Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1822-03-15
6,440,756 1876, aa4 l48e4s
4,97s,194 4e5,O37


4,976,194 425,O97
.Nose.-The balance against the General
ost once IN 1920 was 5000, and in 1891
1t was J36,S79.
by an examination of this statement, il will
appear that deficiency of the revenue of the
| Office is with much certainty anticipated and
| it will be perceived that since the wear 1919
the hostages have diminished, while the ex-
penses have increased by the augmentation
OF post routes and thus increased disburse-
ments nave been made, while the means of
their support have decreased.
Ihfcauses of the dminution of hostages
may beassSned to n general depression of
commerce, and consequent inactivity of cor
respondence, to scarcity of money, and in
some sections of the country the absence Of a
currency adapted tn the operations of the de-
partment. 49,, .A - ~
The above statement will exhibit the annu-
al increase ofthe extent Of miles of post roads
es'aphsncd dnrlnS the preceding six years,
'he total increase amounting to thirty thou
sand eight hundred and thrty-two miles LIN
seven years preceding the last, the General
rost Ofhce has paid into the Treasury of the
United States the sum of three hundred and
eiSnty-hye thousand eight hundred and seven
ty-elght dollars and twenty-one cents.
10 supply the contingent deficiency of re-
venue, and to reduce expenditures, will sug-
gest:
Firstly, The eypediency of disseminating by
law all posi- routes which do not, and shall not
produce one third of the expenses of transport
ing the mails thereon, after an experiment of
TWO years has been, or shall be hereafter made
secondly, BY providing by law for an in
crease Oh postage on newspapers, more proper
tionate to the expenses and distances of their
transportation, and yet the increase of postage
not 10 DE so great as to affect the circulation of
those useful vehicles of information, so neces-
sary 10 the existence and preservation of free
governments and by subiecting to postage
all newspapers carried in the mail.
! Thirdly, To provide for the better securing
the postages on newspapers, the remedy pro-
posed Is TO require the payment of newspa-
per postage before their transmission by mail
fonfhty, Dy diminution in the expenses
OF collection. The commissioners at some of
the Post Offices are greater, it is believed, than
are really necessary. The fortieth section of
tne Post Office Law, which requires the sur
plus, after paying the postmaster two thou
SAND dollars a year and his necessary expenses
10 be accounted for, requires amendment
Inc postmaster being left himself the Judge
OF what he shall pay for clerk hire and other
expenses, may calculate so as to expend the
whoie amount OF commission and other allow
ances, SD mat no postmaster may charge more
man Is really proper compensation for him
sell, Including his necessary expenses.
FYfhfp By prohibiting all passengers, as
wen as drivers and owners, in public stages,
winch travel on a post road, and all passep-
gers VINO are conveyed IN steam, or other re-
guar boats or vessels, from carving letters
and packets, other than such ms are open and
relate TO their own concerns; and snbiecting
all such letters rs are conveyed by passen,
ger, driver, or owner, when delivered into
posi- Office, to the same postage as ifconyeyed
in the mail
Inc deficiency in the product of the two
preceding years has been supplied by the col
iection OF outstanding balances. The balance
IN favor OF the general post Office on the first
OF Jasuary last, is estimated at something over
hVe hundred Thousand dollars. A part of that
sum has been collected and paid TO contrac-
tors Tor carrying the mail. This would seem
10 AFFORD means of supplying the deficiency
vi unat Proouct OF the current year. But ii
should be recolected that this contains the
| accumulated balances ofthe department from
us lrst establishment, say for nearly thirty
three years. And, although, the absolute loss
wa, II IS supposed, amount to an inconsidera-
pie sum, 1t IS found to be extremely difficult
10 collect sufficiently fast TO satisfy the de-
mands upon the Office. And experience shews.
| -
that there must be always u large outstanding
The causes previously assigned for the di-
| minuiion ofpostages, together with OCCASION
al bankruptcies, deaths ofposfmasters, aud the
extensive number Of nearly FIVE thousand
postmasters, operate also 10 retard the collec-
lion of balances.
Two clerks have been constantly EMPLOYED
Tor three years past, and have been assisted
most OF the time by two others, in this bust
ness, and The collection of arrearages is still
pressed increasingly, but, as has been before
remarked, new balances arise.
The outstanding balances amount 10 near
" half OF she gross amount Of hostages of one
year. Where resort is had to law, collections
must be dilatory, and an immediate resort in
all cases is not the spcedicst way of obtaining
payment. prudent regard TO the interests
OF the public, as well rs that Of individuals.
-
| #Ths produce the foprn, quarter of 1921
IS es'fHaieG, qadtt incidental expenses ofthat
year 'csrs increased by M expenditure for The
Foef Of The General Posi- Office, onda Fire I'm.
gtne,amoDafing II sie AouSt,,d csld f,,y,eu dol
iar3.