The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-12-05

same they furnish for, gratis.
tbued entirely by the letter postage in this By
law two cents each is allowed every postmaster for the
exceed $4,000 per annum, The proportion Of these free
papers dehsered BY postmasters OF $4,000 income, will
not exceed one tenth Two each the foego
number, deducng one-tenth, was $95,i6l which is
tuay paid to poslmasers for delivering this free matter
OF money received for letter postage Thus il ap
pears that for the delivery OF etenths OF the millions
OF printed speeches. ranked and transported in the mails
without compensation (he printing Of which about
cent each,) there is paid two cents EACH not by
the person who sends or BY the person who receives A.
by country for public service, but by those who
pay postage on their private correspondence Con
ress is to decide whether the anking by It's members
Is valuable public sery.ee proper e continue and
Il is not intended to make any remark on that topic
Were il abolished there would probably be very much
less Of such matter printed Bot the postage on the re-
mander together with that the correspondence OF the
members and the relief OF he~expense Of the Transports
ton and delivery of this franked matter, would enable
the Department TO sustain itself though the postage were
materially reduced letters But if Congress continue
this ranking valuable public service, IL is but just
and proper that the letter correspondence, by reduction
POSTAGE be relieved from its supports and that pro-
vision be made therefor the same manner that other
branches of public service are sustained
Another great additional demand OF public service by
the Post Office Department, without compen saton, Is
made this yeathat the TRANSMISSION OF all the blanks,
returns and correspondence required in taking the census
of 1850. Three thousand Teams OF these blanks al
ready engaged. #1
Il has been said that the newspaper and pamphlet post
age is not in proportion the Of their transportation
but il be- therefore, understood that any increase
OF that postage proposed 1t has long been regarded
sound public policy 10 promote the circulation Of these
publications by cheap postage; and may be advisable
to proceed further in this policy, especially in promoting
their circulation in the vicinity Of their places OF pubca
ton provided no decided injustice be done to the post
masters within that same vicinity
II would be desirable to have fixed sum granted from
the treasury for this public service as 10 Tree natter and
then the postage reduced and arranged to provide
for the remainder; but that is inprachcabe as
the money from the treasury cannot be drawn unn that
from postage is first exhaused and therefore the only
safe way make reductions OF postage from time 10
ime until justice produced by leaving balance to be
annually drawn from the treasury 70 he pup
does not produce this effect is sufficient long public
service is required to be performed free OF postage
lion Of postage al this time. is enrelya question 70 be
settled by Congress but it is proposed respectfully TO
submit what would be the probable effect OF one measure
The most obvious and prominent feature now in our
postage the double price, cents charged all single
letters carried three hundred miles The reduction
OF this ten postage and charging all single letters al
five cents each, would much simplify the manner OF &C
counting and render the same both more tacle and per-
fect-would remove the dissatisfaction arising from the
great difference the postage in different offices, even in
the vicinity but separated by this arbitrary line, and
would promote and encourage the and IN
tercouse by mail between the most distant parts OF The
country which most need and demand it, in precise pro-
portion their other means OF lntercommunicaion are
slow and unfrequent.
The next inquiry is, what would De me enecl OF tnls
reduction on the receipts from postage, and how would
affect the treasury stf.ss az
II is not pos.ibs from any returns data in the de.
par en to ascertain with much precision the number OF
letters passing annually in the mail this charge of
ten cents Even if the number OF ten cent letters
actually known, il would still be impo. sble to deter
mine how many OF them ten cent letters from being
double. Thence arises the great difference in the est
mate of loss of revenue from such reduction as was
presented in the report OF the Postmaster General last
year, to wit s75s7 and that of the First Assistant
5000, 73s. y, .s-4s
From careful examination now made of the data in
The department it is estimated that he whole humber OF
90 900, and oil this number about l5,oO0OOO were
subject the ten cent postage on account OF distance
IT, then, the reduction TO bring more letters inlo
the mall the dminuton OF therefrom the first
year would be $4,000. a
Ii already shown that the surplus the first day OF
July last 40. and that on the first day OF
July next will be Ss5s.7l0 81. which will undoubtedly
in future years by natural accumulation, and by
increase OF the number OF letters arising IRON this feduc
ton will, in the first year, occasion change In the
treasury and il extremely uncertain whether its opera
ton ever produce that effect brief trial OF this ex
pertinent will show lis effect, and il il should not produce
any important draugh OF the treasury then further re-
ducton OF postage should be made, and corresponding
provision from the treasury adopted until after this has
been tested by experiment is respectfully submitted
RAILROAD Service.
This is constantly increasing service. In the current
year. the length OF railroad routes Is 6,l3o milesbeng
an increase within years OF l49 miles and II is al
most daily increasing roads are being completed
On these routes the mail Is now transported 9,l4soio
miles annually Ii is that this service is done with
more despatch than the same amount oil service an any
other way yet il is at much greater cost The law Of
s45 requiring this service TO be classed, and liking the
maximum compensation, has in degree reduced the
cost There feature OF this service which ire
quently embaasses the operations oil the department
In all the ordinary mail contracts provision Is made that
the time OF arrival and Departure and connexion oil the
nails is subject to the order OF the department This
feature has been admitted by the railroad propre.
tors TO be inserted in their contracts.
in than that N change made with.
their consent they may abandon the contract THIS
often deprves the department OF the power TO make such
changes and improvements in the time oil the uanspora
ton OF mails as the public convenience requires and sub
ects il TO ceure by those who know not this cifeum
stance.
Foreign Mail Service
The mail service by the way OF Southampton, to Bre-
men, has BEEN under the contract with this department.
carried the past year by the steamships Washington and
Hernann for the OF S2o0000 and the gross amount
realized in postage from that service Tor the year ending
October 4th, was S61,ll4 90 The gross amount from
LIST June 1S47 10 October 4th 1s4s. was s29.0s2 ST.
Notice has recently been received IRON the propretors
that this service will be suspended until February next
order 10 make the necessary repairs now required ioi
the safety OF these steamships.
The mail from Charleston via Savannah 10 Havana,
under the constact with this depam Mt has been carried
since the 18th October lsis in the steamer Isabel with
No other foreign mail is carried by contract with this
XIV contract with the Navy Department, made by
direction of law provision made for carrying mail
twice in each month between New York and New
Orleans viz: Charleston, Savannah, and Havana, and
also for the transportation between Havana and Chagres
This entered upon in December, isis, and has been
4 ~ Il IL - -. -a-- aesvsNh a In