The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-12-19

The rapid extension Of railroads has contributed most
largely TO swell the expenditure OF the department
Wherever road is opened becomes necessary to
convey mails it, and almost invariably at rate OF pay
far above that coach routes while in many instances
the latter must be continued or other service provided for
the Offices which not reached by the railroad thus
doubling the expense.
AS an example, it may be stated that the railroad
service between Cumberland, Maryland, aud Wheeling,
Virginia including route agents and mail messengers now
Service is also necessary on the old
stage route ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 1900 per annum.
Total s5o so5 ncr annum
Before the completion Of the railroad
the highest pay for conveying the
through mail on this route was.... q GOO per annum.
Increase .....................s $40 ,2s5 per annum
But f be desired 10 relieve the Treasury from the
acquisitions upon it for the service Of this department
it will be necessary not only to reduce expenses by
disconnectng the mails from the transportation OF
passengers and freight, but to increase the reve.
by the imposition Of of postage approaching
more nearly the value cost of transportation and
delivery Of letters and printed matter. move
in this direction made at the last session Of Congress
by the introduction Of bill in the Senate having for its
chief objects the raising Of the three upon
allowed by law for the payment OF newspaper and
pamphlet postage quarterly or yearly in advance.
II is believed that the effect of this bill would be To raise
the from hostages about So 500 600 without TAX
nto the provision il contains in relation the
mission Of public documents. The immense masses o.
heavy books and documents sent through the mails 10 al
parts Of the country devove very considerable expense
upon the department for larger of Transportation
than would be required for the ordinary mails. This
pcnse, il true is compensated in part by the annual
ration Of 500 900 from the Treasury by
Mafcl g. ls47 and March g. 1851 but this allowance is
believed 70 be half of what such matter would
amount 10 if charged with postage.
The dscontinuance modification Of the rapking priv
lege having been suggested by several of predcces
sors means OF increasing the revenue, shall not
notice the subject further than to present for consde
ration such modification Of appears me can
readily adopted without subjcctng members of Congress
respondence II proposed that in lieu of the frankng
privilege now allowed by law to members Of Congress
the Secretary Of the Senate and the Clerk ote House
such other officer be designated for the purpose
nish the members with postage stamps 10 be used all
letters, public documents and packets transmitted by
them IN the mails aud keep account Of the stamps fur
nshed 10 each member to be paid for out Of the contn
gent fund Of each House II is further proposed that all
letters and packets, except newspapers addressed to
befs Of Congress, shall be prepaid at the mailing Office
In this way the department would be compensated for the
service rendered without a the Of
keeping daily minute accounts OF the postage chargcable
on such mail matter.
is evident, on the slightest reflection that the whole
theory which the Post Office Department originally
founded has been in great measure departed from. Its
great function for many years, WAS the Transmission of
mail matter proper, such letters papers and light
pamphlets from part Of the country to another The
.ea Of the government becoming Ii common carrier of
persons and merchandise was never entertained. But
what is the transmission Of the immense mass of book
matter, amounting annually to hundreds Of tons, but
chandse whether sent from private book establishments
from the houses Of Congress? In single instance
the trans mission the books &C. of member urom
Jtah) has the department between six and
thousand dollars Why cannot these be forwarded under
the direction Of the Secretary of the Senate and Clerk OF
the House, either by the ordinary modes of
veyance or by the application of postage stamps
other mail natter Another consideration
forciby presses itself the mind in relation to
this department Many steam lines have been
established not really TO meet the postal wants of the
country but 10 and aud assistance To growing and
expanding commerce The department could have no
hostages that would AT all compenssse for their
cxlensycness still, of the importance
an %
establishing them, thought, had well be de
VOWED uIan the Post Office Department a. on any oe-
IL" great necessity and propfety Of establishing
necton 18th distant sessions the Pacific both
10y STA and land, WIS universally Acknowledged. The
route by pauama has never repaid IN hostages. half IT.
nense yet the nation has been, IN her tsade and com
mere, rcmuucratcd thousand fold. So Of the great
overland routes the man ono Of which has been csb
sled hy the express enactment of Congress None OF
the hitter ever make postal returns at all pro-
rortiopl,e TO their cost bot through their agency
nearly half OF ogr republic will be developed
in is agricultural and mineral resources. Other
references might b. made clearly showing
that tie Post uiIce has OF lite years been made tn
instrum,L 1T OF accomplishing maay things OF great
,onal mpo lance not within IT, original scope and pGr
pose of merely sending letters and newspapers from
place 10 another It's MT far therefore, u us
usefulness w the mere receipt Of postagcs, 10
plain that accom- pushing Erca, and lasting benefits
the 10 the settlement aud security o. the
Try. has brought somc charge on the Treasury beyond
ributons The other departments subsst wholly
the Treasury bringing no returns whatever into IT,
Why ten should Il be thought strange that the Post oiee
Department, when charged With opening Dcw sources Of
% the merchants, markets for agricul
tura products, aud placing government and psopc
direct and ndcpendcut communication with the other nl.
tors q the ;th should hot be able To accomplish th
great results upon three cent postage OF letters, and on
printed matter almost no postage al air
The exact principle Of justice on this whole subject
conceive to he that N co1ducng It's ordinary business of
mitn rcspOndcuce, II should be thrown entirely
rs own revenues Bii whenever any service, On thn
the land, required of n, mainly ID not cx, u
sivey for national ohecissuch the extension OF
commerce tie spread Of our population AMI the defcope
- the resources 81 our Countrywide cost
thereof on fairness ought a. BE- borne by the national
Treasury. These national purposes, " accomplished
through the action the Navy ani War Departments as
they mLt be, would necessarily fail on tn national tca
sury What difference them shoald tcre b. ia ths re-
spcct when tic duties supcrd.dc g. Post
Office Department, whose rate of hostages IL only
* revenue, has been adjusted for v,y different
purlosCss !, III the lgh; o. tins distinction thI IA.
operations q tins depart at ought 10 be *,
mined. II : NJ Longer a machine composed 81
hos,Y, tgcs and mail uags, icf III trausm nly
4 the private CORRESPOND ncc 81 iaiyiivas. has b.
"a. great pioneer OF civilization AMI progress:
the agent q commerce and intciecnccf VISITS
TOW rsly: home e. almost every council 0f
the country and IL high mission ~ individual ami IA.
uous! usofgness ought not q b, diminished by auy mt
ts, on ~ IT. true character ash os Apply.
ne these general remarks the precise quest a. tno
lfttrt rate o ~ iarv, feel bound % y that the lsi
reduction below hvr cents and the d'cluu allowed IT,
alfca,y greatly reduced rates ttintci matter have
greatly curtacd The us,iunss ~ The Gaptri Eeut IN
iotaug our rail service with that ceitfiiy frulneury
and uniformity q al parts ~ cur country wuch tn spiFt
- mlTugcn,nt ~ every dclarteut 0f Business All OF
500 Al ln earnestly demands. There many rol.
tois II the tHbci States Which h.yc y,t received
satisfactory mnl Ac ties, anil mr. At ly ~ 30
I'D The present .iCqgate mears d the plrtmrnt
III Il compact and dense population the pre-eai
,.t. ,ssIt hear s.,mc tea.,ral,r sr8rarto, H. ~.
actual Get 81 Transportation bit III a widely *.
tendct country Ike the United stttcs. nov reaching
Com 70 the other, aui IN Inaay portions u
tBly iopuiaisd thrre cents wOad 90 W. altogether
nsiclnt O. met lie actual cxpcnse incurred ~ the ~
vermont ID scuig forward tie letters Heretofore
entire California corrtsonGcnco ha been cnllcted Il tel
ccnts bong over 5000 miles ~ tac Panama roI'e.
Since tie tstabshmCrt IL our various overland routes,