The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-12-07

The act OF March g. 1851, provided new scale OF
posages on newspapers, periodicals. and other printed
matter graduated by distance, and while greatly re-
duced the established by the OF lS45 upon pub
locations issued to regular subscribers, increased the
rates upon transient wspapefs and other descriptions OF
printed matter Under thus graduated scale, which was
found exceedingly lnconvenien IN practice, owing to
there being less than six different rates OF postage
regular newspapers according TO distance. the revenue
from printed matter, which had amounted to VI ,03530 50
the year ending June 3d. 1851 sunk in the year end
ing June 80, 1852, to S7S9,oio 36 being decline OF
S2I5 .SSl SO, or 23} per cent
In order remedy the Inconvenience 10 postmasers
and the public arising from the charging OF postage
printed matter by distance well to simplify the rates
such matter generally the ACT amendatory OF The act
of 1884, to reduce and modify the of postage"
&c., passed the 30h August, 1851 take effect
the ST October following; but this ac, still further
three quarters of the seal year ending 3oh June 1883
amounted TO less than the three quarters which immedi
a,ely preceded them by the OF 22o,lsi Al being
reduction below the printed matter produced
BY OF 1851 OF than IS per cent This great
reduction is manly attributable that provision in the
act OF August 1859, which requires only half the regular
rates OF postage TO be paid newspapers and pero icas
when payment is made quarterly yearly in advance,
either al the office OF mainng or delivery
The act OF 1851 does not seem thus Tar 10 have an
swefed the expectations OF ITS fnends but while such
has been its effect upon the revenue the expenditures OF
the department. particularly Tor Transportation have been
very much increased,
6e2 paid in The latter year Tor foreign service The cost oil
transportation, in part owing TO silutafy changes
made in l,45, decreased IN he sum OF sio33Ss SINCE
that time II has gone very rapidly increasing 40 The
year ending 30ih June lSig, the transportation OF the
mails cost the department the OF S2577,s07 III IN
he year ending 3oh June, 1850, The OF 80 o65,-
7ss 36 in the year ending June 3d. 1884, S333S 063 81
IN the year ending June 80, 1852, 225 3ll 2S; and
in the year ending Goth June 1853 the sum o 81 .906-
3os o5 being OF St36s,os4 Al Tor transpor
ia,ion alone since the of 1851 into operation.
The commissions allowed 10 deputy posim asters by The
9th section OF the "aci TO establish certain postoads
and for other purposes approved 81 March, 1853 have
fnsun AT
defray the expenses indispensable to their etcent al
minis,raton SO inadequate, indeed, have been the COM
missions which accrued at OF this class of Offices,
that the posmasers besides being obliged toego their
| own compensation, have been brought in debt for
penscs absolutely necessary 10 be incurred in the public
service.
This state Of things is unjust TO the postra asters, alike
unjust TO those upon whose fidelity and dgence they
must rely for the performances of the and re-.
sponsible duties OF their Offices and cannot be permitted
to continue without serious public injury. TO remedy
this evil, would respectfully recommend that Consr ess
restore to the Postmaster General the discretion CONT
TO him by the 9th section o' the "act IN reduce ar
ify the rates OF postage" approved March - ,"ou
that he may be authorized to allow To pos v, =, a, "
tribung Offices such SUN, in addi,ioy, ~ . , - @
now allowed oy sw WI. oe .icient to defray rea
be authorized, under the drec ion ~ sha p,,a,. -
eral, TO credit the account of snv nosn,s,ss of AZ
/ =n.oa,s = day,av a. sum or sums "a may be toun,
LIST April 1853, or .om .ach lime ,hsrsai,sr :. hs ha
come postmaster. - " "
VINE W. >~er should thus be given TO meet ext
xsn.'ss ""' may arise in particular class OF cases
aounaani .sasons will appear in this report Why Iarge
snae the postages cannot be Withdrawn from the
=, :" General Post Office But great relief can be af
'o sed to the Offices by simplifying their operations and
.essening the amount of labor they require. For in
stance, were prepayment OF postage made absolute.
how much time and labor would be saved in filling ny
the post BILL and how much more in the business OF col
ecng postage and keeping the accounts.
development of important bearing on the interests
OF this department has come 10 my notice IN observing
the operations of the act OF 1851. large amoant OF
letter correspondence passed through the mail chiefly
from the cities and principal villages at but cent post
age per letter whereas . cents when REPAID and 5
cent. when unpaid. the uniform rate for letters
tenpated by that great OF reform The letters
ferred thirds less than letters general
because the body OF them printed Autographed in
stead OF being written. Ia respect they letters
and the purpose OF letter correspondence but ad
vanlage is taken OF the prov law in regard TO
printed circulars, and they mailed (and legally oo)
under that provision. need point iis effect 10
reducing the revenues and disappointing expectations ~
the working of the low postage need show