Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-01-19

reduction Of the British transit charge to 3D.,
Tor twelve and half cents as demanded by
the United States, without such reduction Of
sea postage. The ingenuity of this mode of
stating the case is frankly admitted but not its
fairness. 1t is sufficient answer to say that
the only controversy has been with reference
to reduction of the British transit postage
that the sea postage has not been point in
dispute; and that, were our reasonable de.
mands for a reduction of the transit postage
acceded to, the reduction of the sea postage by
| the United States line would follow, of course.
since the United States and French mails
would then be treated as closed mails, and all
letters between the two countries passing
through England would be transmitted at a
uniforms rate of postage True, the United
States has it in its power in two ways, to make
the rate uniform by both United States and
British lines first, by reducing the sea post
age on one quarter ounce letters by its own
lines; and secondly, by raising the inland rate
| from hive to eleven cents on all America
French letters conveyed by British packets.
The former have not deemed it advisable to
do until the British transit charge is reduced.
| The British Government has done it In their
| own case, no doubt, for an equivalent, and in
order that their present high transit rate may
not be reduced. The other alternative if the
present state of things is to continue, it will.
IN my Judgment, be very proper to adopt, espe-
cially as the United States inland rate would
still be less than that of France on these let.
ters and it is important that an end be put to
these unjust attempts to favor the Cunard to
the prejudice of the American steamship lines
In regard to the question of postage on pam.
| phlets and magazines between the two coun.
| tries, the case stands thus: Under the treaty,
the rate on either side for works of this kind,
not weighing over two ounces, is two cents.
When above two, and not over sixteen ounces,
the charge on either side is increased to four
| cents an ounce, each country collecting and re.
tanning Its own postage; but no pamphlet
weighing over eight, nor periodical over six.
| teen ounces, can be sent except at letter rate.
| Books are likewise subject to letter postage
In respect to newspapers, pamphlets, and mag.
| azines the postage in each country is the same,
regardless of the packet, whether American or
British performing the sea service. For pam
phlets and periodicals above the weight of two
ounces, proposed that the rate on either side
be reduced to one cent an ounce; and sug-
gested that there need be no limit in respect to
weight. This proposition the British Office de.
cllned, and IN lieu thereof proposed the plan of
| book post, TO embrace books as well as pam
phlets and magazines, at the following combined
rates:
For every packet containing printed book,
magazine, review, or pamphlet, when not ex
ceedng half pound in weight, Il cents.
When exceeding half pound, and not ex.
ceeding one pound, "a cents.
When exceeding one pound, and not exceed.
ing two pounds, 48 cents
And so on, increasing twenty.four cents for
every additional pound or fraction of a pound.
They further proposed compulsory prepayment
In full, and that, of the total amount of postage
paid upon each packet, one-third should be con
sdered to represent the inland British rate. one.
third the sea rate, and the remaining third the
United States inland rate the sea rate to belong
to the country effecting the marine conveyance.
For various reasons could not assent to this
plan. First, | do not consider the proposed an
equitable division of the inland postage; Sc.
cond far the greater part of the books likely to be
transmitted in the mail, it is fair TO presume,
would be sent from Great Britain to this coun-
try IN British packets, and the rates proposed
Tor them are, IN some instances, much lower
than the custom duties thereon; third the com.
bined rate for pamphlets and periodicals of the
weight oftwo ounces and under would be raised
from the present rate of four cents to twelve
cents Other less important objections might
be mentioned; but the correspondence on this
subject having, on call from the Senate at the
last session, been furnished and printed, lex.
ecutive Document No. 67,) further remarks
here In regard to it are deemed unnecessary.
In the report to be duly presented to Con-
gress will appear detailed statement of fail
ures and other irregularities which have oc.
CURED IN the transportation of the mails during
the year, and the fines and deductions which
have been imposed upon contractors These
fines and deductions will be found to amount
TO Sl24,530 6S. During the preceding year
they amounted to Sll0,486 So These fines
show the contractors have been held to rigo-
rous performance of their contracts but there
are many irregularities in the mails for which
neither the contractors nor any other agents of
the department are blamable For irrequla
rites OF this nature, as well as for real delin.
quences, the department is constantly made
the subject OF reproach. Where there is rood
ground OF complaint, this is expected but it
is apparent.that there is a too ready disposi
ton, on every occasion of actual or presumed
slight arrangement in the machinery of the
mails to reflect upon the department, thereby.
to a greater or less extent, impairinp it's eff
cheney. The postal establishment is one in
which every citizen is most deeply interested.
and all should aid in rendering it as perfect as
possible. Instead Of denunciation. in the
event of mistake, carelessness or neglect. as a
general rule, certainly the wiser course would
be to advise the department of the wrong com.
mitted, and leave it to apply the remedy.
have the honor TO be very respectfully your
obedient servant,
JAMES CAMPBELL.
To the PRESIDENT.