The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-01-25
Mr. NILES. lThe reporter was unable 70 hear What

Mr. NILES (The reporter was unable to hear what
| further reply made 10 Mr. ALIENS remarks The
Postmaster asked for and received several additional
steamers am sorry that my friend is not aware OF the
responsibility az his actions think il my duly hold
hlm responsible for all these mail contracts with
ers As result OF his conduct permission obtained
ior building itNr large steamers Tor The carrying OF the
mail at a cost of $4,000 Why, sir, went upon the
idea that these ships would render service the
country, that we would avoid the expense, and that
what we paid would be something less than the
expense OF taking of them, and keeping them
IN the seryice-lhal we should lose nothing, and the
government would have the benefit commeI cialv and
otherwise of The services they might render But will
20 no further IN this matter.
My friend has brought up argument which wsy APP
pear what plausible, but think will hardly bear
examination. is this that this is bound
10 establish post roads, and provide all routes; and
that being under this Obligation we may just well
take newspapers along not, because il will cost
nothing more. Now, in the first place, | do not
know that the government is under any obligation
to maintain the postage system mail system at
all, unless the public good requires it, rendering ii
absolutely necessary thai The power should be exercised
The bankrupt law has been conferred and exercised for
short time But admitting that II is public duty, how
can senator say that we are obliged to carry the mail
for letters any than obliged TO carry the mail
tor newspapers Why sir the letters comprise but about
tenth OF the matter sent the mails; why then
argue that the mails Obliged to order to carry
newspapers, letters should go free That argument
is worth nothing. II there any Obligation we must
exercise the power for the public service and
base upon the principle that the law applies much
newspapers to letters making distinction whatever
Ii The charge Is 10 be borne by those VINO are benefited
by the services then, certainly it will apply to all classes
Now, the gentleman probably is mistaken in his
illusions, he right IN his premises lie says it will
cost more 10 carry newspapers in the mails because
the mails must be the lines kept up, the
officers appointed whether they take newspapers
not This is not true IT. is not true that the same ex-
pensc will be incurred for the printed matter constitutes
the bulk OF the mail and although the expense
might be necessary cases. of the principal
contractors would make difference probably of one
haf-a great item constituting the mail expenditure.
This would be said if we had mails only for letters There
is therefore, very great addition to the expenditure
for this portion OF maabe matter.
Why, sir II was ascertaned few years ago by actual
weight thai the difference between printed matter going
through the mails, and letters, 80 per cent This
is certainly very strong argument TO be offered to show
that newspapers should be carried free of postage The
Postmaster General tells that, the laws are, the
expense attending the carrying the newspapers through
the country exceeds the from that by
per cent that pay but o-thlrdS the expense
are actually at, 10 perform the service and think this is
too low think we get less than two-,hlrds the ex-
pense actually incurred in this part OF the service.
Well, sir, my friend has another argument. He says
that 900 will be about the amount it will cost the
Post Office think he has been very liberal in his
count, though do not think it is very satisfactory
gument. think he has put it too high. Perhaps it
should be only 100000 for the principle extends
the whole United States, ii will cover it several times
over; still think it would not amount to much as he
states. But let it be S3o0OJO, whatever it may be,
the senator says by suffering newspapers to go free of
postage, render great service TO the public with
out injury to any one-without taxing anybody; and
without this, immense advantage is gained to the
unity although it is lost to the government Well,
sir if that argument is sound 1t would DC equally
applicable to the whole postage system We might carry
The whole of the newspapers and letters with no charge
whatever and them of course render still greater service
to The country although would be loss of 800 900
to the of the government. If what is lost to the
government is saved to the people, how is the govern
ment to be sustained The senator to have left
out that question entirely We should be taxing the peo-
pie for the support of the government though might be
in different form These 100000 must be taken
from the treasury, for certainly the expense must be
ute according to taxation, upon this principle,
without reference to the service to the Individual.
But upon the principle that we have adopted. we
have supposed that those who receive the benefit should
contribute, if not the full amount, al least reasonable
amount for the service you take 1t out OF the treasu-
terest in the Post Office establishment You to
one man free paper at the expense OF another. That
pursue this idea further Every one must see thai the
expense OF this transportation must be betrayed; and if
thrown upon the revenue to be paid out OF the treasury
it will divide the among the people without any ref
TO the fact whether they have any benefit from
the mail or not.
Mr. DICKINSON suggested that it might be we'll to
adjourn, 1t so late and Mr. NILES giving way
, The Senate then adjourned
SENATE CHAMBER, Jan. %, 1910.
SIR In the report of my remarks in the Senate yester
day, Published ,odiy, are few SIN Il, errors which
change the meanin and which, as an sub
in your daily and weekly papers used the word,
sstl" The word ..expect' chopped or some one
similar word Near the conclusion OF my last remarks
stated, This right clear, and extended far
the master OF the slave in free State had right
and capture his slave without process from gistrate
and that this had frequently been done in the earlier day,
/, of our Union | reminded thar tue Supreme Court
the United States have decided that this given by
the the master, and intended be
free State which the may ha We
He'd. the from which he ed-insead of word.
published.
Respectfully, your obcdient servant
/, THos RlTcHIE esq. s. w. DOWNS.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 1919.