US Presidency
1886

The service has been in the meantime enlarged and extended by the establishment of new offices, increase of routes of carriage, expansion of overzealous conveniences, and additions to the railway mail facilities, in accordance with the growing exigencies of the country and the long established policy of the Government. The Postmaster-General calls attention to the existing law for compensating railroads and expresses the opinion that a method may be devised which will prove more just to the carriers and beneficial to the Government; and the subject appears worthy of your early consideration. The differences which arose during the year with certain of the ocean steamship companies have terminated by the acquiescence of all in the policy of the Government approved by the Congress in the postal appropriation at its last session, and the Department now enjoys the utmost service afforded by all vessels which sail from our ports upon either ocean- a service generally adequate to the needs of our intercourse.