The daily union., 1854-01-01
From the Belfast (Mains) Republican Journal.
Postal Affairs.

We wish to call the attention OF Congress in the ag-
gregate and OF the Maine deeGa,o 10 particular 10 the
fact that the postal law in operation needs 10 be- re
modelled the citizen the foil benefits
contemplated b. The institution OF tue system oi posts
IL TACT that while usasury Ia oveGdowinx with
revenues derived from The cusoms that il trouble
some find ways OF di,posng oi The public funds
while five millions are 10 be expended 10 build SIX wa,
steamers. and az much TO add wings 10 the Cap
i,o-while government is almost supporting lines OF
mail steamers, that private lines would be glad
10 underbd pay of the second and hirirae post
masters SO small that they forced economic in
every way, and greatly 10 the deinen, OF public inter-
ests All our larger Offices are dehcsnt competent
ssan for the simple reason thai it would take more than
the income OF the office TO pay them. Mails, through
the incompeiency the nsucency of clerks are care
lessy distributed and sometimes newspapers are no, for
warded by due course of mall because there not help
sufficient in The Office This state Of things has
be plague and detriment that demands abatement
While poslmasers no, half paid. would be unknd
take the poor satisfaction OF railing them, though
the thing is provoking to publishers that they
hold their peace entirely. We go in for payAg govern
ment officers we'll first. and then for holdog them &C.
couniabe for The strict performance OF their duties
1t is through the postal system ha, the citizen feels the
direclest and most immediate benefits OF government
Through this the government becomes the servant OF the
people. 1t brings their packages. their reading. their
II does their business, sends their orders, buys
their goods II preserves social relations, and cements
citizenship and States Ia the postal system the citizen
the dreces return for what be pays for the suppor,
of government. The establishment and perfection OF u
system OF posts marked that when mankind emerged
from feudasu the cheap postage system distinguished
siill higher condition OF civilization and will be
.epaabe from it So, then, the regular and healthy op
GRAFTON of the postal establishment should be thing
carefully looked after by our Legislators
The repor, OF the Postmaster General shows that the
department for the las, fiscal year has paid its
penses, lacking the OF over millions and Con-
gress is left provide for five hundred thousand
dollars OF tins deficiency. The falling OF in the amount
received from letter postages may be attributed 10 the fact
that the reduction of letter postage by the former law had
stimulated correspondence its utmost, but more espe-
ciay to the establishment OF telegraph lines. But
We do not The propreiy of attempting crowd tho
expenses OF this department within the reesips espe-
cIaly when The receipts from customs are so immense.
when the treasury has many millions surpIus, when
large amounts are due the government and uncolecied
seems to be eyesore that members OF Congress
getting rid OF as fast as possible.
There other Arguments in favor OF a revision OF
postal law far relates hs pay Of posmasiers
Their compensation bears comparison with the pay
OF other officers OF lhe government, (taking into view
the duties eqned,) except perhaps, the keepers OF light
houses. There enough sineeues about the Boston
custom house double the salaries ef all the Maine
pos,masters. we think. In our collection disric,
no doubt the pay OF officers OF customs, over and above
fair remuneration for labor performed is enough 10
double the pay Of all the pos,masers in tbs district.
For example. take the Belfast custom house and The
BeIias, pos Office the OF labor required in the
pos, Office 10 much larger than that required 10
the house. yet the pay of the postmaster cannot
be four hundred dollars, while the pay of the three
custom-house officers Is many thousand Such inc.
quality is very wrons-i, is not democratic. Ia repub-
lie there should b anecures A revenue-crsatipa
department should be administered economically as
department established tor The direct accommodation o
The people, and not Tor revenoe Nor do We see any
good philosophy in the idea OF making the Pos, ocs