Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1848-12-20
Reports Of Postmaster General.
Secretaries Of War n lad Navy.

:. Secretaries Of War n md Navy.
REPORT OF THE POSTMASTER GENEs Al.
As the fin ancial portion of the Postmaster
Generals report was embraced in the
, Presidents message. we consider ii unne-
| ccssary TO publish the document in cxtenso
we shall. therefore, coniine ourselves 10
, ext, acts, consisting of recommendations
, of measures The Postmaster General
proposes TO classify matter conveyed in the
mails as follows:
Frst.-Letter postage should embrace
all written communications. under seal or
not. aud each sealed packet or package
This class is composed Of private conf
f dental communications. often containing
articles Of value. partaking more Of in
idividual that public interest. requiring
, more care in their preservation. more
labor in stamping. packing and enveiop-
ing then printed matter, and are always
forwarded under lock and key. and,
should therefore, be charged at higher
rate. a uniform rate Of five cents. for
each half ounce o, fraction under. and
another rate for each additional ounce or
fraction under, would be as low. IT. the
opinion of the undersigned. as they could
be made. consistently with the principles
above stated.
:. Second .-Newspapers. This class has
always been esteemed Of so much import
ance to the public. as the best means OF
dissernin ating intelligence generallyanong
the people. tina. the lowest rate has always
, been applied for the purpose of encoura.-
ing their circulation. Heretofore. the
charge has been made upon each paper.
, without regard to weight. which is unjust
to the publishers, well as the public.
and there is no satisfactory reason why they
should not be charged by weight. as well
, as letter and other sealed packages. This
would lead TO a discontinuance Of the
practice Of depositing newspapers in the
, mails before they arc dry, which renders
I them more liable to injury, and their weight
j, is greatly increased from the dampness of
t the paper. A uniform rate Of one per
I cent. upon each ounce or fraction under
, it, would be more just, and probably yield
as much revenue as the present rates.
Third-All other printed matter, of
whatever nature or kind, should be rated
with double newspaper postage. Letters
containing articles of value, upon the APP
plicaton Of the writer. should be register
ed. and a receipt taken for the delivery,
! and triple letter passage charged.
In reference 20 foreign hostages, it is re-
commended that a uniform rate of fifteen
cents be adopted, with power to the Post
S office department. under direction Of the
E President. 'to raise or lower these rates Of
+. postage whenever it becomes necessary,
on account Of the competition from other
: countries. and to impose restrictions upon
+ the vessels Of any foreign nalion.''
| If the proposed reductions ON inland
: postage be made. and the department be
$ required to sustain itself, it is proposed
r that the ranking privilege shall be abolish
. ed. 1t seems that '.between the first of
December and first of October last, there
! was sent form the two houses Of Congress,
! through the mails, about five millions Of
copies ofspeeches and other matter, weigh
ing under two ounces, and about one hun.
| dred and seventy-seven thousand public
! documents, besides the letters written by
. the members of the House Of Represen-
tatives; and there remained to be forward
\ ed more than one-half Of the pnblic docu-
ments ordered to be printed at the last
session."
f! In consequence Of the immense number
e OF dead letters. newspapers. pamphlets,
&C.. which are never called for. and the
o expense attendant on their transmission to
and examination a, the General Post
Office, it is recommended that. "whethe,
! the suggestions for the modifica atoms Of the
act Of 1915 be adopted or not. all matter
] sent in the mails should be prepaid
Y The report refers to the feeling which
/ had pervaded the county for some years
!. past, that the department has been con.
). Quoted with pa.tizan views. and that ap.
; pointments have been made exclusively
+ for party purposes. or as reward for party
o services; and suggests. that the Post-offi-
4 ce department should be entirely discon.
a nected from party infuences-to which
r object, the report says, sit may be well
worthy of consideration. if these objects
would not be advanced should the Post.
r master General be nominated by the Pre-
q sident to the Senate for specific term o
n years, be separated from the Cabinet. and
only removable by impeachment: and the
VI appointment Of the principal subordinate
officers for like term Of years, be given
q to him. and to provide that no remova
Q should be made, except for good and suf
o icient cause, to be reported to each ses
J. sion of the Senate"
Until the election Of General Jackson
;, the Post-office department had no con
r. nexion with the political concerns Of the
:, country. and Postmasters were seldom Of
. never removed. excepting for just cause
!. 1t was thus managed by Judge Mclean
- and his predecessors; but General Jack
. son constituted the Postmaster General ;
member Of his cabinet; and with his ad
ninistraion commenced the evil to which
the present Postmaster General refers, tn
=, rewarding Of friends and Furnishing O
enemies. We shall be glad TO see the de
partment restored to its original position
:. and the Postmaster General and his subor
.. a. dinates confined TO their legitimate duties
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR
!. This is quite oriet and well written dccu
:. meni, but every movement of the arm,
E.. ~ g. n