Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-06-08
PUFsEEC EpNCgI7TEi-N,s,.
POSTAGE on NEWSPAPERS.
IN SENArE-.Nay 10, 1882.


IN SENArE-.NGy TO- 1892.
Mr. Grundy, from the Committee on Post Offices and
post koads, submitted the following Report
The Committee on the Post Office AMI Post Roads TO
whom referred the bill TO repeal the postage on
report ~
That they Of the importance of dinisiur in
formation throughout the community through the medium
oil the public press, aud that it is the duty of the Govern
mcnt promote an object auabe and desirable so ar
as rs consistent with the successful operations of the pot
oce Department, and the other great interests of the
eouny but the safety of department, tho beneficial Ell
fects OF which felt by every portion of the cosmunit
should not be hazarcd for Slight causes nor should tic
principles OF justice and equity he sacrificed for the at
n NOSE substantial and durable form
me Committee have deemed their duty, in examining
'e bearings ana tendencies of of such magn
Jude as that contcmpatcdby the bill, examine CAREFUL
~ INTO the condition of the Post Oicc Department. and
hey are EauiIcd TO Ud that is highly prosperous While
every State and section of the country are feeling the be-
nehts OF the improved facilities of the mail establishments
the results, as to the financial condition of the department.
demonstrate The ability and aulncss with which it has
been administered.
From the Ist of July, 1927, the first Of July 1880
the expenses OF the departments i'm each year. considerably
E revenue making in the three years aggrc
gate oil SlSI sol 40 OF expenditures beyond the Total
amount OF It's revenues for The same period but from
e ISL july 1880 to the ls OF Juy 1881 the revenues
OF the department exceed its expenditures by 62 252 l;
ana from the ls OF july the st of October 1891 the
revenues oil the department $40 GS3 80 more than
ITS expenditures making aggregate difference in ia vor
OIL the department, in year AMI three months Of S72
935 Sc During This lat!cr period the nroorcSs nj inn
proVement In the mail facilities of the country does not
appear TO have been in any degree diminished Caculat-
ing That The same state Of things would remain unaffected
by any novel proceedings the part Of Congress the
Postmaster General has, nce The rs Of October last
made provision for imPlo quite as extensive and
Is believed aluary any former pcrod-The pas
sage oil me h would present an insurmounabe obstacle
to their accomplishment, viii be- shown by the subsc.
qucnt part of this report
1t must be Obvious To every man Of Iusiucss That o
partmcnt like that al the General Post Office inyovin an
amount OF receipts and expenditures equal to two millions
OF dollars per Nnnu cannot Sc aIyan,agcoslv managed
lug
equal to one quarter of years revenue On the Is Of
July 1877 the surplus revenue on hand amounted TO $50
%" 81 ana It's revenues oT the year ending that lay
were ll7355l; showing surplus equal to norc than one
quarter oi year revenue The OF the depart
rent Tor the year ending tho lst Oct 1891 were So
Vo2l3o o. aud The surplus the disposal Of the
department on that day $22 O7S 90 less than one
ninth part of the revenue for thc year.
although the prosperous condition Of the department
such that this sCPus is continually increasing the com
mittec OF opinion HAT would he xpclrn TO inpo.c
upon the department the necessity Of diminishing it at The
Present time.
The bill which has passed both Houses Of Congress At
the present session requires the establishment Of 20 600
miles OF additional post Iihc expense of ransnor
ing the mail upor these routes shall average that of the
llOOOD miles Of post routes already established il will
amount 10 S23 900 year, but upon the lowest estimate
u inc man sal not be carried more Dian week over
any part OF them the expense il believed cannot amount
20 less than 100000 year. The which lhcy
WIZ yield cannot well be estimated, bat ncw routes di-
ring the first year Of tcir operation, seldom produce
revenue much beyond The expenses incurred 6y the os
adjustment OF ie post offices hem and other nlen.
tai charges attendant them and must be several wears
before they viii Yell an amount approaching any thing
near the expenditure wticl, they will occasion.
The object OF the hl is the more xcnslyc circulation
OF Newspapers II this object shall tie gained il must
ia the same proportion, increase The burdens OF The nails
ms w operate unjnsty and opprcs-ecly upon mail CON
tractors who have already entered into Obligations and
made Their arrangements, without reference 10 the new
sAic OF things which woul be produced by the passage
OF Tins bill; and should he decided bv the judicial
OF the Government nmt INC Postmaster General could en-
force the fumcnt Of the contracts il would at least
constitute an equitable claim thr part Of the coni.c
iors Tor increased compensation in proportion TO the in
creased weight which dis ill., IL passed into law would
give to the mails and subject the department TO vcrv
great increase OF expenditure in renewing the contracts
when ilc present shall expire
me Pos'tes ON newspapers md pamphlets for the three
years ending on The 1T OF IDLY, 1881 wero as follows
Tor thc year ending Oct 10. 1920. sfsO656 Is
1891. 22ss76 Sc
On tie same progressive increase, they will
Tor ile cuuc" year. amount 10 upwards OF 250 600 90
Oh ihls sum, not more ildn ouc-p arises on pam
Phica and 10 the postage newspapers Shall be abol.ted
II Is probable That OF tlic pdnphrts would assume
the form and character of papers. One half Of This
sum reioncd by the Posmastcrs account of coupon
fauon Tor their services ~ bis part Of their compcns
lion shat be a<cn from tr while thcr labor s not olv
continued, hu' increased, 20 would seem bat equitable In
increase Ueir compensation in some other Wav az am
eqWvMcnt Tor % De believed tal class Of officers under
the Government are worse compensated for tie labor er-
formed, than that of p1tfua-er5 If IRE labor sb3yd
still be required o' them u.tl9t. .rt r.,a, itis
a2pfeh'nd. 10 iH.HF .. tt.f 200 .'.n ..a.II Gl-sy
"'' .".c.. ono. would .t.eul
''c d." p. .Ic.H .rI.ao...i ya,