The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-02-21

i"h's uls 4ouoI 70 very respectfully, your
servant,
i N X. HALL. Postmaster General.
Hon. T. J Rusk, Chairman OF the Committee the Poe
Office and Post Roads United States Senate.
! p. s od reading the above since it copied for
my signaure that have Inadvertently omitted to state this
inaucal officer OF the nj estimates that the re
ducton from postages printed matter
which would result om the adoption Of the House rates
would exceed by hundred thousand dollars reduc-
ZION which would result from the adoption of the
commended in the LAST annual report from This department
thus making aggregate difference against the depart
men, of one million hundred aud ninety thousand dol
lars for the next fiscal year ~ ii,
SO far as am concerned. believe, reported to the
Sc nate year ago, that uniform rate of letter postage
OF two cents, III all prepaid, will, very lew
years, yield sufficient carry the operations
OF the department. especially if there should be appro
priaon as there should be- out OF the treasury to the
amount 10 which the government this department. IN
the way OF franking communications by the members of
Congress and all lis departments So far as am
cerned, am very willing that the treasury should bear
the expenses lor few years, ieel confident that a
uniform rate OF two cents prepaid would in few years
meet all the expenses OF the department have felt,
however, that il due to the Postmaster General,
whom have found to be an excellent officer. that his
views should be given He had given The subject grea,
there should be rate OF five letters unpaid, and
three cents on letters that were prepaid.
Mr.. SEWARD. | wish to call the attention of the
Senate to an idea IN connexon with this subject This
bill provides that the Postmaster General may reduce the
postage to two cents when the revenue shall exceed by
five per cent the expenditures for one fiscal year
| Mr.. DAVIS of Massachusetts That is stricken out,
on motion OF The chairman oil the Committee on the Post
| Mr.. SEWARD | was not aware of that
| Mr.. DAVIS, of Massachusetts should be very glad,
for one, 10 way clear to vote for uniform rate of
two cents, and prepaid. feel however, some little en-
barrassment when the department Processes have gone
into financial examination OF this subject, and 10 have
reached given result BY which they recommend three
the lowest which the of the Post
Office Department will bear. feel very friendly myself
to uniform rate and prepayment in all cases, and am
entirely convinced that when the country acq
slstp nj hat uh hay
once witnessed It's beautiful workings, they will be
trey satisfied that it is altogether the best system
adopted.
am told that there are objections in some portions of
the country such uniform rate, and require in all
cases prepayment That certainly is not applicable 10
nv portion of the country. would to morow-althong h
little confusion aiigbt grow of itadopt
form rate, and dismiss all boxes from the post office.
Well, sir, what would be the operation OF such law
The post offices carry with the scheme currency OF their
own-they propose TO Issue stamps, and to sell these
stamps. They will sell them, | take for granted,
through persons that they appoint and none others Any
pc son, therefore, desiring prepay his etlersand If
the law requires it he must do it--buys quantity of
these stamps and puts them his letters when he sends
them to the post ohce, easy as would De to put
seal wafer upon H. II is about the thing, for
the stamp is prepared with gum for that purpose. As
reaches the post Office they deface these stamps
at once, so they cannot get INTO circulation again Now,
have supposed that there possibly
nconv enience keeping these stamps but there
all among persons OF bnslnessnone al all to those
| customed 10 use the post ofbce.
writing letter 10 my correspondent upon my own affairs
and not upon his desirous, therefore, OF paying
the postage both ways myself. Now, mark how easily
1t is done, put stamp upon the letter which write
which pays the letter my correspondents and also put
stamp inside Of my letter, which my correspondent will
put on the letter ha, he to me, and thus pay the
postage both ways Suppose is double letter. can
have stamps OF a double value or II do not happen TO
be possessed OF what they call double triple stamps
then merely put one, two, three stamps my letter.
and there is no inconvenience in that. simply multiply
them upon The face of my letter to the extent needed
Now this currency works out the greatest possible con-
venence that imagine. and think the country
would adopt il with the greatest possible satisfaction
know, as the honorable chairman oil the committee
states that II you should suddenly stop the present sys
TEN, and introduce 10. morrow entirely new system
with which the public is unacguanied little moon
venience and confusion would follow. But II is 10 be
considered that you cannot work out any great change
without some Inconvenience oil this sort
will not into the financial view OF the subject
but have the example OF our Post Othce before u.s.
showing that when reduced our rates, the cores
pondence throughout the country increased and we have
every reason believe, both IRON our experience
and tbe experience OF other countries which have adopt
ed system oil this sort, that the correspondence will
inc rease beyond all calculations We were fully lniem
Ded in our by the increase OF the matter that
passed through the office. There is everything IN my
Judgment to recommend system of that sod-to com
mend IT to fair and discreet trial IN the country. have
been xous from the first attempt made here TO reform
post office s STEM and 10 reduce the rates OF pay nen
they have been changed IN few have been
AT TO some system oi tbs sort, and
10 some uniform rate, and would exact prepayment IN
all cases unless there was nsuperabe objections existing
in the try. would create that currency to which
adyerted order to make IL convenient TO every
! body ! think you would get revenue enough and
think the country would be highly satisfied with H.
These are consider ,tions which have pressed upon
my mind, aud which have felt anxious TO embraced
by the country. hope that the senator from New York
will out OF Difference TO the opinion OF the department
and the condition OF the finances let the rate OF three
cents stand Let remain, and the department say they
will struggle with II and 20 ] viii meet them IN a
spirit OF comproni-e-io that seems TO be the language
OF the day. will meet them upon grounds OF compro-
mise | would be glad to uniform rate OF prepay
ment while do not see much. II any, clam TO recon-
mend an increased rate Tor unpaid letters IL you have
this increased rate what will be the effect OF II Why
man writes a letter me- and he does not choose To
pay the postage although II may be upon his own affairs
Why il is the recipient OF the letter. not the writer and
that will turn out be the nine times out ef ten II
you raise the in order to nhict some slight punish
ment il will fall upon the person who takes the letter
out OF the Office and pays for IT, You inHct penalties
upon the wrong man. That ia the result You do not
place the penalty upon the right shoulder Now, do
not see much to recommend system OF that sort, and
do that there any great reason to recommend
the discrimination tha, proposed believe the English
have such practice this but strikes me- alter
all tha, IL is that recommends itself strongly TO
us | would be glad if this amendment OF The senator
/ from New York could be thrown into form so that |
could give it my support | would be glad to give my
support 10 uniform rate OF three cents upon all letters
| Mr. SMITH. II seems that il is desirable to
confne the limit OF discussion 10 the precise question
that we have before us. The question presented to the
consideration of the Senate IT, whether shall cut post.
age on letters down TO the uniform rate OF two cents
The bill IRON the House proposes uniform rate OF three
cents, aud makes an appropriation OF no less tban
Al 500 900 10 up any deficiency that there may be in
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