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

self Now, what was The result 4 The gross revenue
IN lsa9 was $40 76s.o79 The exrense Tor that year
81 goo $50 leaving surplus OF 49, I02 a2s-nearly
four millions of dollars surplus upon the penny rate
Add this The amount which paid out OF the Brit
sh2 porsge OF ls49 Tor previous deficiencies
Tor mail service IN former years, which announced 10
$3.50 430 and you have ssgregae excess oil receipts
over expenditures in Great Britain in the year is49 OF
Si6s2 $50 And that is not all fostAis has poYIes
operation and every shows greater result In
favor OF cheap postage Thus, slr, all anueaions OF
evil from the reduction OF the rates IN Great Britain have
| been signay disappointed by the fact
| Mr. BORLAND Will the senator allow to ask
him aquestion wish TO know. in the period he men
ions in which this great increase OF amount was
ceiyed for posages what has been the amount OF in.
crease in the mail service think that fact necessary
be known order TO understand fully the bearing OF
the fact which he states OF the increase OF postage
nue..
| Mr. CHASE. am not prepared with the documents
10 answer that question. have merely dealt with The
aggregate figures; aud show that the post office, in
stead OF being charge upon the revenue derived from
other services has merely supported itself, but has
actually paid into the treasury nearly hve millions OF dol
Mr.. BORLAND Ii the senator will allow me a mo-
ment will suggest 10 him what will enable HIM to un-
deistand better and perhaps TO answer my question
The object he seems TO have IN view is to show mat TINS
result Oi increased amount OF revenue from the POSI-
Office Department, consequence OF the reduction oil
the rate OF postage having taken place in Great Britain
the same thing will lake place IN The United States MY
inquiry ascertain what had been the increase OF
mail during that PERIOD Tor the purpose OF calling
attention to the fact that while in my opinion, IN Grea
Britain there no, that demand for an increase IN the
mail service and the mail service not increased 10
any great extent, yet in the United States There Is
slant and growing demand for Increase in the mail
servce owing TO the increase in population and the IN
crease in business.
Mr. CHASE resumed believe apprehended cor
rectly the OF the honorable senator's inquiry but
not prepared with any statistics which show the ex-
tent OF the in the mail service in Great Britain
have doubt, however that it has been very largely
increased and know that in direction il has been
increased very largely indeed and that is, in bringing the
convenences of the mail to the door of every family
throughout the whole United Kingdom Their de.
livery system is very different from ours Instead OF
ohligng the whole population to go to the Post Once
every sought and found, and letter addressed
him is put into his hands And letter is directed
to point and the party TO whom It IS addressed is IN
another point, is sent to him from point TO point, until
1t finds him and there is additional charge In this
respect the mail service in Great Britain has very largely
increased
But sir we have been told that the expense in Great
Britain is less than | made observation mo-
men or two ago in regard TO that point and now wish
show what The fact is that respect In s4s the cost OF
the British ansporation-l conne myself 10 that point
on the American So 1893, per cent The cost
of management OF the British Post Office, in ls49, was
millions OF dollars and upwards while the manage
of the American Post Office cost, in sd9 $l179 069
The American cost Of management is less than the Brit
ish cost oil management by $253,23l Now, Mr.. Presl
dent have not the slightest doubt, from my examina-
ton OF the subject which is not recenttor many years
ago gave very careful consideration 10 this whole
subject have not the particle OF doubt that II the
rate Of postage prepaid shall be adopted by Con
treasury than the reduction either TO the three cent the
mixed rate lpreer the three cent 10 the mixed rate II
we have the two cent rate, believe 1t will be better
for the people at large and better for the treasury OF the
country
| MIR. DAYTON The statements made by the senator
| from Ohio struck somewhat Irregular il he in.
tended apply these and remarks to the
ments and remarks made by previously said that
the cost Of Transporting letter in this country through
range three cents cheap the cost
OF Transporting letter in Great Britain, through It's
limited al two cents. The gentlemen seems TO take
issue How do they prove their case By taking the
aggregate amount paid for transportation IN Great Britain
and the aggregate amount paid for transportation in this
country That does not prove it at all You must take
likewise the aggregate amount of matter transported The
fact proves nothing IN the world merely call the atten-
uon of the senator from Ohio to this.
Mr. COOPER; ! do not think that any illustration OF
this subject afforded by reference 10 the English post
age system. has been very well remarked by the
alor from New Jersey, Mr.. DAYToS] 1t IS known tha
the OF the island OF Great Britain very crcum-
scrbed when compared to The of the United States
where our mails be transported. 1t throws lgh
upon the subject to say that England al charge OF
penny letter has been able 10 maintain her postal system
Ii undoubtedly true that the extent which the
mails transported is increased the cost OF the posi-
Office increased The cost OF Transporting carrying
letters from London TO Lverpoo-a distance OF little over
two hundred mles-would be much less than that OF
carrying letters from London TO Edinburgh which
little over double the distance Much stronger is the
gument here. 1t would be easy thing TO transport
from this citythe centre OF the post office systemic
New York, and 10 corresponding distance south, com
pared to Transporting them 10 Portland in Name 10
ST. Augustine, IN FIorlda, or 10 New Orleans AS the
distance is increased sf course the cost OF carriage in
creased; and is to that matter we should look
doubtedly The cost OF transportation is increased as
the distance grows longer More time is required Where
steam is used fuel is required greater
OF wages TO be paid TO the hands employed trans
poriation and Tor the cattle used transportation. II
will not do 10 compare this country with England,
draw any argument from England, the che had
IN reducing her system TO the penny rate and TO say that
We could get on with the rate, something like
the same rate. The argument is entirely taacous and
venture 10 say taking distance into the account that the
postage here cheaper than the post
age in England
Mr. CHASE. A sing lie word. have not undertaken
to say that the cost OF transporting single letter from
New York 10 San Francisco is greater Than the cos
OF transporting letter from London TO Liverpool. O
course the senator from New Jersey say thai
the cost IN the greater than the cost in the
other, shall take with him upon that point
| Mr. RUSk do hope, sir, that we shall be able 10
get vote This question has been before Congress for
some time and think will be safe presume that the
bgence among the senators. This morning we have bad
debate from which it seemed 10 be thought necessary
10 inform the Senate OF the history OF the country upon
an important matter which bad iranspired only some
seventy or eighty years ago ILaughterl II go on
in this comparison between the English system OF post
Offices and our own-and do not think there ia much
comparison between them-we shall lose the whole
day in debate.
Mr. FOOTE. should no, have said word, but for
me. have disturbed his bill all and yet be aims
his bows at me- because il that had the msfor
tune this morning OF reading extract from history OF
TACT which must tell him is extremely important TO
the country that il should not be misunderstood Inas.
much as stated some facts entirely IN harmony with the