New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-12-08

The oct of March g. 1851 provided new scale of post
ages newspapers periodicals. and other printed matter
graduated by distance and while il greatly reduced the
rates established by the act OF s5 upon publications is
sued to regular subscriber it increased the rates Upon
transient newspapers and other descriptions OF printed
matter. Underbis graduated scale, which was found ex
ceednely inconvenen practice owing 10 there being
less than six different rates Of postage on regular news
papers according to distance the revenue from printed
matter which had amounted to 5lj0 50 in the year
ending June 30 1884, sunk in the year ending June 30
1852 to s7s92iS Sc being decline of s2i5ssi 3d. or 23
per cent.
In order to remedy the inconvenience 10 postmasers
and the public arising from the charging Of postage
printed matter generally the act amendatoy of the act of
1851, "to reduce and modify the rates OF postage &C.
passed the 30th August 1882 TO take effect the
LIST October following but this act still further reduced
the rates of postage printed matter that the three
quarters Of the fiscal ending June 80 1883 amounted
10 less than the threeqarers which Immediately preceded
them by the of 500 ls4 AZ being reduction below
the printed matter produced by the act of 1851
Of more than IS per cent This great reduction mainly
attributable to that provision in the act of August 1852
which requires only half the regular rates Of postage TO be
paid newspapers and periodicals. when payment is made
quarterly yearly in advance either at the Office Of mail
The act Of 1851 does not seem thus far have answered
the expectations Gifts friends but while such has been its
effect upon the revenue, the expenditures Of the depart
ment, particularly for transportation have been very
much increased
While from 1912 to lsi9 including the sum Of s2J5s92
paid in the latter year for foreign service the cost Of trans
potaion in part owing to saluary changes made in
ls4j decreased in the Of 40J seq since that time /!
has gone very rapidly increasing In the year ending
3oth June, ls9 transportation Of the mails cost the De
parment the Of l07 Il in the year ending 3Oh
June 1880 the of s96j7 s6 50 in the year ending
June 80 isj S353 063 o. in the year ending June 80
Iss2, si,22J3ll 20 and in the year ending seth June
1883 the Of 81 305 o. being increase Of 36s
ga a. for transportation alone since the act Of 1851 went
into operation.
The commissions allowed deputy POsmasters by the
9Th cton of the 20 establish certain post roads and
or purposes approved Sd March sS3baye proved
insufficient at several o. the distributing Offices defray
the expenses indispensable to their efficient administration
so inadequate indeed have been the commissions which
accrued al Of this class OF Offices that the Postmas
ter besides being obliged 10 forego their own compcnsa
ton have been brought in debt for expenses absolutely
Necessary 10 be incurred in the public service
This state Of things IL the Postn1sters alike
unjust TO those upon whose fidelity aud diligence they
must rely Tor the performance Of the onerous and re-
sponsbe duties Of their Offices and csnaot be permitted
70 continue without serious public injury. TO remedy
this evil would respectfully recommend that Congress
restore 70 the Postmaster General the discretion coniied
20 lin BY the 9Th section OF the Act reduce aud mod
ly the rates Of postage. approved March 3. ISL. 20
thar lie may be authorized 70 allow % Posn7sters a. dis
tIihune ciees such In addition % the commissions
rgN allowed by law via be s1.ers % dsfsy reason
able and necessary expenses and that the Au-3r be