The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-12-07

(such expenses necessarily increasing
with the increase OF mail matter trans.
ported) 2.7e7.eo7 %
Amoun, added 10 the usual annual cost OF
/ mail locks and keys, by changing the
same $4,000 90
Cost Of publishing laws and regulations,
] and list OF post Offices 10000 90
Cost OF postage stamps 1900 90
Total estimated expenditures for the cur st
rent year w 7l23.4l8 6s
These expenditures to be met BY the balances now
standing 10 The credit Of the department. the receipts from
posges and The appropriations made by the acts of the
| Sd OF March, Isl7, and The Sd OF March, 1851. E
] These VIII be more Than sufficient Ia meet the ex-
penses OF the carrent fiscal year bu further aid from the
treasury viii be required Tor those of the succe edng
! year. ~
The accounts OF poslmasers for the two frs, quarlerr
Auditor, and the aggregate OF their receipts reported be-
fore April May next Until the for two quar-
ters at least are settled no reliable estimate Of the
nues OF the current year can be made. II is believed,
however that the whole amount which it will be necss
say 70 draw from the treasury in aid OF The revenues de-
rived from posiages will not much exceed for the two
years ending June 30 1853 that which would be collected
upon matter now Free if such matter charged with
the ordinary rates of postage.
esq postmaster OF this CITY, and which hereto annexed,
estimates that the free letters and other free matter
the first day of July last il chargeable with postage at
the rates then in force, would have yielded the amount
OF $i24Os2O, in addition 10 the actual Of this
department, and that ii charged with postage at the
present rates the amount would have been $l,795,920
1t will be remembered that this docs not include the
tree letters and other free from received
other Offices, and that during these years (between the
years in which there is presidential eectOn) the free
matter sent from the Washington post Office is much less
than in the year when that election Nor does il
include the free circulation OF weekly newspapers in the
counties OF their publication the free circulation of
newspapers. magaznes, and other periodicals. BY way OF
carried in the mails were charged with postage,
at the present rates. from million to two millions OF
dollars would be added annually to our receipts from
postages.
In my last annual report | recommended certain re.
duced rates OF postage, under The operation OF which,
was foreseep, large deficiency OF revenue for few
years would occur II was supposed that those rates
adopted, the accumulated surplus the credit of
ton from the treasury equal 10 the postage al he asua
rates, upon the matter Then free. would be required TO
meet this deficiency, and would be nearly or quite suf
clent for that purpose MY recommendation was, how
ever only partially adopted by Congress in the passage
Of the act Of March g. 1851. 1919
The recommended for ordinary inland letter post
age adopted but six cents when prepaid, and ten
when unpaid was made the single rate OF letter postage
to California and Oregon instead OF twenty cents, a. re-
commended The rates OF postage most printed matter
were reduced much below the rates recommended weekly
papers allowed to circulate free OF postage in the
counties OF their publication; and the free exchange OF
newspapers periodicals, &c, was greatly increased
The reduction in the rates 10 California and Oregon
will greatly diminish the revenues from that source.
slaemen, OF The Auditor shows hat the number q e'e1s
Chagres line during the month OF September, 1857 was
120s5 and the postage thereon $43S5 co.. and that the
during the month OF September. 1881, was 1924 and
ss pp''se hse'' under Inc f3an'sa rates. on' w.
was supposed that The reduced rates OF postage on
printed matter, recommended in my report, would dmn
ish the from that about two hundred
thousand dollars per The rates adopted, with the
free circulation of weekly newspapers within the counties
where published and The very great extension OF the
privilege Of free exchange between publishers. will, is
believed diminish that revenue at least hive hundred
thousand dollars per annum, unless the quantity OF such
matter be increased more than is anticipated.
Notwithstanding this diminnion beyond that which
would have resulted from the adoption of the rates re-
commended, change in the present rates OF letter post
age is deemed advisable. I
1t was recommended in my last annual report that uni
form inland rates. without regard to distance, should be
established newspapers and other printed matter. IL
was Immediately urged that the postage recommended
would be unequal and unjust. and that newspaper car
ried fifty miles only should not be charged with the same
postage one carried twenty five hundred miles The
Congress and the experiment OF numerous rates, grad
uaed according 10 distance. has been tried From the
results OF this experiment. am satisfied that there should
not be more than nGo or at most three different rates OF
Inland postage newspapers sent 10 actual and bona de
subscribers; and that those periodicals. and other
printed matter, including transient newspapers should
be reduced in number and more nearly assmated TO the
ordinary newspaper rates II is difficult TO assign sum
cen for charging upon such periodicals. - the re-
views, the numerous magazines, and ihesiogica medical
and law journals, than three times the amount Of
postage charged for the distance an equal weight
OF newspapers. Such periodicals. are less ePhemefal
than the ordinary newspapers and certainly not less ben
enca in their influence. The rates OF postage &C
cordng to their weight, would be Just and equitable,
would simplify the OF the department. and re-
lieye from the peplexng and often nvdious duty OF
discriminating between different publications, and dcclaT
ing one newspaper and another moi newspaper IN
cases where LILLE difference be perceived, and where
the changed character OF the next number oil both might
render proper, in respect TO such numbers, to reverse
both decisions. I
The rates of postage all printed matter can be ren.
dered uniform and less complex by the adoption OF
suitable rates without diminishing, very materially the
revenue Whenever newspapers and periodicals. can DC
son nj hau N hc ma
postage established by law such cheaper modes OF con-
veyance generally adopted For this reason, grad
uaed be established, they may be comparatively
hiph short distances where the oil conveyance
are cheap and rapid, without being oppressive or seri-
ousy Objectionable, All.
There is disposition manifested in certain quarters TO
urge further reduction in inland rates OF letter post
age before The results OF The last reduction properly
asceriained. #4
Those who take the position that the people Of this
country should not satisfied with any reduction OF
postage until il be made cheap that OF Great
Britain forget that rates OF postage are now,
in fact, comparatively much cheaper than those OF Great
Britain, and that the condition OF the Two countries IN
regard TO nearly everything which should influence me
rates OF postage is widely different.
The United Kingdom OF Great Britain ana re'and mas
an area of about 100 900 square miles, and population
Of about twenty eight mlons while the area OF me M
habi,ed horizons of the United States may be estimated at
more than 100 900 square miles, win PoPu'ahon Oh
twenty four millions .
The results of the chcapposlage system IN Great Brit
ain and of reduced rates OF postage IN this country under
the ACT of 1885, are continually referred to as evidence
iha, this department sustain itself with letter post
age OF two cents The single rate hui these results, when
carefully considered, admonsh us not 10 attempt fur
iber reduction until justified by revenues Some Of