The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-04-28

Provided That the Postmaster General shall
edeparture of the mails herein provided for in connection
with the line already established as to secure weekly
mail communication between the points designated,
SEC g. And be 1t further enacted That the Postmaster
General not authorized empowered to make advance
the funds credit Of the government in urherance
aid the undertaking. for the and benefit of the par
SEC. And further enacted That the parties
tracing shall IN event receive from increased
SEc. s. And be fler enacted That the contract hereby
directed shall be for the term OF ten years.
SEc g. And be Il further enacted That if any time du-
ring the existence Of this contract any other individuals
ma Between New Orleans and San Fancisc and shall give
proof tho Postmaster General that said has
been in successful operation for three consecutive months
then and that case shall be the duty the Postmaster
General to transfer this contract to said individual or com
pany whereupon the former company individual shall not
be deemed to have any claim for damage, otherwise
against the government
Mr.. CHURCHWELL The public interest seems to re-
quire that should have additional mail facilities between
the Atlantic and Pacific States, We have now mail be
tween those States by way of Panama, but It is made
quate the wants Of the business pubict is too long
making the trip
Under the present contract the average length OF the
trips is twenty-five days. at expense of near S96oooo
per year have thought that the expense ia too great
and the time too long And might as well answer here
other point the objection that is sometimes urged
when speak of the value of short trips am told that
two or three days in trip makes but ltte dlerence.
When this bill first sent to the Committee on the Post
Office and Post Roads referred by them to the Post
master General; and have his ieterand 1t Is but re-
specl TO him that should allude itin which he
that few days in each trip of little consequence. But
think differently; and So am persuaded, viii business
all over the country would call the attention OF
the House TO this point partcuary-to the value Of time
in the transportation of mail and other matter Suppose
that in addition to the present route you pass TINS p
and open up route, and establish another line o.
steamers between the Pacific and Atlantic States that will
make trip in days less time than II Is made un-
der the present contract and by the pr sent route and sup
pose that you S2oooooo year by this arrangement
how YOU will ask Is this be done What the amount
aimouey that receive annually from California During
the past year received $s6oooooo and may we not
presume tina, during the next year we shall receive $780,
ooOooo2 But to make myself clearly understood, will
put the amount annually received at S5OOoOOOo Unser
The present arrangement that S2oo00000 Is detained ten
days longer than is necessary the present maroute
YOU shorten the trip ten days what will be the gain
The gain viii be TO the business community may say 10
the 'axpaying community, for it falls upon them at ast-
what the interest upon the whole amount OF the moneys
conveyed upon Tint line What is the interest on this
$5ooooooo per he amount assumed to be received
annually from the Pacfc) at per cent per annumY II
x3000000 Upon that basis, the inerestrper day would
be within fraction of $s22o and for ten days the short
est time proposed by the schedulc Of Ss222o And yet
am told that time valuable Sir it Is rything
Let as follow this matter a little further Suppose We
each trip Gays apd that we have Two vessels ma
hing two trips month and each one saving ten days
that is twenty days month, two hundred and forty
days year is it not then clearly demonstrated what
with save TO the people OF the United statesg do pot
.y 70 the government but to the people Of the United
States, which is the thing over S200000O year
equal to the deficit in the entire mail revenue OF the
country. But am told that should not extend the
facilities of the Post Office Department becaure The rev
senses Of that department That is What now propose
tonrfuo and amend The Post Office Department docs
not pay expenses the revenue Is not snhcient-and
whyY We have that II falls short s2o00,000 the
present fiscal year. Why Is II 80 Some of you
will be attributed to the reduction Of postage
rates think the main is elsewhere Is IT not in
the department iself2 Has it not fallen behind the times
behind the prcgreysye spirit Of the age-ln the mode Of
Transportation? What inducements does II offer TO the
public for paronage1 Time is money and the saving o
time f II Is but few hours each day amounts to large
sum II has often been said take of the cents and
the dollars win OF themselves and rs Well may
we saw take care o the minutes and the days viii take cart
p themselves To send letters by the present government
mail TO California 10 have them several days langor OF
the way than If sent by other modes OF conveyance con
sequently the public are fast abandoning that means o
conveyance for their drafts and letters and hcnco we hav
aarge deficit In postal revenues arising nom tne IN
efficiency Of government mail transportation 70 supply I'M
demands Of the business public The express lines Of th
country take away nll the regular and important bnsnos
from tho regular mail lines Each trip 10 California By
we way Of Panama averages thirty teusand letters How
much mail matter goes by the express lines and merchan
mariner u mot hr To presume that an amount equal
onehaif OF that amount goe by private express ~ IN ex
orbant price In the way Of POSTAGE And s not The ac
evident that this large amount Of mail matter carried y
ho expresses s much abstrncted from The Legitimate
business 81 the Post Office Department and consequently
In The ratio from the revenue2
This Is Of the evils which the bill proposes to
dy We nced not be oldthc country need not be told
tha the cheapppstage system affects the revenuc Of tn
Post Office Department II ia not so in point OF fact
fiaoc that department upon proper foonq--upon q,
equality with individual enterprise reduce your posag
still lower and the amount Of would be increased
and amply sufficient TO defa the expenses Of the depart
y
In twenty Eve days under the present contract govern
ment pays sssooo r