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

live localities. This subject mas oeen SO iofcloly
presented to the House in he Report OF The Com
milee OF Post Offices and Post Roads. al ne last
session, and several Reports previous 10 that lime,
| that il is not deemed necessary 10 enlarge upon
| il al this time.
Whether the suggestions Tor the notifications
Of the act Of 1916 be adopted or not all mater
sent in The mails should be prepaid. This might
indemnify the Department for The great loss sus-
tanned Tor the transmission Of letters mol taken
| from the offices. Near two millions OF dead let
ters are annually returned TO The Department.
upon which it no, only loses The postage but pays
two cents, each for advertising and This is in ad-
diou 70 The expense incurred in opening and re-
turning those OF value 10 The writers, and destroy
ing those Of no value. Newspapers, periodicals,
pamphlets and essays OF various Kinds, proba-
bly, not less in number Than the dead letters, are
sent 10 the offices and never called Tor or il cali
ed Tor, refused and remain as dead matter in
them. From careful examination, il has been
ascerained thai $1,000 annually, are received
and remain as dead matter in The flee al New
York, al Boston and Baltimore about 10000 an.
nuay and at Phiadel phia about $500
ii each office averaged bet one daily, low es-
innate, The whole number in wear would be
5.e9S035, which, AT the rate of one cent, would
be S58. $50. If prepayment be not required,
then dead letters, papers and pamphlets should
be returned 10 The writer's or publishers, and The
payment Of double postage as we'll as The COST oil
advertising be required OF them. But little n
convenience would be felt by the public, since
The adoption of adhesive stamps as the evidence
of repayment Of letters. Their use would soon
become general, il authority was given 10 sell
them al a slight per cent. discount al The Depart
ment so as 10 make il an object TO slaioners and
other traders 10 keep them on hand Tor The accom-
mediation OF the public.
The pre- payment OF official communications
from The Executive branch OF the government is
now made by specific appropriation annually.
Similar provision might be made the legislative
branch or specific sun allowed each member
10 cover Official communications 10 and from
them.
The prepayment OF mailable matter, al The
proposed low rates, would mol, il is believed, ma
erially diminish the number OF letters sent n The
mails, and in connection with The general use OF
the adhesive stamps, will simplify Inc transaction
of business in The Offices, the settlement Of their
accounts, and concentrate The tuEds ol the DE
parlmen al the centre Of business in the different
sections Of The Union, where The money is needed;
and in great degree avoid The hazards incident
10 the collection and transmission oil tuncs TO The
places where they can be made available.
Other suggestions for the improvement OF the
Act OF 8i5, have been made in my former reports,
which deem il unnecessary 10 repeat
Ii may mol be inappropriate 10 remark, that
those connected with The administrative duties
OF This Department could MOI but have observ-
ed thai there has been Tor some years past
strong feeling peryadns The country, that The
system had been conducted by an organized
corps, extended throughout the Union, mo every
neighboihood, nnder the control OF politicians, al
The seal OF Government; welded with The view
OF promoting patty purposes, and parry organ'Za-
ton rather than the business and social Interests
il was created TO advance that The offices were
bestowed as the reward OF partisan services; rather
than from The merit and qualification Of those Sc
ecled and that each Presidential contest IS 10
produce new distribution OF the ofhces, anu
hence embiuered political contests are exeIiec 10
almost every neighborhood, demofazing in tnelI
tendencies, and iOjurously affecting The purity oil
elections.
While such apprehensions are entertained by
a respectable portion Of the community, want
of confidence in the honesty and correctness Of
the Ulcers, however pure and upright IN their
conduct soon shows itself, seriously injuring the
business of the Offices, and bringing discredit on
the system itself The Post Office system was
designed for business purposes, for The cultva
ton of the social and friendly feelings among
the citizens Of the different sections OF the
Union, and should be 10 no wise connected with
the party politics Of the day. This will give
to render i. the mSsts il Il Is appfess'a''
There does not seem any reason why line Oh
sness and social agent should be more connect
ed with them than the officers of the courts oil
Justice, or the accounting officers OF the 30
vcrnment. If it were believed that the latter
officers performed their duties assigned them
with view 10 the advancement OF party Pnr-
poses public opinion would soon correct the
eyil-if the Post Office were alike exempt from
political influence and party contests, public
confidence would be maintained, and the best IN
leres,s Of the system be promoted.
1t may be well worthy of consideration, il
these objects would now be advanced, should
the Postnater General be nominated BY the
President 10 the Senate for specific term OF
years, be separated from the Cabinet, and only
removable by impeachment; and The appoint
ment Of the principal subordinate officers for a
like term Of years, be given 10 him, and 10 pro-
vide that no removal should be made except for
good and sufficient cause, to be reported to each
session Of the Senate CAVE JOHNSON,
Postmaster General