The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-12-03

the Pacific coast an officer OF the greatest knowledge and
experience in mail arrangements and 70 the principles ana
rules OF the department governing the making oi con-
tracts for the purpose OF being there associated with the
local agent in organizing the service al the outset and
placing 1t on proper basis Tor the future charge and
management OF such agent II the local agent is 10 be
continued in charge OF the service his salary should be
increased 10 an amount better corresponding with the
] high prices prevailing IN California.
| In view OF the time required to communicate with
Oregon and our newly-acqured Territories. the follow
ing modification OF the Post Office laws is urgently rec.
| ommended: I'll @t#t
That the contract and fiscal year for the Post Office
Department. In respect 10 the service in California; Ore
gon. New Mexico, and Utah, be changed, and that II
commence and end three months earlier than for the rest
OF the Onion, that the returns accounts and all other
statements for the last quarter OF the fiscal year 10 that
portion OF the unon can be made TO the General Post
Ofce in Washington, In tme after being duly audited,
to be embraced IN the annual reports submitted at the
opening OF Congress.
That authority b given 70 The special agent in that
turned from the Offices III California and Oregon and there
dispose OF them, is done at the General Post
Office, under such regulations and restrictions the Post
master General may prescribe For this purpose clerk
or clerks with suitable salaries, should be allowed 10 the
special agent.
adoption of uniform inland rate desired by large
portion OF the people OF the United States Interesting
and able reports recommending different degrees of reduc
ton, made, but not acted npon, at the last session Of
Congress The subject will doubtless again engage the
attention OF Congress at its approaching session and,
with desire that rates ofpostage may be
reduced 10 the lowest point that is practicable without
calling for contribution from the treasury beyond what
should be paid for the transmission and delivery of the
official and public correspondence, recommend that the
inland letter postage be reduced three cents the single
letter. when prepaid and be liked the uniform rate five
cents when not prepaid and. also, that the Postmaster
General be required to reduce this prepaid late to two
cents the single letter. whenever il shall be ascertained
that the of the department. after the reductions
now recommended, shall have exceeded its expenditures
by more than live per cent for two consecutive fiscal
years. also recommend that the postage 10 California
and Oregon be greatly reduced, and that the postage
charged other seagong letters be made simple and
uniform With the numerous rates charged-some
with and some without the addition oil the inland rates
confusion and mistake are frequent and unavoidable.
therefore recommend that twenty cents the single letter be
charged on all correspondence 10 and from the Pacific
coast South America, the eastern continent and It's
islands, and points beyond either and ten cents the sin
letter all other going letters without the super
addition OF inland postage any case excepting however,
where such posages have been shall be adj
hereafter 10 be made and power should be given TO the
Postmaster General, by and with the advice and consent
Of the President OF the United Saies to reduce enlarge
the sea-raes, with the view Of making better postal
rangements with other governments. or counteractng
any adverse measures affecting our postal intercourse with
other countries.
additional half cent postage upon newspapers, sent
than hundred miles, and out OF the Stale where they
mailed, be repealed, SO as to leave the uniform inland
postage on newspapers sent 10 subscribers, from the Office
OF publication al one cent each.
The postage upon pamphlets, periodicals, and other
printed matter, (excePt newspapers) may be smpihed
and somewhat reduced. with advantage 10 the department
Two cents Tor the pamphlet or periodical oi the weight ot
two ounces or less, and cent for every additional
as ~ III % oeroCas ans Other
ed matter instead OF the present rate OF Two and half
CENTS for the first and one cent Tor every additional
ounce or fraction OF ounce, For the seagong charge
such matter, and newspapers, twice the aland rate
TO and FROM the points 10 which il is proposed that the
letter postage shall be len cents. and four times the in
land rate where the letter rate Is twenty cents deemed
Just aad proper rate This would. in cases, IN.
crease the postage on printed matter sent TO the Pacific
coast and by our other sealnes where the postage is
already fixed by postal arrangement but the postage
to California above proposed. would hardly equal the
price now charged by private expresses for the convey
hundred pounds, 10 San Francisco.
1t will be perceived that he reduction proposed in the
postage upon printed matter not large. The for
the greater reduction oil letter postage is found in the fact
that The rates OF postage upon printed matter are now
ceedngy low, when compared with the letter rates The
average postage on letters IS estimated at about three dol
lars and sixteen cents per pound and newspapers
pamphlets al about sixteen cents per pound Alter the
reductions proposed, the average inland postage let
will be about So so per pound when moi prepaid,
and 81 so per pound when prepaid.
The reductions in postage now recommended will, il
carried ou reduce the OF the department for the
first three four years Al the end OF that period, the
revenues Of The department. under the reduced ari Of
posiages, will probably again equal its expenditures To
meet the deficiency which must follow this reduction, the
surplus revenues already accumulated may be first ap
Piled and alter these shall have been exhausted, ap
pfopa.ion from the treasury will be required, unless
Congress shall deem expeden to abolish The existing
the mails, TO increase the annual appropriation
made 10 the department. for the conveyance OF part OF
such Tree matter, 10 equal 10 the revenues that
would be derived therefrom II all free matter
charged with postage.
The continuance of the franking privilege privilege
which may be properly considered the privilege Of the
constituent rather lhan Of the representave-may be die
lated BY an enlightened public policy and required BY the
public INTERESTS and the same may be said OF the pfiy
ege possessed by newspaper propeors OF sending and
receiving exchange newspapers free OF postage But u
these privileges are continued II Is respectfully submitted
that this department should be paid for the conveyance OF
the matter sent free under them, BY Appropriation from
the public treasury, rather than By lax the private
correspondence o the county. III sum eqnal 10 the
postage which would be changed all free matter were
il chargeable with postage, should be annually approp
ated and paid to this department. il is believed that such
appropriation and the accumulated surplus would
enable the department TO sustain itself, Notwithstanding
the proposed reduction that the appropriation required
would be so uncomfortable as to ntepose serious OBJ
sace 10 the adoption o The measures recommended.
In reduction OF postage shall be made, il IL sug
gcsed that It should only take effect from and after the
30lh oil June next that II may 60 into operation al the
commencement OF the next fiscal year. This is desirable
foi the purpose OF enabling the Depamen, present the
scal results Of the reduction with ceancss and accuracy
in future reports, aud also for the purpose Of giving lime
10 prepare the FORMS instructions, and blanks which will
be ssary IN consequence oil the change in the rates Of
postage.
Any reduction Of postage is likely to increase the labor,
and reduce for time least the compensation OF the
several posimasters IL Is therefore, recommended that
power be given TO the Postmaster General TO increase the
rates OF commission the smaller offices. as to insure
the services OF competent and faithful officers
The term nerspapsr is not so fully defined BY the
that