The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-11-27

u u e.
Postmaster General Hall.-The Washington Re
public, of yesterday concludes series Of article:
on cheap postage, as follows, which may be re
garded as toreshadowing the recommendations tc
he made by the President and Post Master Gen
era in their forthcoming message and report
/ We have heretofore devoted considerable space
in our columns to the advocacy of this measure
We regard its adoption as an important means o
promoting the welfare Of our country-of facilitate
ing commerce, of aiding the growth OF kindly feel
ings between the people of regions remote from
each other, and Of encouraging the general spread
oflntellIgence.
But the proposed postal reform is demanded
also by the principles Of justice, and the judlcous
conduct Of the Post Office Department. 1t is but
Just that our Government since 1t has assumed to
perform the duty, should transmit all descriptions
Of mailable matter on as favorable terms as It
would be done by companies and individuals IN
the absence of national post office department.
Does ny one believe the present rates to be as
low as private enterprise and competition would
render them: We are sure not nor are they as
profitable to the department rs lower rates would
prove. The data We have heretofore given will
demonstrate this.
The carriage Of the mail from point to point,
however, is at present hardly the most considera-
Bile part of the eXpence of the Post Office Depart
ment. The processes Of mailing, and delivering,
and keeping accounts, add much to the expensive
ness of the establishment. In proposing the re-
ductlon of postage, we propose also to SO simplify
these operations as to greatly abrdge the expens-
es attendant upon them. The prepayment sys-
tenn will, to great extent, ohvate the necessity
of accounts throughout the whole establishment.
The use Of stamps will prevent frauds on the De
partment. Despatch jim the operation of mailing
will also proceed from uniform rates. and the abo-
lton of debts and credits between the different Of
fees, and between the several oflces ana the De-
partment.
While setrenchment internally would thus be
superinduced by these reforms, the expense of
car, wing the mails would be by no means increas-
ed in proportion to the increase in the quantity Of
mailabe matter. The generally agreed upon new
rates are
|. A uniform charge of hco cents prepaid on all
letters weighing half an ounce.
2. Newspapers one cent each to any part of the
Union.
3. Periodicals and pamphlets one cent an ounce
!. Publishers allowed fifty per cent. discount
upon the prepayment Of postage, and publishers
of periodicals to enjoy the same privileges as pub
fishers Of newspapers.
s. A radical reduction ofpostage on Ocean, Ore
gon and California letters.
Two cents per ounce may be assumed as the
mean charge, according to these propostions.-
This would yield th;rty-two dollars per hundred
pounds or sercnecn hundred and sricen dollars and
eighiy cents per ton. This looks like an adequate
price, aud the augmentation Of the mails, conse-
uuent upon diminished rates, would so materially
increase the amount Of transportable matter, to
occasion vast profits upon the carriage on the
larger routes--more than sufficient to compensate
for any deficits occasioncd by losses upon the
smaller
The opinion has always been entertained that
the Post Office Department should he sef-sus-
tanning institution but it is now deemed unjust
that it should he required to do more than sustain
itself This it has always done, encountered as 1t
has been by excessive rates Of postage. IL has
rendered to the Government, in past years, grn-
tutous services to the value Of nine millions Of
dollars the Government is also indebted to II in
the sum of one million Of dollars and we are in
formed that the sum OF one million is believed to
have accumulated within the pa. year Thus
eleven millions Of dollars may be said to have
crued by right tothe Department out Of the excess
sive charges of past times-at how great wrong
and Inconvenience to the people is understood by
few. The primary object Of the Department will
no longer be lost sight Of. The eyes of the PEG.
pie are open to their true interests an enlightened
Congress (now that in mercy the portenous
storm has passed by) will not turn deaf ear to
their appeals and'the President and the Post
master General. it is confidently believed, will use
the influence Of their exalted stations to promote
an object so imperativelY demanded by the voice
and the interests Of the nation.