The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-12-24
Cheap Postage.

A bill for the reduction of postage is under
discussion, H. Committee OF the Whole, in the
House of Representatives. Its provisions are
as follows
I. Postage on half-ounce letter prepaid three
cents; not prepaid five cents.
2. Postage on each newspaper OF no greater size
than nineteen hundred square inches, transmitted
through the mails from the Office Of publication to
any place out Of the State where published, one
cent; and for any newspaper delivered within the
State where published. half cent; and for every
newspaper Of larger dimensions than above specified
an additional rate for each additional nineteen hun.
bred square inches, or fraction thereof Pamphlets
periodicals, magazines, etc. two cents for each copy
sent Of no greater weight than one ounce, and one
cent in addition for each additional ounce, or frac.
ton Of ounce, &c.
3. The directors Of the minis to be authorized and
required to coin pieces of the value Of three cents
70 be composed Of three parts silver and one part
alloy which shall be legal tender for all debts due
10 the Government Of the United States, and TO in
dividuals, persons, and corporations
4. Provides that the Postmaster General shall
provide three-oent stamps to the deputy postmas-
tcrs.
5. One million five hundred thousand dollars ap-
in the Poet Office Department.
The views ELECTED by this discussion are
various and conflicting As regards the details
but almost uniform as relates 10 the great OBJ.
Ject desired to be attained, viz: the reduction o.
the rates Of postage. without detriment to tn,
efficiency Of the Department.
One radical principle should be clearly estab
lished, however, and must be established. be
fore satisfactory action can be had on the sub
ject It is, that the Post office Department
must be sell sustained and untared institution
From the want Of a clear understanding Of thu
position. has arisen all the laundering we hav,
witnessed in the course Of the arguments {,
which we have listened. While some are fear
ing. others are hoping for the enforcement o
this principle Of action; and in this incertilud,
laws that will prove satisfactory 10 the peopl,
cannot be- enacted.
The Department is 10 be self sustained, anc
at the same time to perform the gratutou
labor imposed upon it by the existence Of IN,
Thanking privilege; or it is to be self-sustaine,
and unencumbered; or tits to be sustained il
part by the aid Of the general treasury. II
which Of these three attitudes is it to standl
Against the first we protest.
With the second we should be satisfied.
To the third, with guaranty Of it's contin
uance as long as needed, we should not strenu
ously object.
Could the sense of Congress be tested upor
the three principles Of administration here lai,
down, the question now being debated woul,
be infinitely less complex, and our hopes o
prompt and intelligent Legislation would b
greatly encouraged.
The debate on Wednesday and Thursday O
last week was able, and highly interesting an,
gratifying. Sound and intelligent views am
opinions were revealed by almost every speaker
and wherever a conflict arose it appeared {
have its origin in a Misrepresentation Of the de
sign and tendency Of the various schemes pro
! posed, with reference to this feature.