The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-12-04

lightened public policy and required by the pub
lie interests: and the same may be said OF the
privilege possessed by newspaper proprietors OF
sending and receiving exchange newspapers
free ofpostage. But fthese privileges are con-
tinued it is respectfully submitted that this De-
partment should be paid for the conveyance OF
the matter sent free under them, by an appro-
priation from the public Treasury, rather than
by a tax on the private correspondence OF the
country. If a sum equal to the postage which
would be charged on all free matter, were II
ehargeable with postage, should be annually aP-
propriated and paid to the Department 1t is be-
heved that such appropriation and the aecumu-
lated surplus revenue would enable the Depart
ment to sustain itself, notwithstanding The pro-
posed reduction, or that the appropriation re-
auired would be so inconsiderable as to inter-
pose no serious obstacle to the adoption or the
measures now recommended.
In case a reduction of postage shall be made,
it is suggested that it should only take effect
from and after the goth of June next, that it may
60 into operation at the commencement OF the
next fiscal year. This is desirable for the pur-
pose of enabling the Department to present the
fiscal results of the reduction with clearness and
accuracy in future reports, and also for the pur-
pose of giving time to prepare the forms, in
structons, and blanks, which will be necessary
in consequence of the change in the rates Of
postage.
Any reduction Of postage is likely to increase
the labor, and reduce, for n time at least, the
compensation of the several postnasters. 1t IS
therefore recommended that power be given to
the Postmaster General to increase the rates of
commission at the smaller offices, so as to in
sure the services of competent and faithful Off
GERS.
The term newspaper is not so fully defined by
the existing laws upon that subject, so rs TO ell
able the Department to decide without cmbar-
rassment and difficulty, whether Il particular Pc
rioGical is or is not to be deemed II newspaper
and though various decisions in particular cases,
have, at different times, been made in the De-
partment, they have not relieved the question
from perpleXty and embarrassment.
There was manifest incongruty in the laws
establishing the California steamship lines, in
providing for conveyance Of the mails twice u
month from New York, New Orleans, &c, to
Chaures, and conveyance of the same only
once a month from Panama north along the Pa
cafe coast.
Soon after the close Of the last session o!
Congress, my attention was called to this sub
icct by memorial from the representatives in
Congress from the State Of California and Ter
TltOry Oh oTcHOIi, IIap q
mail service should be regularly organized and
performed on the Pacific portion of that impor-
tant route. The contractors on the route had
already so far yielded to the complaints and
wants of the public, as to take occasionally II
second monthly mail, but for want of legal au-
thority to make compensation for such service
its performance had never been properly organ
ICED. 1t was voluntary merely, and only occa-
sional
The action of the Department was urged III
view of the provisions of the recent act of Con,
gress, making an appropriation for actual mail
service performed, or to be performed, by mail
steamers, bat did not feel ut liberty to make an
order which might divert portion Of that appro-
priation to the payment of services not within
the contemplation Of Congress when the apPro-
pration was made. Anxious, however, to afford
to the new State the requisite mail facilities, an
arrangement was made with the contractor for
the monthly mail, by which the additional SER
vice was secured, with the express understanding
and agreement that the order therefor should
create no liability Of any kind against this De-
partment or the Government; that the service
authorized by such order should not be consid-
cred in fixing the amount Of any compensation
for mail service by ocean steamers, for which any
appropriation had been heretofore made by Con-
gress; and that the order for such service was
subject to be revoked, if Congress, to which
alone the contractor was to look for an allowance
of pay, should disapprove of the same. The
assent of the contractors to these terms was re.
ouired and obtained as n condition preceded to
the completion of such arrangement. 1t re-
mains for Congress to adopt such measures, in
regard to this subj ect, as may be deemed just and
cxpedent.
TI,nl npl,o onI low in fhn H., If
the United States have now been in service 70
many years, and the experienced officer of this
Department. to whose charge this branch of the
service has been committed, recommends that
the same be changed concur in this recon-
mendation, and shall ask that sufficient appro-
pration for that purpose be made 10y Congress at
the approaching session.
The publication of the list Of post offices and
Of new edition Of the laws and regulations, for
which an appropriation was made at the last
session, has not been completed. The list of
offices has been prepared, and lis printing d.
rected, but the printing of the new edition of
the laws and regulations has not yet been or
dered. The delay has been caused by the de-
sire to await the action Of Congress upon the
bills affecting this Department, which were re-
ported at the last session, and by the pressure
of business which has hitherto prevented such
revision of the regulations as it was deemed
expcdient to make before the new edition was
ordered.
The accommodations for the post office of
this city are entirely unsuited to an office of its
Importance, and are decidedly discreditable to
the Department and the country. Some i'm
lately authorized and now in pro-
gress, will afford partial and temporary relief,
but other arrangements of n permanent charac
ter should soon be made. The rooms of this
Department, also, are already unreasonably
crowded. and additional rooms for the officers
and clerks of the Department, and Of the Audi
tors office, will soon be absolutely required
To afford suitable accommodations for these
and for the City Post Office, it is respectfully
that the contemplated extension of
The west wing of the General Post Office build
ng should be authorized, ard that the upper
doors in such wing be assigned to the Auditor
and his clerks, and that the first floor be devoted
TO the use of the City Post Office. -.
The laws regulating the action of the Depart
ment and its officers are numerous, were passed
at different times, and contain many obsolete
and conflicting provisions An entire revision
of these laws and the passage of single act
rOntnininp all tho DrOyisiops Of Law, O.