Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1848-12-15

J, unnecessarily increase the amount TO others, VII
were taxed Tor its maintenance.
The increased business in the Offices, and IN
Improvement vi he revenue under the preset
rates OF postage, lead. 10 The conclusion that III
TEMPER cent rate may be dispensed with al tn
Close OF the present year, il such other modihca
lions uf that act as have been suggested in nj
former reports should be adopted. In my las
annual report an estimate was made OF the pay
ing letters which passed through The mails for III,
year ending 10Th June lS47. This was founded
upon The revenues OF he preceding year, aud lht
October returns Of lS45, which had been mad,
in pursuance OF resolution OF Congress. From
this II appeared that the number Of letters, includ
ing ship letters and steamboat letters ship letter!
forwarded in the mails, dropped letters, and prin
led circulars, amounted 10 50, liza, 4sO An es
finale upon the same principle, for The year end
ing The Both June last, would give as the mum
Der of paying letters, 5S069, 075. The October
returns showed that over one fourth, and les:
than one-lhrd, OF The letter postage was derived
from The Ten cent rate. This, taken as The basi,
of calculation therefore, should that rate be
dropped al The close of the present year, there
would he a loss OF S7l5, 1877, 10 be supplied from
some other source during the next year.
One other consequence, expected by the friend:
of the &C. oil 1915, and which was relied on as a
certain means of improving The revenue, has mo-
been realized. II was confidently believed thai
by such reduction in the raIes of postage, The
business OF The expresses would be made unprof
table, and be abandoned. This has not been the
case. The business, il is believed, between The
principal cities, il continued with much activity
and the revenue seriously impaired by il.
I'm a recent number OF the Pathfinder, publish
ed in Bosom, the names Of 235 cities and vii.
lagos are given, which are regularly supplied by
express men, with packages from thai city, and
most OF Them, doubtless, conveying letters fegu-
| lary out Of The mails. The penalties now i'm
posed by law are sufficient for their suppression,
| il proper means were placed in The hands OF the
Department for their detection; but ii is believed
that no rate VI postage which would cover me
expenses OF The system could be adopted sufflci-
emily low 10 induce Them 10 abandon IT,
In settling The rates Of postage, il is not un-
important 10 have them correspond with the cur
rent and legal coins OF The United States. The
fewer The raes The more convenient 10 The Post
masters in performing their duties IN their offices,
AMI les liable 10 err in keeping their accounts,
and settling them with The Department.
Simplicity in The rates, as we'll as in The mode
OF keeping their accounts, will promote cheapness
as we'll as regularity in The transportation and
delivery OF the mails.
For The purpose OF taxation, tne matter convey
ed in the mails should BE- classified as follows:
First Letter postage should embrace all writ
ten communications, under SEAL or mol, and each
sealed packet OF package. This class is compo-
;ed o! private confidential communications, often
containing articles u value, paraking more Of
individual than public interest, requiring more
care in their preservation, more labor IN stamp
ing, packing and envelopine, than printed matter.
and are always rgarded under lock and key;
and should, therefore, be charged higher rae
A uniform rate Of five cents, Tor each halt ounce
or fraction under, and another rate for each add-
tional half ounce or fraction under, would be as
low, in the opinion Of The undersigned, as they
could be made, consistently with The principles
above stated.
Sscond-Newspapers. This class has always
been esteemed OF SO much importance 10 The pub.
lie, as The best means Of disseminating inlelli-
eence generally among the people, that the lowest
rate has always been applied for The purpose 0.
encouraging their circulation. Heretofore the
charge has been made upon each paper, without
regard 10 weight, which is unjust to Inc publish
ers, as well as The public; and there is no salts
factory reason why they should not be Charged
by weight, as we'll as letters and other sealed
packages. This would lead 10 disconlnuance
OF The practice Of deposiIing newspapers IN The
mails before they are dfy, which renders them
more liable 10 injury, and their weight is greatly
increased from The dampness of the paper.
Uniform rale of one cent upon each ounce or tfac-
ven unts ldt w99d Be az mqEs s Hs ana esc0a0S
l1ud-All other printed matter, OF whatever
nature or kind, should be rated with double news
paper postage. Letters containing articles OF
| value upon the application OF the writer, should
be registered and receipt taken tor The delivery
and triple letter postage charged
The principles suggested for regulating the IN
/ mill al n n
reipn. except that the service is much more ex-
nensiye, and would require an increased rate.
| Uniformity in the rate is not less important in
| the one than in the other. Tee number and dit
| ferent amount OF rates now charged by law are
very announcement to the public, as well as 10
the officers, in the discharge of their dulles
Forty cents are now charged to or from Cali
fornia and Oregon; and thirty cents to or from
Panama; twenly-four cents to Europe; twenty
cents TO Chagres twelve -anda-half cents 10
Havana; six cents when delivered at The ports
of landing; two cents in addition TO the regular
hostage, when taken in the mails; one cent to
Inc Postmaster, when sent out Of the country.
II is believed that one uniform rate OF fifteen
cents might be advanlageou,ly adopted for the
foreign postage, and made applicable to our
Territories on the Pacific, and produce more re
venue than the charges now made. The com
mercial interests of the country, the social and
1 friendly intercourse now existing. and daily IN
| creasiug between the citizens OF the United
States and the people Of other countries, would
be greatly promoted by the adoption OF that, OF
some one rate less than is at present charged
This would probably soon be adopted by other
countries having steamers engaged in similar
service Newspapers and other printed matter
sent from or received into the United States
might be rated with double the inland postage OF
similar mailable matter.
In addition, the Post Office Department, unde
The direction OF The President should have poWe
10 raise or lower these rates OF postage whenever
| il becomes necessary, on account oil the coupe
ition from other countries, and TO impose reslfic
lions upon The vessels OF any foreign nation
When such powers are given TO the post ONCE
in other countries, such restrictions may DC lin
posed, when Congress is not in session, AS ma.
denriye the vessels of The United States OF an.
participation in carrying leileIs. This was dom
nv an order iron the Lords Of The Treasury, II
Great BRIAN, on the 9Th oil June, lS47, proceed
ing the arrival OF the Washington al Southamp
ION. and which had the effect 10 deprive that yes
sci OF any reasonable share OF The business be
tween this country and England or France. Ina
order remained in force more than year, again:
all our circumstances, before law could De pas:
ed TO meet the emergency.
II The proposed reductions are TO be made, an
the Department required to sustain itself, II
Indispensable that the Thanking privilege Shout
be abolished Il is now greater and more exclr
sivey used than at any iurmer period; and
The privilege is enlarged, The abuses under il il
crease. The immense mass OF Tree matter SCI
through The mails necessarily requires hight
and more expensive grade Of service, 10 enab
The contractors 10 transport il. II is not unusu'
for coach service 10 b. demanded, on routes yielc
ing comparatively nothing, Tor The lranspoltalio
; of public documents and other free matter. Owe
one roue double daily line or four horse pc
coaches has become indispensable. Some est
mate may be formed OF the additional expen'
of transportation, from the TACT, reported from u
City Post Office, that in seven days, from The D
until the 18th day OF August last: inclusive, a.
= hays OF free mater, weighing s., $50 pound