The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-12-20

I Nv the proper Time test the sincerity Of gen.
iiemen, a. to It's Operating 70 increase rsysnuss h
moving to strike out thai part Of tbe hin anrro.
PelatlnS 81 ,oUO,UOO To meet Deficiencies The re.
ceipts of the Post Office Department could h.
made almost any sum by keeping out of sight OBJ
jects chargeable TO it. Mr. M referred 70 the
Ocean mail steamers as supported from the tren-
sury.
Mr.. VENABLE asked If the main reason, ure
ed for the establishment Of those lines, was not
that they could be converted into steamers
Mr.. MORSE resumng, said, when war comes,
then the steamers will he jointly chargeable to the
Navy: He had been willing to 60 for large APP
proprlations for steamers. Having acquired
California, and having induced emigration tither.
he had been ready to support measures designed
for the protection of that region.
He had, unfortunately, yet generally, been
found opposIng the great reform said TO be de-
manded by the people. The gentleman from
Pennsylvania, intimated it to be constitutional
dutyto encourage newspapers, by exempting them
what reason any man had to require his letters or
! newspapers to be carried free Of postage. When
was Government created to dlffuse political knowI
! edge he was surprised that gentlemen who OPP
posed tariffs for protection, should be urging the
free circulation Of newspapers. The postage
should be low, and least onerous on those unable
! to pay. The demand for free postage came from
those persons in large cities who send out four
| FIVE hundred circulars day. These had induced
the people in the country TO sign petitions for a
| reduction TO two or three cents, stating that the
revenues Of the Post Office Department exceeded
expenditures. He was unwilling that the people
should be deceived in this matter.
The people in the country were willing 10 pay
present rates, rather than that the Post Office De-
partment should become a charge to the treasury.
lie had on more than one occasion, planted him
self in opposition to the doctrine tina; it was the
duty OF the Government to take of the people.
The people Of the State Of Pennsy yania, or Of
Louisiana had no right to here asking help
in their business Much had been said about the
benefits of II free circulation of newspapers but he
believed the press had degenerated within ten
| years. He would not discriminate unfavorably
to city newspapers, but considered unless great
change took place in the character of newspapers,
the less we had Of them the better. He should,
at the proper time, introduce an amendment to the
bill pending, requiring return to old rates, should
the new system create a charge upon the Trea-
sury.
Mr.. TAYLOR, of Ohio, proposed an amend
ment, making newspapers circulated within thirty
miles Of the place of publication, or within the
county where published, free.
Mr.. TAYLOR maintained the policy of dis
! eliminating favoraby to county newspapers, stat
| ing that every business man interested in the
maintenance Of a good paper in his county. He
had confidence in the views Of the Post Master
General, who had recommended a reduction. Mr..
L. Oppos the abolition of the ranking privilege.
Mr.. GREEN, of Missouri, stated that there
were reasons which operated in favor Of the late
system Of reduction, which did not now exist.
| The system Of contracting changed. Con-
tractors were not obliged to carry passengers.
! This saved large amount TO the Treasury. He
went to show that in postal rates, as in tariffs
| for revenue, figure might be set so high TO
defeat revenue, and so low also, as to effect the
same object. lie thong hit uniform rate Of five
cents would be safe 1t could be reduced should
the system be found not to charge the Treasury.
He went on to show that if a low rate should be
adopted and the Department should find its ex
penditures exceeding its revenue, it would dscon-
| tinue non-paying routes, and thus deprive the
people Of mail facilities. Mr.. G.. condemned this
policy, both practsed under the late law, and
ia to he anticipated under new one The people
of Missouri, FROM where many petitions had
come, were willing to reduce the rates, but no, by
n deprivation Of present mail facilities. AS to
printed matter, he was of the belief that fres
transmission Of country papers, or Of papers dis
tributed thirty miles from the place of publica
ton, would be advisable He had no particular
plan Should it be found that under a new sys
tenn, the expenditures should be greater than
the receipts, there would be reaction of public
opinion, which would restore old rates, or the
Treasury would become chargcable.
| Mr.. BOWIE proposed amendment provd
ing that letters Of officers and soldiers ofthe army.
and Of officers and seamen of the navy and marine
corps should be free Of duty.
Mr. BOWIE stated that he had been instru
mental in urging reduction in hostages, but had
become satisfied it would operate unfavorably 10
the rural population. the Department was in
condition to reduce its revenues, he should go for
i, extending to those who were Drawing the perils
of the occ n and the frontier, the privilege Of
emption from the high rates Of postage to which
they were subjected. He objected TO a system
that might tax the Treasury while the Secretary
reported that the expenditures must be several
millions greater than the receipts. The 81 $780,
600 to be appropriated to supply the deficiencies
that might arise under new postal system, had
been paid bv the people. 1t had been paid by
them as much as if it had been drawn from their
! rockets by a direct tax.
Mr. BISSELL proposed amendment pro-
vidng that no post office nor post route should be
discontinued under the operation Of the law.
Mr.. ASHMUN accepted the amendment as
modification Of his bill. He had no doubt that IN
two three years under the rates proposed by
him, the receipts would equal the expenditures. -
He was opposed to curtang facilities to any part
Of the country
Mr.. CALDWELL proposed an amendment to
prevent the discontinuance diminution Of any
post route, or the dscontnuance Of any post Of
! flee by the operation of the law. Also making it
the duty Of the Post Master General to establish
new post Offices and post routes as If the act had
not been been passed.
| Mr.. POTTER accepted the amendment
modification Of hs proposition.
Mr. MEADE proposed an amendment making
it the duty Of the Post Master General to estah
lish post Offices, on post routes, when desired by
the inhabitants OF the neghborhood, if there is no
post office within five miles.
Mr. Mt.hDt1 staed mat IL was e'iuehl that IL
reduction Of the revenue would operate unfavor-
ably to the sparselypopuated portions Of the coun-
i try The low rates were particularly advantageous
to the cities. People in the country had but little
interest in the matter, except az affecting general
interests. Planters were willing to pay present
rates, their postage being but small amount
| 1he aparsely populated portions of the country
required mail facilities. IF there were any dark
corners in the country, they were where there
were not these. He was in favor Of all practical
reductions.
Mr. CONGER also addressed the committee in
an argument for low rates. He doubted not the
| revenues would be sufficient to meet the wants OF
the sparsey populated districts. He was for dis
eliminating in favor Of country. papers, and also
nboshing the ranking privilege, which he repre-
scented as odious to the people.
Mr. CASEY proposed an amendment, provid-
ing that newspapers published in the counties, or
distributed thirty miles from the place OF pubca-
! sLuuld he stn free LIE regar ded the re-