The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-02-23

been considerably diminished in that period and insist
thal me real aud effective mail that period has
been dminshed-ai least think may say that know
II Is so IN the southwest
One OF the propositions in this amendment of The com.
ini'ee was 70 appropriate million of dollars to meet the
deficiencies under this bill should it pass into law hui
now. by an amendment offered by an individual member,
that is cut down TO 100000 This proceeding | con
sde evidence that this whole subject has received
less consideration than II deserves, and that ii merits
more thorough examination than are al this time able
give it. II has not been possible in the state of things
which has existed IN Congress at the late and during the
present session, to give that attention to this subject
which IT deserves II Involves too many detals-ioo
many calculations statistics voluminous To be safely
passed upon within the time allotted 10 this stage OF
The session The ateratonsthe reduction proposed in
the present rates OF poslageae too important toe
siderable to be adopted without further investigation than
now give. think, sir, at this late Stage OF the
session. when we have all the appropriation bills Yet 10
pass upon, and have other public business OF great
importance before us, il is time that should test the
sense OF the Senate and ascertain whether they will
agree to either OF the propositions before Us and no
table 7''s e'''
Mr. RUSK hope, SIR, ha, we shall vote was
glad to hear the from Tennessee Mr. BELLl
that he intended 10 test the OF the Senate to
whether TO have any bill at all by moving TO lay
it upon the table. The question before the Senate Is
upon The amendmen, of the honorable senator from New
Jersey, Mr. MILLER This has been substantially de.
cided twice already submit it 10 him. and submit i,
TO the friends OF reduction Of postage, whether not
arriving al consummation of our object BY con
nuine to offer amendments amos, dealcally the same
with those WHICH have been rejected.
Mr.. MILLER. was not aware that this amendment
had been made in any shape or form.
Mr. RUSK II has-iwice
Mr.. MILLER How In what way ADJ.
Mr. RUSk. BY substituting the section OF The House
for the Senate and then direct reducing the
postage to three cents. shall not consume the time of
the Senate by entering into argument in to the
that OF the senator from Tennessee, (Mr BELL will.
however. give hun the information which he asks, and
show from the report of the Pos, Office Department the
number of post Offices in 1914 fourteen thousand
hundred and three The number OF post Offices in 1850
was eighteen thousand, four hundred and seventeen,
which looks like little efficiency" at least The post
roads in the United States in 1874 hundred and
forty -four thousand, hundred and eighty miles,
and in 1850 they hundred and seventy eight
thooasaod SIX hundred and twenty-,wo miles That was
potation in 1874, in miles, thirty five millions, four
hundred and nine thousand six hundred and twenty four
In 1850 it orty-sx millions, five Hundred and forty
thousand four hundred and twenty threesome little
efficiency. would say These same predictions were
made before the postage bill of lS45n iact strong
predictions II said that II going to break down
the department, and play the very mischief; and man
strong in his prediction OF evil consequences
which would result from the bill OF ls45 than The then
Postmaster General, who, before he went from his
term of service, recommended further reduction Every
body will give Mr. Johnson credit economical
He recommended further reduction Of postage, upon the
however. to the senator from New Jersey MIR MILLER
read from unicaton addressed to me, the Goth
OF January, by the Postmaster General:
The of postage printed matter, and especially
bou nd books least great distances fixed by
House b low for the iheress OF the department
produced by sh, bill viii oSeSufden our mails and
than qnadrupe the failures and irregularities
much complained OF, and which TO great extent
caused by the weight OF the printed Gree
and chargeabe) sent by matt Ii there increase
great may perhaps be anticipated the present horse
back service on numerous mal routes win be 10
be raised to wohoe coach service and horse four
horse coach servce thus requiring enormous increase
of expenditures for transportation.
If the department Is to assume the business Of express
companies and other carriers, 1t should be allowed
graduate its prices al least in respect TO distance Ii will
perceived that, with the uniform fixed by
this act, the department will ouly he allowed carry
long expensive routes when private
possibly do the post office From HouIton, in the
State Of Maine, to Santa Fe, in New Mexco-lrom ST
Paul, in Minnesota San Francisco, in Catornia-the
Post Office Department must carry reprints OF novels aud
other books and other printed mattet At the Of fifteen
pound while prvats express would undertake
carry the in parcels Of one handred pounds at five
time, that rate
"The paid maga zines (and what viii not be mag szine
this bn passes to be carried al seven and half
cents less, per pound from Philadelphia San Fran
cisco while the private charge sxtyhve cents
pound Tor packages n one hundred pounds from New
York The department from eighteen
twenty pound for the cost Of the transportation OF
this matter the ishmus alone; and, after allowing
the fifty per cent commissions to po'tmasers, gets but
three and threequaer per pound Tor carrying the
whole from Philadelphia, by tho Of New York.
to San Francisco"
Now .ir the question is for determine whether
or not we will throw the Post Office Department for the
next fiscal year, a burden OF eleven hundred and
thousand
endanger, and, in fact, destroy the whole system;
whether will adopt these rates. that, IN my opinion,
will very nearly If not quite, meet the expenditures OF
the department | have given much attention 20 this
subiect-have examined every fact that ! could. do
not pretend like gentlemen, 10 be able 10 estimate
these things by intuition. | am slow in coming 10
conclusions and careful TO make the most deliberate cal
culatons before come to and to assert opinion
upon it, My opinion is that il the substitute offer.
ed, which has been prepared IN consultation with many
upon this sublectit that is adopted IN
lieu OF the other the fiscal year will the Post
Office Department maintaining itself. Ii IT does so, we
shall then be in condition, by making some reforms, to
reduce the rates of postage still lower. My opinion
s that tn. is far distant If Congress will agree
TO make reforms in the law, to do something with
the frankng privilege TO curail the expenses,
as NAV be very easily done. We may reduce letter
postage a uniform ralc oil two cents prepaid.
MIR GWlN. The document the senator from Texas
IMr RusK has just read to the Senate in reference 10 the
postage in California and Oregon makes it proper that
should allude to that subject which did intend 10
do until the question came up whether the bill or the
substitute OF the House should be the which should be
adopted by the Senate | think that the department is
altogether mistaken in that estimation.
Mr. RUSK. That is not the question now
Mr. GWIN. do not want to speak upon that ques-
ton now. | will merely state that the estimation which
the senator has read from the depsrlmen,hat the state
ment read from the department Is not correct They are
staken entirely in the supposed deficiency OF the post
office which will originate in the passage OF the
House BILL the line of the Pacific coast, in comparison
with the expenses OF transporting the mails. do not
want the Senate to be peudced AGAINST uniform rates OF
postage between California aud Oregon ans the other
portions of the Unon from the statement OF the depart
ment that has Just been read. prepared to show
that the Postmaster General is mistaken
Mr. MILLER One word in answer to the senator
from Texas, [hlr RusKl My amendment has no refer.