Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1848-12-15

10 81 .53Stll.
The whole has been collected except the fol-
lowing sums -
Ofthe amount due June 80, 1916,
the sum Of, SjI62 |
lS47, 5O56
1918, 267ll
Sj7y32
More than half the sum reported for the las,
year will be probably collected within the next 3
months.
The balance yet due is less than one.hird OF
one per cent. on the whole amount.
The last years accounts have been generally
collected without resort to the Courts of Jus.
tice, suits have been ordered in nnotv-nne
cases. involving only the sum of S}.27l-l
whilst during the same period l08 cases for
merry pending, have been settled and the money
paid. amounIngto Sl0.655.
This large sum, collected within the three
wears has been di,bursed without the loss of
dollar in payment Of the public creditors, in due
and proper time, it is believed without an ex
cepion.
Priorlo the Isl Of July 1915, there were debts
due To the department. many of long standing.
amounting to $3l9lo0. Ofthis sum there has
been collected within the past year Sl0.S09.
and credits allowed upon the settlement Of ac
counts. S5l,Tl0. leaving yet Il balance due for
the department q S257 36l. Avery large pro.
portion of this sum will probably be lost
The present rates of postage will afford am
! pie means to meet the expenditure. and any
probable increase Of the service, and leave
surplus that will in "A few years enable the De-
partmcut to repay the Treasury the amount re-
! reiyed from it since the passage oi the act OF
| 1915.
Under these circumstances. shall further re.
| - ,bo h., J,1 l,,,
which well digested cheap m-i system affords
of a IA i'd interchange OF ideas between diif'r-
eut aud distant sections of the country, and the
consequent increase of knowledge its iutiudnce
upon society bat little if any less than that of
printing; lis Importance to every interest, So
citl, commercial and political, would justify the
answer that lower rate of postage should be
adopted if it can be done without n departure
| from that principle heretofore maintained in the
country, that this department should c sustain
tanned from It's own resources.
system so intimately connected with all
other interests and the happiness and prosperity
of the people 50 diversified in It's operations, SO
minute in lis details, requires careful eXami-
nation of any Suggestions for its improvement,
and tie adoption Of such only as experience
proves will be uaefal to the citizens and render
it more perfect.
| The Importance as well as general desire
for cheap postage system, has attracted much
at public attention to the subject, not only in
this hut other countries. within the last few
jears to secure this object. in most countries
it is placed under the control of tine government
though perlap'. no, strictly one q. its attributes
Had II been et To private enterprise, the more
wealthy and populors portions of the comnuri-
ty would, nr doubt, have been amply pro.
vlded for but others less fav red would have
been lett destitute Of the means If diiiGsing in.
telgence among the people OF 50 much i'm
p,rtance was a well regulated system bv those
who framed the Constitution of the u States,
that even the States were not permitted To have
any control over it, lest diversity of legislation
should destroy is conformity and regularity and
impair its usefulness. Ii may indeed be ones
} toned whether free government over such
extensive territories those of the L.. State.
could DC maintained without it. The perfection
OF every such system consists in the cheapness
speed, and security with which communication:
} are inlcrclangcd between din rent and distant
} portions OF tie community, or between different
nations.
, Whatever may DO tie system adopted, The
: meats tor lis support must bn paid in some way
B by lax on the people tor whose benefit it is es
ttbshed. In the United States upon this pOin
there has been lille or no dlv,rsitv If opinion
|
the benefits Of The system, by "a charge on Tin
matter conveyed in The mails, is So ohvionsl
0 ust as scarcely to have been questioned.
D does not seem either u,t or fair that hose who's
condition in lite does not enable them to parti
0 cpa'e n lis advantages. should be Gale ON b
other modes Of taxation 10 contribute 10 its sun
o port. The revenues arising from it have no
O heretofore been applied To any other purpose
= except Tor short time during the war of 1912
o Nor have the revenues derived from other sour
ces been applied 10 lis use. except to aid in tn
= effort recently made for lis improvement.
u has been made to depend upon itself; and there
= BY giving 10 tie government the best seourit
Tor the faithful administration of its iinances.-
10 Perhaps no other means could be adopted NOR
,r equitable and Just.
A large number of the people have little or n
connection with the mail system. To subje,
10 that class TO share the burden OF its support.
a direct tax or iinpost levied upon the necess'
- ries of life, would meet it is believed, the apr,
hition of but few dlsinterested citizens. Eth
be the correct principle, of which the unde
10 signed has no doubt, every letter or packal
conveyed in the mails should pay Just and f,
DO proportion of lis cost Of transportation, and OF
er expenses attending the delivery. The
should be no exception. Any departure from
20 would neces. arlly increase the amount to othe
D y Mho were taxed Tor lis maintenance.
- II the Government does not seek reven,
% from il, other Than that necessary for the su
90 port of the system, no higher charge should
- made than the cost of transportation, and d
90 expenses attending the delivery of each let,
ne or package. It's difficult, if not impossible,
ch ascertain with any degree of accuracy, the a
tnal cost Of each letter or package conveyed
the mails.
90 In country like ours, extending from t
Atlantic to the Pacific, and from the Lakes
90 the Cuff; one portion of it covered with eli
and villages, demanding daily aad double da
90 mails, with every facility for speed and che
- transportation; others sparely populated, vii
90 out any improvements whatever, scarcely