The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-03-10

As we have been obliged to chronicle the
failure of many important measures which we
had hoped to see adopted at the late session of
Congress, it is with peculiar pleasure that we
congratulate the country on the passage of one
bill in which all classes and sections are deeply
interested. 1t has long been the earnest de-
sire of vast majority of the American people
that the rates of postage should be reduced to
the lowest point that the interests of the coun
try would admit. Participating in this desire,
and anxious far as possible to comply with
the wishes of the public, the President in his
annual message presented the subject prom-
nently among those requiring the early atten-
tention of Congress. His language was as
follows:
"I am happy TO find that the fiscal condition of
the Department ia such to justify the Postmaster
General in recommending the reduction of our in
land letter postage to three cents the single letter,
when prepaid, and five cents when not prepaid.
He also recommends that the prepaid rate shall be
reduced to two cents whenever the revenues of the
Department, after the reduction, shall exceed its
expenditures by more than five per cent. for two
consecutive years. that the postage upon California
and other letters sent by steamers, shall
on newspapers, pamphlets, periodicals, and other
printed matter, shall be modified, and some reduc-
ton thereon made"
The recommendations here alluded to are
given in detail in the able report of the Post
master General, from which we quote the fol-
lowing:
GA considerable reduction of letter postage, and
the adoption Of q uniform inland rate, desired
by large portion of the people OF the United States.
Interesting and able reports, recommending differ
ent degrees of reduction, were made, but not acted
upon, at the last session of Congress The subject
will doubtless again cngagcthe attention of Con-
gress at its approaching session; and with
nest desire that rates of postage may be
duced to the lowest point that is practicable with
out calling for contribution from the treasury be-
yond what should be paid for the transmission and
delivery Of the official and public correspondence,
I recommend that the inland letter postage be re-
duced to three cents the single letter when prepaid,
and be fixed at the uniform rate of five cents when
not prepaid and also that the Postmaster General be
required to reduce this prepaid rate, to three
cents the single letter, whenever it shall be
tanned that the revenues of the Department, after
the reductions now recommended, shall have
ceeded its expenditures by more than five per cent.
for two consecutive fscal years. also recommend
X
ly reduced, and that the postage charged on other
sea- going letters be made more simple and uniform.
With the numerous rates now charged-some with
and some without the addition of the inland rates
confusion and mistake frequent and unavoid-
able therefore recommend that twenty cents the
single letter be charged on oil correspondence to
and from the Pacific coast, South America, the
eastern continent, and its Islands and points be-
You'd either; and ten cents the single letter on all
other sea going letters. without the superaddition
Of inland postage in any case-excepting, however,
all cases where such sea hostages have been, or
shall be- adjusted at different rates by postal treaty
already concluded, or hereafter to be made; and
power should be given to the Postmaster General,
by and with the advice and consent of the President
of the United States, to reduce enlarge the sea
rates, with the view of making better postal
engagements with other governments, or counter
acting any adverse measures affecting postal
intercourse with other countries
"I also recommend that the provision which i'm
poses nm additional half cent postage upon news.
papers sent more than one hundred miles, and out
of tho State where they are mailed, be repealed,
as to leave the uniform inland postage on ncwspa-
pers sent 10 subscribers from inc ONCE OF puDhca-
| ton at one cent each
"Tho portage upon pamphlets periodicals, and
| other printed matter, Except newspapcrs.) may
| be simplified and somewhat reduced with advan-
tage TO the Department--two cents for the pam
phlet or periodical Of the weight of two ounces
lees. and one cent for every additional ounce or
fraction of an ounce For the going charge
cue matter, and ON newspapers, twice the inland
and from the points to which it is proposed
that the letter postage shall be ten cents, and four