The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-03-16
BALTIMORE.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH l6, 1859.


The failure of Congress to pass the Post-Offce
Appropriation Bill has given rise to quite ami
mated discussion in the papers, respecting the pow
err of the EXECUTIVE, in the absence of any special
law for that lrpose, to use the revenues arising
from postal receipts in order to defray the ex-
penses of the Department, and avoid the neces-
sity of calling an extra session. Precedents are
cited, and high legal authority is quoted in favor
of both sides of the questionable difficulty being
as we understand, altogether with reference to
the inland postage, it being generally conceded,
that under the law passed year ago-the Ocean
Mail-Service Appropriation Bill (sections and s.
the foreign postage can beso appropriated. The
difference of opinion which exists upon the SUBJ
ject, is further aggravated by diversity of inter-
ests, it being manifestly contrary to the policy of
the Administration to convene the Houses until
all the delegations are filed which will not be I'M
til the middle or close of next October. An ear
lier meeting would not only find many of the
States, Maryland among the number, unrepre
scented, but would probably place the organization
of the House in the control of the Opposition.
Under such circumstances, we are not surprised to
find Yesterdays Union, while acknowledging the
existence of the legal doubts and difficulties to
which we refer, assuring the country that
"the Administration will endeavor to avoid,
'if possible resort so Objectionable to the great
body of the democracy, as an extra session. and
''that it will only determine upon such measure
''under the compulsion of absolute necessity
In this respect, we believe that the sentiments of
the democracy" do not differ materially from
those entertained by the country at large.
With the exception of those who have some
thing to gain by an extra session. we do not
suppose that any one desires to see Congress meet
one hour before the regular time. If, therefore,
Government can possibly make shift to do without
Its assistance, and the opinion of the Solicitor of
the Treasury that the Post-Ofice Department "pos-
:sesses the legal right to apply the income of the
department to the payment of its expenses"
can be considered sound, We hope that there will
be no session until next December Nor need
there be, if the affairs of the Department are only
managed with proper prudence and economy.
All contracts for the. transportation of the mails
leave 1t within the discretion of the Postmaster
General, to reduce the grade and frequency of the
service. By judicious exercise of that discre-
ton, we doubt not that the cost of CARRYING the
mails could be materially diminished and instead
OF deficiency of six millions, which, we are told
already exists, the expenses of the Department
might be brought down to its actual revenue This
could only be done, we admit, by dispensing with
some of our existing postal facilities and privileges
by substituting sem-werkly or tri-weel1ly mails
IN some cases, where there is now daily delivery
OF letters-but the popular inconvenience which
would result from this temporary measure of
economy, would be trifing compared with the
emoarrassments that might follow from an extra
session of Congress. In fact, when we consider
the enormous increase in the cost of carrying the
mails since 1851, the last year in which the post
age charged on letters was five cents the necessity
for some such system of retrenchment, we think,
will be generally conceded. In that year, the ex-
pendltures OF the Department were but little over
SIX millions of dollars; in 1852, with the reduced
postage OF three CENTS they were over seven mil
ionsi in 1853, nearly eight millions in 1854,
eight millions and half in 1855 nearly ten mil
lions; in 1885, nearly ten millions and a half: in
1857, eleven millions and half The present
alleged deficiency of more than six millions of
dollars, sum equal to that required for the
whole expenses of the Department in 1851, shows
the degree of prodigality already reached, and the
eonditon OF absolute bankruptcy which is not far
distant The most wholesome legislation which
could, therefore, be devised, would be the intro
ductlon of some measure of practical reform,
looking rather to reduction of the expenses of
the Department, than to supply of its wants
upon their present extravaganza scale. The best
thing, therefore, that could be done, would pro-
badly be to require the Department to live
within Its means. In 1851, the Post
office receipts actually proved a source of
revenue to the Government, exceeding the expen-
ditures by nearly half million of dollars. 1t is
true that our population has grown since then and
additional postal facilities required, but so also
have the receipts ofthe Department increased exceed
ing by at least one-sixth in 1857, at the reduced
rate OF postage, the sum realized from five cent
postage in 1851. We do not, therefore, favor an
extra session of Congress for the purpose of making
special provision for Postal expenses if the neces
sity for such step can possibly be obviated.-
We admit that the plan suggested by Mr..
GILLETT and apparently favored by the PRESIDENT,
IS one OF doubtful legality, and should regret ex-
ceedingly to see precedent established for supply
ing the wants of Government, however
urgent, by any questionable exercise of Executive
power. The only alternative, however, to the
plan In question, other than that of re-
sorting to an extra session, seem to
be the one suggested in yesterdays IN
non, and affirmed by that journal to be in perfect
accordance with the views of "nine-tenths of the
democratic members of the next Congress',-of
issuing certificates of service, PAYABLE to bearer
and carrying interest from date to contractors and
other creditors of the Department These certif-
Gates, it is supposed could be Immediately sold in
the market for cash, should be for sums of 81. 900
each, and would serve as a sort of currency, for
the redemption of which the holders must look
to Congress exclusively. Whatever other advan-
tages this pan for which there is said to be ample
precedent in the practice of the Government, can
be said to possess, it certainly has not that enioyed
by Mr.. GILLETTs' enforcing economy The in
shtution of Post-ofice bank, without any re-
srlcuon as to circulation or limit as to capital,
or obligation to redeem its own notes. would be |
about as likely to lead the Department into all |
sorts OF extravaganza any scheme that could well
be devised, while the necessity of obtaining from
the next Congress law sanctioning the measure,
and providing for the payment of the certificates
would open a wide door to corruption, where
in.
1t has been computed that there are some thirty