Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-02-22

II this section IL to stand as Is newspapers, PAM
phle periodicals. magazines, books, and every other de-
scpon of printed matter are 10 be charged with postage,
thus cutting of all free exchanges and other free printed mat
except the free circulation Of papers in the immed ale
neighborhood Of the Office of publication. .
The fourth section should be amended make il
penal se forged stamps OF to have them in pos
session with intent TO sell them either false.
should be made penal for the engrayer any other
to print these stamps except under the order Of the de-
parnen TO deliver any stamps when printed, except
the regularly appointed agent of the department pc
cuna penalty should alec be imposed for using, attempt
such stamps for the prepayment Of postage after
| they have been used for that purpose.
In the Senate concludes retain the ankng prvi
ege there should be enlarged permanent appropriation for
the transportation of free matter which appropriation should
be considered part of the permanent of the de-
partment In my Judgment this additional appropriation
ought be at least five hundred dollars per snnum which,
with the $780, 600 appropriated, would than
equal the postage which could be charged such NATTER
| il were not free.
The question of the largest circulation Of newspapers ap-
plying for the advertisement Of uncsed for letters ought
decided by the local posmase and by the Postmaster
General The Postmaster General might prescribe general
guaons in regard the matter, but having done So he
ought not further budened with these questions except
in cases of appeal a
Printers should be paid for publishing lists of letters not
called for according the number of letters advertised and
according to the number called for but if the first is
deemed unwse, the number "devered and not the num-
Der called for" should regulate the compensation. friend
of the printer might "call" foI them all, and refuse
| take any .iae55 Ha tHa a.
The Postmaster General should have power order more
frequent publication at the larger Offices. At New York.
Boston, Sc the accumulation Of uncaed for letters for 81
weeks would be great to interfere seriously with the bu
siness Of the Office
The provision intended punish publishers for refusal to
the does not appear to me either
or expedent. &
If stamped envelopes authorized be furnished by
the Department. and letters enclosed in such envelopes and
properly directed, not exceeding the weight which might be
be carried post routes and elsewhere by private express
otherwise, without ncurrng any penalty, the
Of the Department would be increased by the arrangement
This would be great convenience persons residing in Diff
erent places between which there frequent communication
by omnibuses expresses ,feres railroad Under such
circumstances persons frequently send Of the mail for
the purpose Of saving POSTAGE but because they cannot well
wait for the regular mail conveyance.
this bill passes it will greatly increase the number of
letters and the labos of this department. Some provision
should therefore be made for the employment Of additional
clerks in this department and in the office Of the Auditor for
the department.
have the honor to be, very respectfully,
@ Your obedient servant,
N K. HALL Postmaster General
Hon T. j. RusK, Chairman of the Committee
on Post Office and Post Roads, u 8. Senate
p. g. find, readnghe above since il copied for
signature that have inadvertently omitted that
the financial officer of the department estimates that the
ducton of the from hostages printed NATTER which
would result from the adoption of the House rates, would
would result from the adoption of the recommended in
the last annual report from this department thus making
aggregate difference against the department Of million
hundred and ninety thousand dollars for the fiscal
year. N. X. III.
MI. RUSK continued So far am concerned, believe,
as reported to the Senate than year ago. that uniform
rate Of letter postage Of CENTS in all prepaid will
very few years. yield sufficient revenue especially if there
were as there should be, appropriation out of the treasury
for the use which the Government make OF the Post Office
Nanort ho Sc
members of Congress and heads Of departments So far
am concerned, very willing that the treasury should de-
fray the expenses of the department until rate Of two cents
should be found adequate to support the department SHALL
therefore, vote for the amendment though felt due to
the Postmaster General whom have found to be very
teigen and indefatgabe officer present his for
rate Of three cents prepaid and Eve cents unpaid.
Mr. DAVIS, of Massachusetts, should be very glad, for
one to see my way clear TO vote for uniform rate Of two
cents, with prepayment in all feel however, some
little embarrassment when the department processes have
gone into the financial examination Of this subject, and
have reached result by which they recommend three cents
as the lowest rate which the of the Post Office De-
partment will bear. feel myself more friendly uniform
rate and to prepayment in all and entirely
WINGED that when the country have had system of that
description, and witnessed its beautiful workings they will
be entirely satisfied that it altogether the best system that has
ever been adopted told that there objections in some
portions OF the country to such uniform rate and requiring
prepayment in all That certainly is not applicable to
my portion of the country. would tomorrow, although
uniform rate and dismiss all books from the post Office.
What is the operation Of The post Offices carry
rency of their They propose to issue stamps and sell
these stamps They will sell them through persons they APP
point suppose and when any person therefore desires to
prepay his letter-and if the law requires it. he must do it
he buys quantity Of these stamps he puts them upon the
letters when he sends them to the post Office, and easily
done as to put seal letter. to wafer it. AS
reaches the post Office they deface at SO that can
never go into circulation again.
Now, sir persons have supposed there may be some
inconvenience in doing this There be at all among
persons Of business among those accustomed 10 the post
Offices, and there will not be the least Inconvenience am
desous for example, to write letter to my correspondent
my affairs and his. wish, therefore, to pay
the postage both ways myself Now mark how easily is
DONE put stamp the letter which wrte and put
stamp the inside of the which send my
spondent and thus pay the postage each way Suppose
double letter. may have stamps Of double character
or you do not happen to have double or triple stamps you
simply put two three single stamps your letter. There
no Inconvenience resulting from this currency 1t works
out the greatest possible convenience and think the
try could adopt with the greatest satisfaction. know, as
the honorable chairman Of the Committee Post Offices
suggests that you suddenly stop the present SYSTEM and
introduce system with which the public unacquain
ed, little Inconvenience and confusion would follow
But be considered that great change be
worked without some Inconvenience.
Sir will into the financial view Of the subject
but experience has shown that when reduce the
rates the correspondence throughout the country increases
and have every to believe, both from
peence and the experience Of other countries that have adopt
ed system of this sort that the instant is resoed and
the country discover how cheapy they command the post
ipda