The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1840-12-22
,FFEE PILOT.
REPORT FROM THE POSTMASTER
GENERAL.
Posi- OFFICE DEPARTMENT:
Decembef I. 1910.

] DeCtHbOGI - IOSV
(C0aclUded.)
The books Of the Department furnish no datt
for determining the number of free packets con
veyed in the mail, as a large portion of then
are not entered on the post bills. At the post Of
ice IN this city an account was taken Of the
number and weight Of free letters and packets du
ring the three weeks ending the I'd OF May, tht
I'd day of June, and the 7th day of July last
There were % 03S free letters and packets from
the Executive Department; 20 1863 free letter.
from members of Congress; and 1872 26S public
documents and other franked understanding
in all 434 669. The public documents and pack
cts from Congress, exclusive of the letters
weighed 1858 pounds-nearly sixteen and a
half tons. Taking this as the average of the
session OF thirty-three weeks, it would appear
that the free letters from Congress amounted tc
4,1Sl 800; and the two cents allowed to post.
masters commissions exceed five hundred dol.
lars per quarter.
Itmay be estimated that there has been alb
stracted from the revenue the past year, in the
allowance ottwo cents to postmaster's for the de-
livery OF free letters and packets, and the two
cents paid for advertising free letters, the sum
Of S150,000
And there are facts that have come to the
knowledge of the department, which show that
great abuses have been practised by those en-
Joying the privileges in the highest as well as
the lowest stations, III covering the correspon-
dence OF others, to the great injury Of its reve-
nue. This and other abuses of the privilege ap-
pear to be rapidly increasing, and impariousiy
demand remedy, either by its entire abolition,
or such restrictions upon it as could be enforced
the Department.
The provision in the act Of 1925. allowing
two cents to postmasters on free letters should
be abolished, as tits unreasonable that those ell
joying an exclusive privilege should derive
revenue from the same privilege possessed by
others. Postmasters might be properly restrict
ed IN sending and receiving free letters, to their
own office 1t is in the nature of all exclusive
privilege OF its members and officers, all, with
one exception, have served to enlarge the right.
The collection and disbursement of the reve-
nues have been conducted with success and con-
yenience by the agents of the Departments. with
little trouble to them, and without charge upon
its means. The act of the 18th July last has oc-
easioned no material change in the financial svs
tenn OF this Department, except substituting the
receivers general for the postmasters, at some
important points as the depositanes of its funds.
But the penal provisions of the act, which
make the using or loanlng the pubic moneys
and embeZzlement of them, and pun
shable as criminal offence, are applicable to
and cannot fail Of having asalutarv
influence in promoting prompt payment of the
quarterly balances, of which there kas been
great improvement the last few years, and in |
preventing defalcations.
The revision of the tariff postage, with the |
new to reduction and convenience, has for !
ome years past, attracted the public attention.
md on several occasions been brought under The
consideration of Congress without any definite
Ictlon. At the second session Of the twenty-fifth
congress, the House of Representatives adopt- |
ID resolutions calling on the Postmaster Gene |
al to state "what, in his opinion, would be the |
fleet on the revenues of the Department, of the |
GLOWING tariff of hostages of letters On let
ers conveyed so miles and under five cents;
yer 81 miles and not exceeding 2e0, ten cents;
yer 200 and not exceeding 400, fifteen cents;-
yer 4O0 miles twenty cents; and to state what
Their tariff, fixing the rates in federal money,
nd having in view the greatest reduction con-
stent with the necessary means of the Depart
lent, If any in his judgment, would be more
lst than the above And that he also state
hat alterations, if any, may be made in the
resent rates OF postage on newspapers, pamph-
is, and periodicals, so as to promote the circu-
tlon OF information without detriment to the
venues of the Department"
1t is supposed that this resolution, in connec-
on with the prevailing interest then felt in the
lccess of the experiment making in England
: what is called the penny system, induced the
te Postmaster General to commission George
lit, Esq. one of the special agents of the De-
irtment to visit Europe for the purpose Of col
citing such information concerning the new sys- I
IN in England, and the mail establishments il.
her European countries, as might conduce to /
e improvement of our own system.
Mr.. Pitt lett the United States on this spe.
al service in June, 1889, and returned in Au-
st last. The results of his inquiries are con- ::
med IN the report prepared by him, which is :
rewith submitted. II contains extensive de- ;
is tending to show the condition and manage >
ent Of the mail establishment in several of !
2 most important countries in Europe, and
my int testing facts and valuable suggestions +
the improvement OF the system in the Uni O
States. Many of the reforms and improve c
ents recommended are deserving of conside- e
ton. 1t will be seen that he recommends an a
tire change in our tariff of postage, and TO p
We all mail matter taxed by weight; letters il
weighing over half an ounce TO be rated at
e cents for any distance less than 5rO miles. b
| ten cents over that distance; and the same ia
es for every additional OF. when prepaid
double those rates when not prepaid. AS OF
n change would give great relief, not only ia
The commercial interest, but to the whole al
immunity, it is TO be regretted that neither W
present condition nor future prospects of "
establishment seem to justify so great .S
uction in the postage tax. r.
t is apparent that no essential change in the ~ ~
IS Of postage should be made without great a.
sideration. The post office is different from e
other branch of the public service. It is tb
fundamental principle in its organization, of
it is to be sustained by its own revenues.
IS principle not only avoids any charge upon SUI
Treasury, but serves 70 limit and regulate 70
action of the Department. Should its ex- to
ses, ii whole or in part, be thrown upon nc
Treasury, even for a single year, it might a S
difficult 10 return 10 the present principle; Or
such are the temptations to enlarge the ty-
lie OF its action, that it would not be easy ser
prescribe any reasonable limit to it. And lac
j change IN the principle Of the Depart. mo
1t, embracing, as it does, such vast extent COZ
rvate interest, both in number and amount. 'ne
lid open door % extensive abuses, waste. r.
10 the public reyenue, extending its patron on,
and at the same time removing the checks . !
n ii which now exist Without enlarging the
n this point, it isbelieved that no one viii per
disposed. either PARTIALLY or temporarily to gre
w The Department for It's support on the en-,
iopal Treasury. ser
Il i