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

80, o,ieoA''''','t,'f,',.,,.'.,.,.,.- l33,4Sa 30
I ss2,92i G.
=, Available for 1885,: 4lTI5e 9,
The gross revenue Of the year. exclusive of
4 balances resulting from the foreign postage s
accounts is estimated at..,....... -. 72s324 0t
The appropriations for free matter, less $780,
600 drawn in nls54..."................-- 100000 oC
The appropriation TO supply deficiencies in
the year 1868, made by the act of August
. 23l44GA Ot
oes9,9i4 81
Es'maed expenditures OF ls55....,,,..... 9sil,92l 3;
Estimated surplus June so ls55......... 14sO23 6:
During the three years which commenced on the Is
July 1881 aud ended the 3Ot June 1854 the depart
ment issued l66264l7 postage stamps and 25,O76 $50
stamped envelopes amounting in the aggregate S. 5o
022 03, of which S5,032 30l 73 were sold being about
321 per cent. of the whole amount issued.
Having ascertaincd that the mode of examining and
checking the quarterly returns Of posmasters rad
caly defective took occasion to invite attention TO the
because subsequent investigation and experience have con-
vnced me that thorough check OF the under the
present system is wholly impractcabe Such check i.
Indispensable to the safety of the revenue and
way be elected certainly little cost and with
mush advantage to the service, as by adopting prepay
ment OF postage In all not coming within our postal
arrangements with foreign countries
This pan connected with wedigesed system for the
registration OF letters to which ahal presently allude
would quicken correspondence while it would facilitate
and expedite the operations Of the post Offices in mailing
and delivering letters and inspire confidence in the depart
ment as safe means Of transmitting letters containing
remittances
Very after entered upon my duties in this depart
ment its large and increasing correspondence in regard
the loss of valuable letters ntsted to the mails attracted
my attention found, examination Of the subject that
although Congress in establishing postal system, ap-
pears to have had principally in contemplation the provi
ding OF suitable and convenient OF correspondence
and the diffusion OF intelligence yet from that time until
now, the mails hare been used to large and constantly
increasing extent for the transmission of bank and
other valuable enclosures and are now the principal means
hp pr NJ ftar npfrv ,uAa
while neither the laws any regulations Of this depart
nen have provided any additional guards for their
rity against loss or depreciation beyond those originally
established In view Of the enormous which
stany passing through the mails the Losses by depreda
tion are nconsiderabe STILL sach losses numerous
their aggregate is large aud they increasing
with the growth of our country and the extension Of
mail service Under these circumstances have thought
1t proper to recommend such legislation this subject
may enable this department to give greater security val
uabe letters in the mails without assuming any liability
for their ultimate oss BY present system all letters
mailed at given date at post oce for delivery dis
tributon al another entered in gross according to
their several rates Of postage upon post bill If let
ter of great vaue bc embraced in the BILL neither its adj
dress any other description OF entered the post
BILL by which it be distinguished from other letters OF
the same grade or rate of postage Nor is the address
description Of any such letter entered the
account Of mails sent ndeed upon any other record
kept in the office from which it is The only
kept by the postmaster is money account made up each
day OF the several aggregates of postges OF the different
rates either collected or charged as unpaid II will be
can never he Traced with crrto;nty r ,ba
frnShaa evidence that uartcuar letr ver roacsd tbe
nace of ts destination nor over that Il I tho ofce ~
mailing Believing tbat This ;mrerfec,;on in nur svsen
car oulv he remed;ed hv tbe f oan.rol ard
form Dlon of reo;sraton for III yo,nahe iat,ary have
after consulting The experience f other countries the
subject devised pan Of registration which think suited
TO our circumstance and kev 10 add Greatly "a the al
| curity Of the mails AGAINST denreda,ion - % ~ -
n royde that recents sbalI be ven fr vaIuahe le,
ters when posted and that dunIcaes az these sha
be kent fr reference at be onice az oa I;n ,ot tbo f
address OF snc letters shall be entered On separate most
bill which shall be coniea Mt large nnop an account o bf
kept of registered letters sent This most hiI s IN he for
wnried In sealed enyelone separate from, the M
letters TO which II relates and its recent AT the Office f ia
destination Is to be acknowIeaoed by duplicate thereof
returned to the Office of mailngmorked Correct or 9TH
erwise as il NAV be found on comparson II provides
that at the large Offices valuable letters shall be
at one window only and tha, the reccv;no clerk sba
check them 70 the register clerk and he to- he MAILING
clerk II ia in short designed 10 q resnnns;Iitv and t1
furnish means which do moi now exs far tracing miss;no
letter from The pont ~ ia recen,ion m that az ia dsar
pearance To carry this plan into effect il will be reourec
that new and expensive blanks be prepared and dsrib
uted and that increased clerical force be employed IL
the principal post Offices have not therefore, felt at lib
erty to adopt ii without the sanction of Congress- and
thorty to establish such additional rate of postage this
csss Of letters may be deemed adequate the expense
( OF registration.
In Great Britain the registration fee inland and
most foreign letters IS sxpencc sterling tabout twelve
ecns in addition 20 the ordinary rates OF postage and
expressly provided that such registration shall no