The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-12-21
THEIUNION.

while the country press wilt 20 into The hands Of thou
sapds who DO not take q paper now Il Y pad Tor a.
present. and extensively will be in the future, by the
products OF the farm, il relieved OF the per year
| necessary TO be paid in cash for postage. p
n But the exemption, made does not rest upon gra-
tuiiy merely No. far from IL The roads on which the
mails transported in such rapidy millions OF miles
are all made by the people The Post Office Department
not charged with their construction. with any por
ton OF what costs TO keep them in good order This
most proper exemption would be but slight recompense
for the protection and facilities afforded TO the mails
For quarter OF century reform has taken place IN
the newspaper postage
VoIcE. II has been raised
MIR I. A gentleman remarks that il has been raised
do not know how this is; but know il has not been
reduced, and il is time something should be DONE During
this period have shown. the tax on letters has been
proposed by some to extend this free circulation
the extent Of the State, and by others throughout
gressonal districts Now lei say, BY aiming al too
much We may get nothing satisfactory. The argument
against extending 70 the counties Is the burden II occa
sions TO the mails and loss OF This argument
will have increased force by the increase o. the prlv
think would be impolc 10 attempt too much lest like
the experiment OF ls45, il may have to be abandoned
Il will be easy in the future TO reduce postage rates,
practicable; and this will be much better than be
obliged to retrograde, and raise them.
| Thehonorable memberfrom New York MIR. SAcKErTl
submitted proposition reduce the postage newspa
pers in the county otwo mills per paper, am very free
e cay that should my proposition not succeed WIN
cheerfally vote. to fix some annual amount to be
paid by subscribers Tor papers within the county
say from ten to fifteen cents per annum. But the
proposition OF the gentleman would amount to ten
The four mills would generally, Of course. BE- iost.
| as we have no denomination OF coin TO pay It. But
the imposition of ten cents per would be no
advantage my judgment, il would be c0nsumed TO
great extent, not entirely. IN The vast number OF
counts to be kept IN the collection oil H. The friends,
then, OF free newspaper circulation can. in my opinion,
only accomplish their object b. the reduction Of the letter
postage to uniform standard oil i've cents. would re-
oce il reduced still more ii IL would not have the
effect TO prevent newspapers from circulation.
II Tha IA mi / will
at the proper time:
Strike all after enacting clause, and Including the
word Gent" in the seventh line and insert follows.
That OF greater szs than nineteen hum
bred square inches may be transmitted through the mails
SeS sn the q Se
one half cent and Tor such spapers, when transmitted
eeas each; and such newspaper or pers dropped
IN any post Office 10 be delivered only there shall be
charged one cent
i Mr. MORSE said that not single argument had been
advanced which would induce him vote in favor of
reduction OF postage; but, the contrary. the effect had
been the other way Almost every gentleman who had
spoken in advocacy OF the had demonstrated
his satisfaction, and endeavored 10 demonstrate to
the satisfaction OF Others that the proposed reduction will
enlarge the revenue II this be true and ii have
reached the point yet he would the sincerity Of these
gentlemen by moving to strike Out the particular clause
in the bill and the amendments to take from the treas
Jury $I,5o0,0oo to supply the deficiency which may
suit under lower tariff OF postage He denied that
the Post Office Department self-susanng and spoke
Of the mail steamers being supported out OF the general
4 accrued 10 the Post Office Department
One would suppose from the remarks OF gentlemen,
that the government was under obligation to furnish
reading matter graiutously to the people. What right
has any 10 ask that the mails be conveyed free
With reference TO newspapers, the Giles furnish bet
Ter article than the country lie! the people have them
The character OF newspapers however, has degeDerated
within the last Ten years; and unless reform take
place among them the less circulation they have the bet
e He intended to the sincerity Of The advocates Of
the bill by Offering an amendment, TO the effect that,
whenever the receipts tall short OF the expenses OF the
department. the rates shall be changed to what they
Mr. TAYLOR believed that the public interests would
be promoted by reducing the postage to three cents
letter prepaid, and i've cents not and at the proper
time he intended 10 offer amendment abolish post
oge altogether on newspapers circulating within thirty
miles from their place OF publication he had confidence
in The Postmaster General who is talented, hard work
ing and Trustworthy and who supposed TO be
quaInted with all the details Of the system and he
mends the three and 6ve.cent rates The President OF
the United States endorses the recommendation and he
(hr TAYLoR) wishing TO represent his constituents,
would vote tor them satisfied that these gentlemen
would make suggestion which would nure the public
service The Postmaster General says that the deficiency
which will result from reductions OF postage may be
made up by aboshng the Thanking privilege or making
public letters acnarye the treasury But he (Mr.
opposed To aboishing the Thanking privilege because
II enables the representative 10 keep up easy and
cheap intercourse with his remote constituents Ii is the
connecting link between the representative aud the peo-
pie. Its abolition would relieve members from mach la
Dor, bal he willing to incur the labor for the benefit
which the Thanking privilege confers.
Mr. GREEN was opposed 10 any reductions OF postage
which might cufta mail facilities The last edaction
was TO and i've cents, and was proposed to
duce TO i've and three cents II not that which
blcd the department 10 sustain ITSELF but the change in
the mode IN letting contracts, by which there great
saving He asked whether, there should be another
reduction in the rates OF postage another dimnuiion
could be made IN the cost OF transportation IL cannot
because the which existed under the former
duction longer exist The transportation has been in.
creased with the increase OF mail matter This being
the case, ought not 10 be extremely guarded IN
making the proposed reduction A uniform rate oil
i've cents at present would be sufficient II the experience
OF twelve months should justify, then may 20
still lower He agreed with the gentleman from Ohio
INF TAYLoR1 that papers should circulate within thirty
miles OF their place OF publication free OF postage
Il Mr.. BOWIE gave notice Of his intention TO offer an
amendment That all letters addressed to officers and
sailors ol the Uaed States navy, officers and prvales
OF the marine CORPS officers and privaes oil the United
States army actual service, shall be carried free oil
postage all the mail routes IA the United States by
because his reflections had convinced him II would
not be beneficial TO the rural population, part oil
II which he represented tie took occasion 10 make
this remark, because he presented sundry memo
rails in favor Of the reduction Of postage, believing
them 10 be expression OF the desire OF the peo.
Pile; but he now constrained to believe that the
memorials emanated from common source, and
were not pure expression OF the will Of those whom he
had the honor represent II the Post Office Depart
reduce s charges letters his proposition ought be
acceptable TO all gentlemen. II would enable them 10
perform not matter OF gratuy, but oil right, TO those
who especially entitled TO all the advantages which
this great OF the country confer. He thought
that they who bear our flag the sea, and they who