The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-12-07

Estimated surplus June 80, ls5j........ slss023 -
During the three years which commenced the LIST
July, ls5l and ended on the 3oth june 1854, the lie
partment issued loo, 126,s17 postage stamps, aud
25oIo taml ell envelopes amounting in the aggrc-
gate 20 s5507,o22 OF, OF which - ,o92, 5ol 70 were
sold, being about 2ia per cent Of the whole amount
issued,
Having ascertamed that the mode Of examining and
checking the quarterly returns Of pcsmasters radi-
cay detective, took occasion 10 invite attention to the
subject in my report Of last year. and again advert to
IT, because subsequent investigation and experience
have convinced me that thorough check Of iLe ne
counts nnner the present system Il wholly npraciica
BILE sncl cheek is indispensable 10 the SAFETY of the
revenue, anI can in way he effected certainly, at
20 lttle cost aud with 80 much advantage 10 the
vice, as by adopting prepayment ol portage in all
not coming within our postal arrangements with foreign
counties.
This PLAN connected with a well digestcd system for
The ation 81 letters 10 which shall presently Al
hde Noua quicken coTresI nnlence while Il would Aci-
htate and expedite tie operations of the post Offices in
mailing aud delivering letters and inspire conn icncc IN
The department. rs sale means OF transmitting letters
cont aiming remit iances.
Very after entered upon INV duties in this de.
parmen IT'S large and increasing spondcnce in
gard to the Ross Of valuable letters Entrusted to the mails
attracted my attention. found, examination Of the
subject, that although Congress in establishing
postal system appears 10 have had principally in
temptation the providing of suitable aud convenient
means OF correspondence and The diffusion of Intelligence
get from that time until now, the mails used
TO large ana constantly increasing extent for the
transmission OF bank notes AMI other valuable enco-
snfes, and are the principal through which
Tie remtsnees OF The country Inade while neither
the laws any regulations this department have
proNi0ed any additional guards for their security against
los dcpreo acn beyond those original Nv established
In view of the enormous which are constantly
passing through the mails tho losses by aenrolaf on
arc inconsdeIable SILL such axe numerous their
aggregate amount is large, and they easing with
The growth Of our country and the extension Ut it, mail
service. Undcr these circumstances. thought II
proper % recommend such legislation this subject ~
may enable this department. to give greater security 10
valuabl letters in the mails without assuming any
Liability Tor their ultimate loss. BY ourpresent system,
all letters mailed ~ given date At post Office Tor
delivery or distribution at another entered in gross
according to Their several rates oi.posage ,on one most
bill II letter Of great value be embraced the bin
mother is address any other description OF II il
entered The post BILL nv which II can he distinguishes
from other letters OF he Grade rate hostage
Nor Is the Sdcrcs, description of any such letter
entered the posmas'ers account OF mails sen nor
indeed upon any other record Kept in the office from
which II - sent. Tire only account kept by the post
Master Is money account, made ap each day of the
several aggregates of postages # The different rates.
eiler collected 81 charged as unpaid. 10 viii 10 seen
that nnoer scch system Of accounts missing letter
can never be traced with certDiny, Tor the account
reiher furnishes evidence That particular letter
reached the place Of its destination that IL left
The Office 81 mailing Believing that this iuperfccion
IN our system only be rfmedied By the adoption ~
rh1ai and uniform Plan Of sgitralion Tor all valuable
letters have a ter consulting the pericace Of other
countries fhe srAeri ,svsod plan Of registration
which iiuh ~ % 70 Our ccun .,ances ana key to-
ssd gIes 10 Ar security "f tbc mails ,ainst !epr.
Gaton
II provide that receipts shah b. given t,r valuable
lrt'er whom Jo,te spl that dul G,9te4 IT these r.
cepts han be hrpt for al The obee Of rna
my; that the fl sddcss such le;r. shall be- entered
On scIotaie pust bs which shall be- copied at iar2c
rpou account 70 b. cpt ~ registered letters sent
lh's poet bH ~ 10 TO Orwarlcd ~ srliel envelope
eepaia from the package OF hitter to which Il r.,as
snt - teeei q the Office 81 IT. destination to De-
Anowlccsed by duplicate thereof returned IL the Of
ice oi mailing marked correct otherwise, II may he
ound o. tompaiiaon. II provides that the largo offices
llab!e etfsrs ssil De- cei,c AZ win Nv ony.anl
hai the receiving clerk shall check them the register
elntk, and he e. the mailing clerk, II H. in short d..
sigac 10 fix re.rouaibity and 20 furnish which
40 not nov exist Tor tracing missing letter from the
point OF its reception 10 that of it, disappearance 10
carry this plan into effect IL will be required that new
aud expensive blanks BE- prepared aud distributed aud
that an increased clerical force b. cpoyed In the pru
llni ios oin.s~ nave nos uericre, feit ~ liberty
!" ADOPT Y without he sacton Of Congress, ami author
iy 70 establish such additional rate 81 postage This
clas7 Of letters may b. deemed adequate to the ex-
pence OF registration
in Great Britain ttr re1strotiou fce on inland and
most foreign letters xpencc sterling Gabont twelve
cenis) In addition 70 The ordinary o postage and
II j expressly provided that such REGISTRATION shall
not render she Postmaster General tho post oice
venue in any Liable for the oss a post
letters the contents thereof n II believed that a-
thoriiy 70 establish additional rate uf I've cents on
zen letter registered and TO require the postage al
registered letters be prepaid wouid enable the depart
mcni to carry into eject the plan here submitted without
prejudice to its revenues.
10 Ia not proposed make the registering III valuable
letters compulsory that the government shall b.
como liable letters when lost but only enable
each person mailing valuable letter 90 do In The ord
nary manner o. "a add something to IT. security by tho
", mont q small registration fee.
have doubt that tho registration OF valuable let
eis, rs proposed, would he highly appreciated
q security by the large COMMERCIAL classes 81 the
mrnity whose collections and exchanges made prin
cipaly through the nail., and who have from time
time urged in upon this department Che atoption Of
some such plan Tor their protection believe TOO, that
such system Of registration would relieve this depart
ent from the impuation ~ numerous osees not pro
perry chargahe uEon cases in which valuable letters
alleged TO have been Loot through the mails either never