The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-12-04

tension OF mail service, ana the
creased expedition OF the great
mails 10000 90
Cost of new routes let during the
present quartz and probable cost
OF putting in operation the
routes established by Congress at
the last session, and now under
advertisement 29,32s 90
Expenses equal to those of the last
year, under the heads of compen-
sntion to postmasters, wrapping
paper, office furniture, advertis-
ing, mail bags, blanks. mail
locks, keys, and stamps, mail de-
predatons and special agents,
clerks for offices, (ofpostmasters.)
and miscellaneous items, with l2a
per cent. added, Ouch expenses
necessarily ncreat ing with the in
crease of mail matter transported) 2,767, 967 90
Amount added to the usual annual
cost of mail locks and keys, by
changing the same $4,000 90
Cost of publishing laws and regula-
tions, and list of post offices 10000 90
Cost OF postage stamps $4,000 90
Total estimated expenditures for the
current year $7,l23,i4 SO
These expenditures are to be met by the balances
nov standing to the credit of the Department, the
receipts from hostages, and the appropriations
made by the acts OF the Sd of March, lS47, and the
Sd of March, 1851.
These will be more than sufficient to meet the
expenses of the current fiscal year. but further aid
from the Treasury will be required for those of the
succeeding year.
The accounts of postmasters for the two first quar-
ters under the act Of March last will not be settled
by the Auditor, and the aggregate of their receipts
reported before April or May next Until the &C
counts for two quarters, at least, are settled,
liable estimate of the enues of the current year
can be made. 1t is believed, however, that the
whole amount which it will be necessary to draw
from the Treasury, in aid of the revenues derived
from hostages, will not much exceed, for the two
years ending June 80, 1853, that which would be
collected upon matter now free, If such matter
were charged with the ordinary rates of postage.
carefully prepared report from VIM. A. Brad
ley, esq postmaster OF this city, and which is here
to annexed esmatea that the free letters and other
free matter sent from and received at his office for
the two years ending on the first day of July last
if chargeabe with postage at the rates then in force
would have yielded the amount Of 81 ,240 800 in
addition to the actual revenue of this Department;
and that if charged with postage at the present rates
the amount would have been s ,795,920
IL will be remembered that this does not include
the free letters and other free matter sent from
received at other offices; and that during these
years (between the years in which there Is Presi-
Dental election) the free matter sent from the
Washington post office is much less thanin the year
when that election occurs. Nor does il include the
free circulation of weekly newspapers in the coun
ties of their publication nor the free circulation OF
newspapers, magazines, and other periodicals, by
way of exchange between publishers If all the free
matter now carried in the mails were charged with
postage, even at the present rates. from million
to two million of dollars would be added annually
to our receipts from hostages.
In my last annual report recommended certain
r. duced rates OF postage, under the operation OF
which, 1t was ioreseen, large deficiency OF rcve
nue. for few years would occur. II was supposed
that if those rates adopted, the accumulated
surplus to the credit of the revenues OF the Depart
ment, and IN annualappropriation from the Urea.
sury, equal to the postage, at the usual rates, upon
the matter then free, would be required to meet
this deficiency, and would be nearly or quite suffi-
cient for that purpose My recommendation was
however, only partially adopted by Congress in the
passage of the act of March B. 1851.
The rate recommended for ordinary inland letter
postage was adopted, but elk cents when prepaid,
and ten when unpaid was made the single rate of
letter postage to California and Oregon, instead OF
twenty cents, recommended. The rates of post
age on most printed matter was reduced much be-
low the rates recommended; weekly papers were
allowed to circulate free OF postage in the countes
of their publication; and the free exchange of news
papers, periodicals, &c, was greatly increased.
The reduction in the rates to California and
Oregon will greatly diminish the revenues from
that eource. statement of the Auditor shows
that the number OF letters received and sent by the
New York, New Orleans, and Chagres line, during
the month Of September, 1850, was ll2 ,0S5, and
the postage thereon SS44, 1856 co. and that the mum
Der of letters received and sent by the same line
during the month Of September, 1851, lis, 1874,
and the postage thereon, under the reduced rates,
only $l2,S54 81.
II supposed that the reduced rates of posta ge
on printed matter, recommended in my report
would diminish the revenue from that source about
two hundred thousand dollars per annum. The
rates adopted with the free circulation of weekly
newspapers within the counties where published
and the very great extension of the privilege offree
exchange between publishers, will, it il believed
diminish that revenue at least five hundred thou
sand dollars per annum, unless the quantity of
such matter be increased more than ia now 'antci
pated
Notwithstanding this diminution beyond that
which would have resulted from the adoption Of
the rates recommended, no change in the present
| rates of letter postage is deemed advisable
Ii was recommended in my last annual report
that uniform inland rates, without regard to dis
lance, should be established on newspapers and
other printed matter 1t Immediately urged
that the postage recommended would be unequal
| and unjust, and that newspaper carried fifty
miles only should not be charged with the same
postage one carried twenty five hundred miles
The forco of this objection was felt by this Depart
ment and by Congress, and the experiment Of nu-
merous rates, graduated according TO distance,
has been tried From the esuts OF this expert
ment, am satisfied that there should not be more
than two at most three, different rates of inland
postage newspapers sent to actual and bona fidc
subscribers; and that those periodicals and other
printed matter, including transient newspapers,
should be reduced in number and more nearly as
simulated to the ordinary newspaper rates. 1t is
difficult to assign sufficient for charging
upon such periodicals the reviews, the numerous
magazines, and theological MEDICAL and law jour
nails, more than three times the amount oil postage
charged for the same distance an equal weight
of newspapers. Such periodicals are less cpheme-
raj than the ordinary newspapers, and certainly
not lees beneficial in their influence. The same
rates of postage, according to their weight, would
he just and equitable, would simplify the accounts
of the Department, and relieve it from the perPex
ing and often invidous duty of discriminating be-
tween different publications, and declaring one
newspaper and another not a newspaper, in cases
where little difference can be perceived, and where
the changed character Of the next number Of both
might render it proper in respect TO such numbers
! to reverse both decisions.
The rates of postage on all printed matter can
be rendered more uniform and less complex by the
adoption of suitable rates, without diminishing,
very materially, the revenue. Whenever news
papers and periodicals can be sent otherwise than
in the mails, at cost lees than the postage eslab-
lished by law, such cheaper modes Of conveyance
are generally adopted For this reason if gradu-
atcd rates be established, they may be compare.
lively high for short distances where the means OF
conveyance are cheap and rapid without being
oppressive or seriously Objectionable.
There Is a deposition manifested in certain quar-
tiers TO urge further reduction in our inland rates
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