Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1882-09-15

that the lighthouse service and coast survey
be transferred, as now organized, from the
treasury TO the navy department; and he also
suggests for the reasons which he assigns,
that Il similar transfer may wisely be made
Of the cruising revenue vessels.
Dun MERCHANT NADINE.
The secretary forclly depicts The intimate
connection and interdupcudcn.e Of tie navy
and the commercial marine, ana invites at
tention to the continued decadenCe Of The
latter and the corresponding transfer of our
growing commerce to foreign bottoms. This
subject is one Of the utmost importance TO
the national welfare Moth0G' Of reyiying
American ghip-buildiuy and of restoring the
United States flag in the Ocean currying-
trade, should receive the immediate aienhon
Of Congress. We have mechanical skill and
abundant material for the manufacture Of
modern iron steamships in fair competition
with our commercial rivals. Our disadvan-
tage in building ships is the greater cost Of
labor and in sailing them, higher taxes, and
greater interest on capital, while the ocean
highways are already monopolized 10y our for
midable competitors. These obstacles should
some way be overcome, and Tor our rapid
communication with foreign lands we
should not continue to depend wholly upon
vessels built in the yards of other countries,
and sailing under foreign flags. With no
United States steamers on the principal
ocean lines or in any foreign ports, our IA
cilities for extending our commerce are
greatly restricted, while the nations which
build and sail the ships and carry the mails
and passengers obtain thereby conspicuous
advantages in increasing their trade.
THE PosroFFIcE DEPARTMENT.
The report of the acknowledgement gives
evidence of the satisfactory condition OF
that department, and contains many val
liable data and accompanying suggestions
which cannot fail TO be of interest The
information which it affords, that the
receipts for the fiscal year have ex-
ceeded the expenditures, must be very
gratifying to Congress and to the
people Of the country. AS matters
which may fairly claim particular at
| tsntiOn, ! refer you to his observations in
/ reference to the advisability of changing the
| present basis for fixing salaries and allow
| ances, Of extending the money-ordor system,
and Of enlerging the functionsof the postal
/ establishment so as to put under its control
| the telegraph system Of the country, though
| from this last and most important recon-
rendation l must withhold my concurrence.
THE REDUCTION OF LETTER POSTAGE.
! Az the last session of Congress several bills
were introduced into the House OF Repre-
| sentatives for the reduction OF letter postage
| to the rate Of two cents per half ounce. L
have given much study and reflection TO this
| subject, and am thoroughly persuaded that
| such Il reduction would be for the best inter-
ests of the public. 1t has been the policy OF
the government from its foundation to de-
fray as far as possible the expenses OF
carrying the mails by direct tax
in the form of postage. 1t has never
been claimed, however, that this ser
vice ought TO be productive of a net revenue.
As has been stated already, the report OF the
acknowledgement shows that there is now a
very considerable surplus in his department,
and that henceforth the receipts are likely to
increase at a much greater ratio than the
necessary expenditures. Unless some
change is made in the existing laws, the
profits of tho postal service will in very few
years swell the revenues of the government
many millions of dollars. The time seems
auspicious, therefore, for some reduction In
the rates of postage.
In what shall that reduction consist A re-
view of the legislation which has been had
upon this subject during the last thirty years
discloses that domestic letters constitute the
only class of mail matter which has never
been favored by a substantial reduction of
rates. am convinced that the burden of
maintaining the service falls most uLequally
upon that class, and that more than any
other it is entitled TO present relief. That
such relief may be extended without detri-
ment to other public interests will be dis
covered upon reviewing the results of former
reductions. Immediately prior TO the act OF
1Si5 the postage upon letter composed OF
single sheet was rs follows If conveyed
thirty miles or less, six centsi between
thirty and eighty miles, ten cents; between
, eighty and l5O miles, twelve and one-half;
between 100 and 400 miles, eighteen and
three-0uarters; over 400 miles, twenty-five.
BY the act Of 1915 the postage upon single
letter conveyed for any distance under 900
miles was fixed at five cents, and for any
T great distance at ten cents. By the act of
1851 il was provided that a single letter. II
prepaid, should be carried any distance not
exceeding 1900 miles for three cents, ana
any greater distance for six cents. 1t will DO
e noticed that both of these reductions were
, of a radical character, and relatively quite
/ as important az that which is now proposed.
% In each case there ensued a temporary loss
- Of revenue, but a sudden and large influx OF
d business which substantially repaired that
81 loss within three years Unless the eIpe-
, rionce of past legislation in this country and
: elsewhere goes for naught, II may De
p safely predicted that the stimulus of fifty per
, centum reduction in the tax for carriage
would at once increase the number OF let
, tiers consigned TO the mails. The adyan-
. tares of secresy would lead 10 a very general
substitution of sealed packets for postal
D cards and omen circulars, and IN divers other
S ways the volume of tirst-class matter would
, be enormously augmented. Such increase
!. amounted in England in the first year after
4 the adoption of penny postage to more than
/ l25 per cent. As result of careful estimates,
= the details of which cannot here be set out,
G have become convinced that the deficiency
for the first year after the proposed reduction
8 would not exceed seven per cent. of the eX-
G penditures, or S3OOO,00O, while the dehcien-
f cy after the reduction of le45 was more than
n fourteen per cent, and after that of 1851
{ was twenty-seven per cent. Another inter
r esting comparison is afforded by statistics
4 furnished me by the postoiice department.
e The act of 1915 was passed in face Of the
IA fact that there existed deficiency of more
y than $4,000. That of 1851 was encouraged
r by the slight surplus of $4,000. The excess
& OF revenue in the next fiscal year iB likely TO
70 be $4,000.
e II Congress should approve these suggess
4 tons it may be deemed desirable TO supply
n to some extent the deficiency which must for
Y a time result by increasing the charge for
o carrying merchandise, which is now only
10 sixteen cents per pound. But, even without
il such an increase, l am confident that the re
a ceipts under tine diminished rates would
a equal the expenditures after the lapse OF
y three or four years.
THE DEPARTMENT or JUsTIoB.
. The report of the department of justice
a brings anew to your notice the necessity OF
y, charging the present system of Federal Juris-
= prudence, so as effectually 10 answer the
requirements of the ever-increasing litigation
:, with which it is called upon to deal.