New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-07-13
POST OFFICE REFORM.

A
ark some account Of which appears in another column
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POST OFFICE REFORM.
A first necessity OF Republican CIVILIZATION IS cneap
hostage for the million, and never intend to give up
the cause until is folly obtained. So far as the mere
rate Of three cents is concerned are satisfied But
have we got cheap postagel NomiDally so in money,
but Tine is money We are tod by philosopher
and friend of those who make their daily bread by an
economical use of that base Of wealth. II an individual
xasted his time in the foolish AID useless manner that
the Post Office laws require officials waste theirs he
would fail and ough, to fail, sooner than those who
do business upon borrowed capital
For what was the Post Office Department of the
United States created Simply to provide more GER
tain safe, cheap, expeditions of communication
for the people than they could have by any other posi-
HE means To enable it do this. Congress gave the
Department rigid monopoly Of letter carrying. Out
Of such monopoly in any other business under heaven,
spy individual with the intellect of decent donkey
would have made q fortune more princey than any po
tentate Oh earth
If the business had been in the hands and under the
impelng power of selfinerest would it now be such
notorious old slow coach it is Would Collins a
Vanderbilt Law, or any OF the hundred horsepower.
ooabead steamboat men Of this country ever allow the
expression Of in advance Of the mail to pass into
byword and reproach For such it is now to Govern
ment holding the letter carrying monopoly and possess
ING all the power that mOney-money Is Po"er-can
give but lacking that still stronger power which every
successful enterprise must haye-the power of intel
lectual capactv-a power which, if rightly exercised,
uoud make The Mail travel in advance Of anything and
everything else but lightning on the telegraph wires
Notwithstanding the monopoly of government, il is
notorous fact that letters are sent every day by pr
waite expresses by steamboats, aud sailing vessels and
Inv individuals not to avoid the payment of the small
amount Of postage, but TO insure certain, safe or
more speedy delivery than is given by the mail. An
express man viii bring score Of letters from town
hundred of miles away increasing the number at every
stop along his route and arriving with the mail in the
CITY deliver his letters to his customers before the
Post Office gees fairly at work, stripping the useless
yrappers from their packages, counting the letters and
comparing Them with the pos. bills aod sorting them
for the carriers who to make their appearance az
the Office next morning at o'clock, aud be ready 70
begin their work in only an hour and half aieer~ard
The laws delay" is somewhat notorious The de-
Law occasoned BY " POstOfice laws" is VIGOROUSLY
shame to this stesm.propulsion age Do the public
know how these laws hinder OF rather positively pre-
vent rsrid trsnsmssi'n ofleters We think they do
not for il they did they would cry loudly for reform,
till these useless clogs were removed Tom the Post
Office wheels Cheap postage without rapid transmits
sion and immediate delivery of letters is not cheap TO
men ofbusiness however small may be the sum chsrged
Do away with the unne sssry duty which Postmasters
are now obliged to do and the present rates will not
only pay expenses but fund topay for further
improvements and better acommodatous Of those who
| sustsin the Pos Office department.
We have said Simplify the clerical business Of Post
masters, and one half their occupation would be
gone and onebsf Of the hired clerks might seek bet
ter employment; = ard now We are going to prove it.
do not expect TO live long enough TO see the
animation OF such areform because the Post.Oce De
raftmclt is one Of the strong Of the political ug
elers who miseovem the postagetaxed millions of this
country and they politically, and the clerks pecmi
ary interested in keeping things as they are There Is
in the laws Of the Department heading or dc d.
" ti,s Of POsimGslers on Reeei5iag, Mailing AID For
harding Letters UnsOphisticated reader, what do
vou suppose those duties art To send them forward
with the utmost dispatch, any other freight agent
wopld do TO be sure, is yOur natural answer Ii You
think that is the law just Try your hand al getting letter
mailed at any country Post.Ofce while tie stage is
sitns for the old KnckerbOcker TO overhaul tie mail
and smell out all the hieroglyphca directions upon FIVE
1 bushels OF papers ahu ie''ei P"'A"ee N "
breathess haste at the PostOfee WITH letter between
your thumb and finger, upon the envelop OF which
you have affixed one of Uncle Sans red stamps aud
would have affixed dozen if that would insure rs safe
and immediate transmission TO the next town. Only zen
miles of You ask the Postmaster TO put your letter u
the mail. Cant do it, Sir stage is waiting Il tht
short and sometimes erusty answer But Il Is oil the
utmost Importance" Cant help IT. don't you see
| 81 am busy sorting the mails Must wait till to
morrow" But, my dear sir you begin to intreat
it will be Of no use tomorrow it must 20 to-day"
81 tell you it can't go today. havnt time to mail il
don't bother me-you should have come before-I an
- not obliged according to law, to mail letter unless
is deposited in the Office half hour before the tim,
.'fxed for closing the mail
You turn away with feeling of disgust and dsapPont
meut, and perhaps little anger. Our army swOr