New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-12-03


our correspondence with foreign countries is not
discharged by simply providing and supervising
the means Of conveyance. Arrangements should
be made with the countries 70 1Ich our steam
ship lines extend, 70 specify ana secure mutual
and satisfactory terms ior che interchange OF mails,
and tor the uninterrupted transit OF cur cores
pondence, in the mails Of those countries, to the
countries beyond. With Germany such arrange
meats have been already made. They YET re-
nla'n to be adjusted with France; bat the subject
IS now IN charge Of our diplomatic representa-
tiHeS' and an early and favorable termination OF
Their NJ gotiauons is anticipated
IN respect 70 our correspondence with the West
INDIES and South America some speci6,, arrange
ment IS desirable, and he early PASSAGE of q
JOINT resolution Of Congress authorizing this De-
partment to take measures 10 secure such an ar
Taagement, Is recommended.
The mail service Iii California and Or,gon and
especially IN the former, is still in an a,sagtled
state and but partially reported, ST. that no setis-
factory statement Ia regard to It can be sstnAit-
ted Sufficient time to communicate u5th the
aeent last appointed to take charge Of the Caifor.
service has ger elapsed since his appoint
ment but his report upon tie present condition
OF the service in that State may be expected at
az early day. In addition 70 tho difficulties nci-
dent to the new and very peculiar state OF aaairS
in that distant region, there are many that result
from tho want OF proper experience and skill or
the part of those to whom the management of
postal affairs in that section OF the country has
necessarily been conlided.
The appointment OF a Deputy Postmaster &C.
neral and an Auditor to reside IN California, as
proposed by bill reported at the last SESSION.
might aid in removing some OF the a'ncls1ess
but would give organization winch would
sever that service from the service N otaet p0rtS
of the Union, and is Liable to many objections lE
is, therefore, respectfully suggested that inppye~
ment system, economy, and efficiency Yul.d ba
sooner introduced II Congress should auChorI1e
the Postmaster General to send temporarily 20 the
/ Pacific coast an officer OF the greatest knowledge
and experience in mail arrangements and IN the
principles and rules o. the Department governing
/ the making OF contracts, Tor the purpose Of being
there associated with tue local agent Ia organic
ing the service at the outset and placil..; IL on a
proper basis for the future charge and manage
ment of such agent. Ii the local agent IS to ba
continued in charge OF the service, his salary
should be increased to amount better CORES
spending with the high prices prevailing IN Cali
ornia.
In view of the time required to communicate
with Oregon and our newly acquired territories,
the following modification OF the post Office laws
| is urgently recommended
/ l. That the contract and fiscal year Tor The Post
/ Office Department, in respect 10 the service III
/ California, Oregon, New Mexico, and Utah. bo
! changed, and that it commence and end three
months earlier than for the rest OF the Union, SD
that the returns accounts and all other statemehtS
for the last quarter of the fiscal year IN tnsI poF.
Post Office in Washington, III tlme' after beng
duly audited to be embraced IN the annual res
/ ports submitted at the opening oil Congress-
= That authority be given to to the special
agent in that country, to open, at Gan Francisco
| the dead letters returned from the Offices IN Cali
ornia and Oregon and there dispose Of them at
is now done at the General Post Office UNDER
such regulations and restrictions as the Postmas-
ter General may prescribe. For this purpose q
clerk or clerks, with suitable salaries should be-
allowed to the special agent.
A considerable reduction of letter postage and
the adoption of uniform inland rate is desired
by large portion OF the people of the United
States, Interesting and able reports, recommends
ing different degrees OF reduction, We're mades
but not acted upon, at the last session OF Cons
gress The subject will doubtless again engage
the attention oil Congress at its approaching ses
sion and, with an earnest desire that our rates
of postage may be reduced to the lowest point
that is practicable without calling for contribu-
tOn from the Treasury beyond what Should ba
| paid for the transmission and delivery Of the of-
| cal and public correspondence, recommend that
the inland letter postage be reduced TO three cents
the single letter, when prepaid, and be liked at
the uniform rate OF tive cents when not prepaid
! and Also that the Postmaster General be re-
CURED to reduce this pre- paid rate OF TWO centa
the single letter, whenever it shall be ascertained
that the revenues of the Department. alter the
reductions now recommended, shall have exceed
ed its expenditures by than five per cent.
for two consecutive fiscal years. also recon-.
mend that the postage to California and Oregon
be greatly reduced, and that the postage charged
on other seagomg letters be made more simple
and uniform. With the numerous rates now
charged-some with, and some without the adj"
ditiOn OF the inland rates-cOntuson and mistake
are frequent and unavoidable. therefore recom-
mend that twenty cents, the single letter, be
charged on all correspondence to and from the "a"
/ cifc Coast South America, the Eastern Gontl'
nent and its islands, and points beyond either
and ten cents the single letter on all otnef sea-
going letters, without the superaddtlon OF mlana
postage, in any case, excepting however az
where such sea hostages have been OF shalI
be adjusted at different rates, by postal treaty al
ready concluded, or hereafter to be made and
power should be given to the Postmaster General
by which and with the advice and consent of the
President of the United States, to reduce
large the sea rates, with the view Of making bet
ter postal arrangements with other Governments,
or Counteractlng any adverse measures affecting
our postal intercourse with other countries.
also recommend that the provision which lm-
poses an additional half cent postage upon news"
papers sent more than one hundred miles and out
of the State where they are mailed be repealed
so as to leave the uniform inland postage on
newspapers sent to subscribers, from the once Oh
publication, at one cent each.
The postage upon pamphlets, periodicals. ana
other printed matter, except newspapers mag
be simplihed and somewhat reduced, WIN adVah-
tage to the Department. Two cents Tor tne pam
pRlet or periodical Of the eight Of two ounces OF
less, and one cent for every additional onaee or
fraction OF an ounce is recommended as To-; i"lSh4
, rate upon all pamphlets periodicals, and other
printed matter instead Of the present rate Of two
s and half cents for the FIRST ounce, and one cent
for every additional or fraction Of an ounce,
For the seagong charge on such mater and o.. on
newspapers, twice the inland rate to ana rom 'ie
points to which it is proposed that the iessc PoaE
p poe shall be ten cents and four times the inland
rate rate where the letter rate twenty cents, ID
deemed Just and proper rate This would N
some cases increase the postage on printed m seg
ter sent to the Pacific coast and ~ our 's,9 ad Sa
nns,s arrangement but the postage to California,