The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-02-21
CONGRESSIONAL.
DEFERaED DEBATE.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY II, 1851.
SENATE
REDUCTION or POSTAGE.

REDUCTION or POSTAGE.
The Senate AS ~ committee OF the whole, resumed the
of the bill reduce and modify the rates of
postage and provide for the coinage OF threec
| 'Mr.RUSK Mr. President | propose to modify the
amendment which have offered, by striking out in the
first section, these words
"Aad the Postmaster General shall be and hereby
uarlrnsn hal exceed me eSPendtu es by five
per for cat yea reduce ie postage OF eues
E any distance witbln the United States
single rate, when such pos'oga shall be prepaid
The reason for that me caop is that il has been OBJ
leced to- that il gives much power to the Postmaster
General which rather oil legislative character Ii has
also been suggested that he would reduce the expend
lures perhaps by reducing the mail service in order to
arrive at that point do not believe any such thing
would happen; but am perfectly satisfied to avoid this
objection BY striking out this portion OF the section,
Mr. SEWARD. desire TO submit an amendment TO
the amendment of the committee. in the second section
II is one which there will be no objection, apprehsnd
II will be that this section adopts the
weight of the largest paper to be charged with postage
have doubt that il supposed by the committee that
that would allow the transmission OF all The newspapers
the country but have asceralned that the effect of il
will be to cut OF two commercial newspapers. In ORDER
therefore, that the law may be equal and just move TO
insert instead OF the words - two ounces"" two
and half"
A SENATOR Why not three ounces,
Mr.. SEWARD. will move to insert " three ounces
The amendment was agreed to
Also. similar amendment 10 the bill of the House of
Representatives was adopted
Mr. SEWARD. move further to amend the bill by
striking out in the first section, reported by the com
mee, the sh, 9tb and 10th lines, to and including the
word been and to insert "two cents, to be in all
prepaid"
As amended, the section will read
kind, npon which information shall be asked co,nu.
nicaed in writing or by marks signs conveyed in The
mail for any distance within the United States, cents,
10 be in all cases prepaid"
This brings before the Senate the proposition desire
10 submit which is that the postage upon letters shall in
all cases be required to be prepaid and be fixed for all
distances at two cents the single rate The bill of the
House OF Representatives adopts three for all dis
ances, and does not discriminate between prepaid and
unpaid letters The proposition OF the committee OF the
Senate ls to adopt three for postage prepaid and
hve cents where the postage is unpaid shall not de-
tain the Senate with argument upon the proposition
haye submitted. because believe that every phase OF
the postage reform, II is called has been considered
and examined BY the Senate, least has been forced
upon their attention in thousand ways would barely
|say that suppose the adoption OF either principle upon
this subectether found i'm the bill of The House
o what 10 contained in the substitute of the committee
LOT the Senae-w for the first year two burden
uson the treasury and OF the adoption OF such
|ErncPle as have proposed would do the same thing.
But i the principle OF cheap postage be soundns be-
eve u TO be, and as has been proved heretooe-then
that burden will shortly disappear, and the post office
will, believe, Ultimately and sooner produce
|by adopting fixed standard of two cents than by
adopting either OF the standards that have presented
for the consideration OF the Senate by the bills before
he manner IN which the reduction of postage operates
all know IL, by incieaAng the amount OF correspond
ence, and OF course increasing the number of small
ceps which, taken together constitute there TO be
derived from postage; and the adoption OF the loves,
standard will tend most TO increase the OF
there is a minimum below which revenue vii; not be
herived
The advantage Of adopting the prepayment, system in
l cases would be 10 reduce u expense OF the depart
ment Il will reduce them vastly beyond calculation
large portion OF the expenses OF the Post Office Depart
ment now, as we know. is incurred by reason Of the
credit system In the local Offices where deputy post
employed and charges made for clerk hire
be accounts sent through every stage route up the
general department itself, where the Multiplication OF
Jerks rendered necessary by the keeping Of books.
Folunnous and complicated they by this credit
ystem. know of no reason why those who willing
10 pay Tor the OF the Post Office Department shoald
pay large postage for the purpose OF supporting credit,
in the uaited States who ought to have the benefit
p the Post Office Department fer their enjoyment.
The general reduction OF the rates OF postage to two cents
would bring II entirely within the reach OF every person
who has occasion to the post office all For thai,
ason submit the amendment 10 reduce the rate TO two
tsns PREPAID.
Mr. RUSK am not myself particularly opposed 10 the
adoption OF this amendment, though s, perhaps proper
OF me 10 stale that the Postmaster General with whom
rave consulted and at whose instance great many o
he provisions OF the substitute which have offered have
0een insened- due TO HIM 10 state that he is o the
opinion That is absolutely necessary al the commence
nent OF this reduction TO retain the twoate system OF
nve cents Tor unpaid letters and three cents for The pre-
N operation requiring prepayment of letters Per~ons
nave been at liberty TO 10 10 the office and pay not,
ney pieased the consequence would be, TO l up the
pos oces with unpaid letters which could not be
me prepayment was required at II would produce
unimed confusion by those unacquainied with The law,
nFowing IN unpaid letters into the pos, office That is
one objection, and is one of great force.
Another one il, that ii will materially reduce the amount
o. revenue. One thing which | have had in view in
proposng the amendment which have bad the honor TO
p, ',s 70 keep the department as near az possible
WHhn It's own expenses and feel satisfied. from the
examination which have given in connexi1n with the
postmaster General-for deemed II proper to consult
WIN hIm and with pos,masers Of experience-hat the
PROVISIONS OF The bill, contained IN the substitute,
VIII meet the expenses OF the department, The Pos,mas
ef GENERAL IN communication upon the subject directed
10 me, says:
Posr Osyios DrrARrsrST, Jan ~, 1851.
cis In accordance with your suggestion and my own
convictions OF duty, | have stsntvey considered the
hc, TO reduce and modify the OF posspe the Uni
.o ome and to provide ior the coinage OF three
piece which lately passed the House OF Representa-
.nd now propose, requested by you n,ervsw OF
ms morning to state my views la regard to some Of the
provisions Of that act.
before doing is proper that is my pur.
pose oppose the passage this or spy other nc which m
e. 'ne uehoerste approval OF the Senate House OF
pLen'saVes, ..nL and that in suggesting objections or
90 with due respect for the House OF Rep
,,s-ntatvcs and in the belief nat the member. of that
,io I'm no subject again presented to their considcfa-
IN IIsi W., generally spprove my suggestions.
aiso IN Justice TO myself my views in
a 70 The reduction OF the revenue which will be caused
y mc passage OF the bH in its pre.en form be ond the
no, winch would fesplt from the reduced rates OF
'ecominended in the last annual report from this
pHlment IL should omit TO do this the effects OF the
ion proposed 10y The House bill might i'm
zoe opinions erpf.ssed In that report, In rel
70 he elect OF the reductions tAee
er,oneous and deceptive 10 doing this dsrespect
rended TO those members OF House who advocated