate things drag on a pace. To-day very
little was done. The most Important affair was
the introduction OF the following BILL with a view
the reduction ofletter and other postage, by Mr..
Mlles:-
AN act to reduce the rates of postage Sec BE
IT, &C. That from and after the first day of July 1s49
the postage of letters shall be follows ALI letters
not exceeding half an ounce in weight conveyed any
distance in the United States shall be charged with
three cents POSTAGE ond like sum for every addi-
tional fractional part thereof the postage being
pre- paid and If paid then the postage shall
ne Eve cents for each letter weighing more than
half and like for every additional half
fractional part thereof and all drop letters
lett he iptu at tlp rlara fal
shall be charged with one cent postage to be prepaid,
and two cents if not pre- paid
Sec 2-And be it further enacted, That it shall be
tia duty of the Postmaster General at all post offices
where the postage amounts to --- thousand dol
lars annually to provide for conveying letters to the
post office, by establishing suitable and convenient
places Of deposit and by employing carriers receive
and deposit them in the post office free of charge;
and at all such offices it shall also be his duty
letters to be delivered by suitable carriers to be APP
pointed by him for that purpose for which exceed
ing cent for each letter shall be charged and on
Advertised letters there shall be additional charge
not eXcee ding one cent.
SEC. g. And be it further enacted, that from and
after the period aforesaid the postage newspapers
and other printed matter shall BIO follows ALI
newspapers pamphlets, magazines and books, whether
ceeding ounce in weight, shall pay cent post
age and like sum for every additional rac-
tiona part thereof Provided that all newspapers not
exceeding ounce in weight. and not veyed more
than 80 miles shall be charged with half cent post
age only; and on all papers not sent from the offices
Of publication the postage must be e-paid and all
handbs and circulars shall be charged letters and
subject to letter postage"
The success of a reduction of postage is no long,
matter of doubt In England the penny post
system has emlnenty succeeded; and in this
country the reduced rates of the last two years
have not been less successful. The increase of in
come to the United States Post Office Department
for that period, has been something like l2O per
cent and it is CALCULATED that the reduction con-
templated in the b6l just introduced can be safely
made with certainty of even then having sur
plus. AS to the portion of the bill having reference
TO newspapers, the principle is good that Of regu-
tie weight is allowed for an avepage sized paper,
say the size of the Heraed, we cannot say The
immense sheets which are published, containing
scarcely anything but advertisements, ought to pay
IN proportion their size. If the ma orty of them
paid merely in proportion to their usefulness or the
amount of news they contain, the rate would be
very small. OMEGA.