The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-12-06

/ lso35,l3 80 sa1,3ae 90 64sy29I 80 6Go09e 40
As the OF the 3Oth August 1862 fixing the present
rates OF postage 5n printed matter took effect the
October following, fair comparison only be ns-
tated between the Of the two last fiscal years
through the whole Of which the existing rates of postage
prevailed This shows that after giving each year the
liberal allowance OF hreeiourths Of the stamps
sold the ending June 1854 exceeds the preyious
| year only 45-l0o per cent.
In this act there clause which provides that when
the postage upon any newspaper or periodical is paid
quarterly or yearly In advance onehaf only of the
lar rates shall be charged In view of the trivial increase
of the postage printed matter and of the extremely low
rates particularly for newspapers and pero cas would
recommend that the law be far changed omit the
clause referred to- leaving the department fall back upon
the Of 1896 under which quarterly payments in advance
newspapers and periodicals have heretofore always been
required Tie propriety Of this recommendation will be
apparent not only for the above suggested
FROM the following comparative statement Of facts Under
the act in operation prior and up July lt 1851 the
postage for instance, weekly newspaper when sent
not h1ndred miles any distance in the State
where published was thirteen cents, and when
one hundred miles out of the State where published,
nineteen and half quarter. BY the act of March
3d. 1851 six different rates according distance es
tablished Thus ON weekly newspaper for any distance
exceeding fifty mies five cents quarter: over fifty
and not exceeding three hundred mlles cents over
three hundred and not exceeding thousand miles f
teen cents over one and not exceeding two thousand
miles twenty cents two, and exceeding four
thousand miles, twenty-five cents four thousand
miles thirty cents quarter; and weekly newspapers to
subscribers in the county where published made
BY this act the postage II will be perceived for any dis
tance not over thousand miles greatly reduced
but owing to the diversity of ratethe great reduc
ton for the shorter and great increase for the longer
dstances--s modification called for and this
resulted in the present law by which the quarterly
any weekly newspaper periodical not exceeding three
ounces in weight any distance in the United States is
only six and half cents On newspapers not exceeding
and half in weight when circulated in the
State where publshed the quarterly rate is still onehal
less being only thrae and quarter cents and weekly
newspapers subscribers in the county where published 20
free cannot avoid the convictions that had it been cry
understood that the act of 1925 required payment quar-
tery in advance regular newspapers subscribers and
that the effect OF the clause question would be to reduce
the postage the great bulk Of printed matter so
exceedingly low Congress would have given its
ton to the II my recommendation be adopted the
postage instance weekly newspaper peri
odca not exceeding and half ounce circulated in the
State where published and in the proportion
frequent publications will be six and half cents and when
not over three in weight sent any part Of the
United States thirteen cents quarter The newspapers to
subscribers living in the county where published will con-
tnue TO go free.
The expenditures of the year ending June 30
1885, ewing 10 not within the eontro Of the de-
partmcn will greatly exceed thoge Of the past year
In my report Of the lat December last had the honor
to state that the commissions allowed to postmasters by
the 9Th section Of the establish certain post-roads
&c approved Sd March, 1858, had proved insufficient
several of the distributing Offices defray the expenses
necessary to their efficient administration and to remedy
state OF things so injurious to the service then recon-
mended the restoration to the Postmaster General Of the
discretion given him by the 9th section Of the Act to
duce and modify the rates postage approved March B.
1851 that he might have It in his power 10 allow to
the postmasters such distributing offices the
sary to dey expenses Al tae time took occasion
to say that while bis power should be given the
exgencies Of particular class Of cases exceeding
twenty in number, there abundant why
larger share of the posages should bs diverted from the
general purposes OF the department Upon
subsequently nade il deemed expedent 10 ask
argement OF the above mentioned so far only
embrace ew separating Offices situated at points exact
ing great labor and affording but nominal compensation
to the incumbents. Careful estimates made by the
Of The increase of expense necessary TO relieve The
,yil min
investigation appear to be Justly entitled aid from the
department and the conclusion that the whole amount
could not exceed $4,000 per annum-
This would certainly have been sunicient 70 cover
all proper demands for additional aid But the views
of the department aid not prevail and Congress
passed the Gct Of June 22a, 1854 fixing increased
scale OF commissions and raising the aggregate compensa
ton Of all the posmaster in the United States less than
$4,000 per annum thereby increasing the expenditures
of the department TO that amount instead of $4,000 had
been recommended The expenditures of the current year
for compensation to postmasters clerks for Offices
viii be further increased by the operation of the 4h and 5h
sections of the act OF 9th july 1864 making provision for
the postal service in the State Of California and the Terri
tories Of Oregon and Washington. BY the 9TH section Of
the act the Postmaster General is authorized and directed
allow the statement the accounts Of posnIasters
California and Oregon originating previous TO the 30l
June 1853 al us and reasonable expenses incurred by
them In and about the business Of their respective offices
and the discharge Of their official duties provided that
allowance shall be made whereby the United States shall
be charged with any Indebtedness whatsoever The bal
due from late and present posmasters in California
and the Territories Of Oregon and Washington subject 10
the operation Of the 18th and 5th sections the Just
mentioned, amounted the Both June, 1864, TO Sl8l
I44 A. of which il Is estimated that less than
s5O00O must be cancelled under the provisions Of the
9Th section and carried into the general Of the de-
partment as expenditures of the curreat year
In addition the burdens thrown upon the of the
department by the general increase of the compensation of
postmasers and the special legislation for those in Cali
ornia Oregon and Washington Territories the of
transporting the mails viii be greatly increased in the
present year by putting posroutes in operation by
the enhanced prices demanded in the very large section let
t fuf-