The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-02-28


great traffic between the West and the sesboard-
provided only those natural advantages and ener-
gy and enterprise and wealth are left free and I'M
trammelled to work out their fruits But 1t is also
firmly believed that it is in the power of the Le
gisiature to impose such restrictions and levy
such exactions on our internal trade that
that trade shall be driven into other channels;
and here, at all events, the tolls and pro
rata bills are regarded as conspicuous exam
pies Of such perncious legislation. Hence the OPP
position to them; an opposition which will be none
the more persevering because the forwarders-
foed in their attempt to levy black mail to the ex
tent first proposed-now profess their willingness
to be satisfied with half as much. There should be
no Legislative restrictions whatever on the business
or the charges of railroads. They should be left to
seek their own profit in the way they find best;
their own interest and that of the public to
coincide if they are let alone. There is no more
reason in attempting to fix railroad fares by law or
subjectng railroad property to special taxes than
there would be in establishing by statute the price
of beef or -four or newspapers.
In the annual report of the Postmaster General,
which was presented to Congress last December,
it was shown that the expense Of conveying the
mails to and from California at the time Mr.. Holt
assumed charge Of the department was 50 ,ls4,s97,
and the revenue $685., 747-thus netting an annual
loss to the government equal to 81 ,S44,949 Mr..
Holt succeeded in efecting some reductions in the
expenditure; he made contract with Commodore
Vanderbilt and the Panama railroad to carry the
lsthmus mails for nine months, from Oct. /, 1859,
for 1892 500, thus economisng 1850; and he
likewise reduced the cost of the Tehuan-
taoa Can Ant mir md thop
routes. But the largest item of these
expenditures-the annual allowance to the over
land mail contrastors-$6O0 900 year for six
years, for semi.weekly service from ST. Louis and
Memphis, via Ell Paso to San Francisco, which
produced last year revenue of only s27 ,229-was
found to be beyond his control, Congress having
omitted to insert in the contract the usual clause
giving the Postmaster General revisory power.
Mr.. Holt therefore, in his last report, appealed to
Congress to endeavor to effect compromise with
the contractors to save at least some portion
of the 1868 900 thus thrown away. Weunderstand
that the Senate Committee on Post Offices and
Post Roads have had the subject under consideration
and have communicated with the overland mail
contractors with view to ascertain what compro-
mise they would be prepared to accept The
upshot of these negotiations is said to be scheme
for q daily Overland mail ser'vice from St. Louis
to San Francisco the cost Of which to the Depart
ment would be 81 200, 900 year. The contractors
agree is said, to make the journey from St. Louis
to San Francisco in seuenteen days; and, expert
ence proves that the overland route ia at least a.
safe the ocean route the Department and the SEN
ate committee are said to be prepared to abandon
the mail route via Panama altogether. On the LIST
Tu1xy NJ oil ~
pire, and, as the Pacific Mail Company have no
competitors at present, and are likely to have
none it is naturally supposed that after that date
they will decline to carry the mails for any less
money than the old allowance-rather over $4,000
a trip. II, therefore, matters are allowed to re.
main in their present condition, the annual expen-
ditures Of the Department for the California mail
service, after June 30, ls60-exclusive of the
Tehuantepec, San Antonio and Kansas routes-will
be az follows
Ocean service via Panama, thrice month 49,. 1,OsOOoo
Estimated revenue from postages. ........ $4,000
Annual deficit 81 1896, 900
BY abandoning the mail service via Panama, and
establishing daily overland mail, the figures
would be-
Overland mail service. $500 900
Estimated revenue ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. $4,000
Annual deficit. $50 1000
which would give saving of $4,000, as
compared with the other arrangement It is
urged in favor of the new scheme that tho es
tablishment Of q daily overland mail would infalli
bly, lead to the settlement of such parts of the over
land mail route as are fit for human habitation,
and would be the natural precursor of the
Pacific Railroad. The advantage of tried and
established overland route over the ocean route in
the event of war with foreign Powers IL too obvious
to need demonstration. The subject Is now under
consideration in the Postal Committees; parties in.
terested should lose no time in laying their views
before the proper authority. The chairman of the
Senate Committee on Post Offices is Senator Yulee;
Mr.. Colfax is the Chairman of the House Com
mittee.
The business Of the Sub. Treasury to-day was as
follows
Total receipts $ll8,l88 IS
ror customs. 1lZ,VW W