New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-12-05


the provi,iOns Of the aet Of March lSN, 70 an pow
routes established In pe cities under the authority vi
tie statute of Marc. g. 1851.
No objection, ~ the score either OF Pohcy vi Pm,
eI e can be cessfnlly urged against the snppess
Of the private expresses occupied IN the Conveyance ~
letters and packets IN our eties' ino So:
of thee cities, and the wants OF our cNil lHn
ton, sender the minietrations OF tue pos''i ~
yice in the delivery of letters and packets az 'he
reSnce of the citizen as indispensable as they are IN
the transportation and delivery OF the mails u. VIC
various post-oices in the country districts Dut tue
etryite only be maintained as upM py ciosnnS
with the rights and privileges Of complete Govern
ent monopoly in all the fields Of its operation; some
of It's branches are well known TO be heavy burdens
uron the Department; and they would De irsuPl'L.'
ably oppressive it not for the rehei anoroed ~
other branches Which are remuneratiye, but when
will continue TO be 80 only long the competition Of
nrivate enterprise is elFectually excluded.
There are now four daily deliveries Of letters and
packets by carriers in the City Of New, YORK, 1our IN
PHILADELPHIA, and three in Boston; and the number
will be increased from time TO time as the increase o.
population and correspondence will JUSTIFY IT, Inc
high price Of labor however and the low rates OF our
postages forbid the hope that, without some onan9e ~
The existing laws the system can ever attain the per-
lection which Distinguishes in some OF the European
capitals. While this is admitted, it should also he
stated at its opeTation thus far have been more snc
cessfu than could have been Anticipated In view OF
the obstacles It has had to encounter The introduce
ton of every new system, while seeking the advance
ment Of the public good rarely avoid the INVASION
Of local and petty personal interests, which provokes
hostility that too often finds its expression IN aecep-
tive cIitcifm and inscriptions defamation. When TO
such unworthy opposition the press tempted TO LEND
its influence, undue importance given 70 the snetes'
irregularities that may occur Every en0rt possibly
with the funds under the controi o. tne
has been made TO improve the efficiency OF the carrier
system; and while defects have exlstcd anu IN e
Ut il IL believed that the result has satshed Pnoc
recitation and has been creditabe To the vigian Anu
E;,bfni officers who have been charged with the sn
eryion of this difficult and perpexing branch OF the
Pniic service Appended 70 this report will be found
an interesting communication from the Hon. Jeoh a.
Dix, the present enlightened head OF sne ne
results of Thorough study o. the details and practical,
work ing Of the carrier system IN that city ana hia
suggestions for its Improvement are worthy OF the
mort careful consideration OF Congress.
REGISTRATION OF LETTERS.
Tie act of March 3 1885, providing for the reglsIf-
ton Of valuable letters posted for transmission IN tne
mails of the United States has row been In operation
more than five years, but with results regret 10 ado
Which have disappointed the expectations that led TO
the adoption of this novel feature in our postal system
Whether regarded precantion Tor the protection OF
the interests of this class of correspondence or az an
pftrumentay for the detection Of depredations upon
the mails, the law has proved failure. The Govern
ment assumes responsibility whatever for the loss
of letters or packets thus registered and az they are
conveyed in the pouches they are surrounded by
no greater guarantees for their security, either IN
transmission or delivery than such as belong 10 the
ordinary mss of the country. They bear marx,
However which indicates 90 all through whose hands
they pass their valuable character, and this indication
serves rather sugges and invite depreciation than 10
prevent IT, The practical working Of mail system
makes il entirely manifest that everything-be 1t buk
or registry markwhieb points out the valuable con-
Of letters and packets s as far as possible 10 oe
avoided as certainly endangering their safety. Toe
PRINCIPAL argument which has been advanced IN sup
port Of the existing registry act is that II operates as
aeguaId for the rest Of the mails by diyerng the at
tention Of depredators from them. Whie TINS IL no
H. dor n
to confute the view which have presented against
the longer continuance OF precaution that IS fruitful
only in danger TO what il was designed 70 protect The
aeacity Of private interest ia proyerbial and the 9l
low ing table, showing the revenue derived from the
registration Of letters for the last i've years. makes
clear that the public fat losing the confidence with
which the registry system was hTst received.
6seal year ending June 80 1873 -
For the year ending june 30 1883 2al4S Ie
For the year ending June go lss9....""..." 2so@ %
1t will be Obferved that the receipts tor lo6O were
t0 S38 IL 80 2l0 per cent ess than for the year
1851 This exhibits falling of III the number of let
ers and packets registered 10 the amount OF $2l6l6O;
and yet during the brief period in which this decline
occurred the general correspondence and revenue OF
the service increased at least fifteen and half per
cent. This condition Of things can only find an ex-
PLANTATION in the fe that correspondents have become
convinced that in registering their valuable letters they
have been but holding light for the depredator in-
stead of daIkening bis way embarrassing him In the
commission Of hiscrme In this conviction lfuiy con-
1t can scarcely be doubted that some plan could be
devsed in connection with the existing postal service,
which would secure the conveyance Of all vauabes
conn tilted 10 the mails under satisfactory guarantees
for their safety, and under proper responsibilities
the part Of the Government, but whether the public
mind will submit 10 the increased rates Of postage,
Which the administration Of such system would IN
volye, may well be questioned. The subject is COM
mended 10 the consideration Of Congress one OF
much importance, and should such plan az has been
suggested be devised and successfully carried into
,uon, not the least Of it's advantages would be the
withdrawal Of treasure from the ordinary mails OF the
country. The temptation 10 which postal officials are
exposed would no longer exist, and most Of the
generalization that dishonors the service would dsp-
rear.
DEFMCATIOS OF POSTMASTER AT NETWORK.
In q report addressed TO the House Of Representa-
tves, under date Of 9Th June last the circumstances
attending the defalcation of Isaac " Fowler, late
Postmaster at New-fork, were fully set forth. His
embezZlement has been since asceraned 10 amount 20
$l709H 6. For this otiense, which q stat ute justly
Furnishes felony, an indictment has been found;
but, as Fowler ia still fugitive from justice, no arrees
has taken place, and no trial can be bad civil suit
his bond has been commenced against his euretes
but no judgment has yet been obtained They resist
the recovery principally the ground that it was
dertood between themselves and Fowler that another
surety should sign the bond before delivered TO
the Government, which was not done. Fowler has
given bis deposition In support OF this defense, alleging
that there was such an agreement between himself
and the two sureies now sued but that he failed 10
procure the signature Of the third surety Named and
forwarded the bond to the Department without appris
rg it Of the existence of this agreement. II thus
accepted in good faith by the Government, without the
slightest nmaiion from any 9uarterthai its execution
was informal incomplete The gross fraud attempted
10 be practioed by this concealment fitting pre-
lude TO the embezzlement which followed, If indeed it
was not systematic preparation for IL. Should the
Court hold that this secret compact between these
sureties and their principal though not communicated
to tie Government will bar the impending suit, then