The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1841-12-18
TUE POST MASTER GENERALS RE-
PORT

This is emphatically business document
nrecisely such paper as the country needeo'
Notwithstanding the authors "regret that ms
recent induction into Office would prevent him
from giving that full development necessary to
clear understanding Of the various and extended
operations of the Department, so important ana
interesting to every Glass;" we venture TO say
that every class of his iellow-cilzens VIII De
pleased with his perfect execution OF the un-
dertakng There is no circumlocutlon what
ever. for he proceeds 10 business in the second
paragraph We have already published TWO
documents from the Cabinet Minister'S winch
have elected universal commentator, ana we
know that the present able expose OF so impor-
,nt a Denartment of the Government, will rem
der equal satisfaction.
The condition of the Department al the pre-
sent time, compared with that OF 1890, shows
the extraordinary development and increase oithe
resources and intercourse OF the country. Inc
Post Offices have increased from about 20 10
"a. 4ss and the routes from s75 miles to loo'-
73e; and the revenue from $37, 1886, TO Va, $685.
265; and vet the expenditures, we are sorry "
saw. still exceed il, and fall short OF the revenue
by $2l9,s55.
Since the Department has become so extern
sive in its operations, and the heads OF y rom
time to time have been 80 ready ana ahA-
ious to yield t, the wishes both OF poli'icai
parties and the public, no wonder that IT'S en-
beavers have outstriped its means, and tha''
sharing the fate in some degree OF Inc UNTO
wardness Of the times it has failed to m axe its
resources meet its expenditures. 10 remedy
this evil, the Postmaster General has ventured
upon course of partial retrenchment' which
will enable the Department in future nearly 10
balance It's expenditures with its revenue. us
income, however, he intinates, is liable to De
affected by the business OF the country and
hucluate with the times. We hope, therefore,
a change Of times will restore the Department
TO its wonted prosperity
But there are other causes which have opera
ted TO diminish the revenue OF the department.
a great extension of the ranking privilege, and
proportionate tax upon the revenue 10 pay The
charges of the Postmasters, made upon what
has been thus ranked Another cause, is the
facility afforded by the modern improvements IN
ira cling, Of transmitting letters by private
CONVEYANCE; and a still more considerable cause,
the many private expresses that are establishes
which, outsripping the mail frequently, are pre-
ferred as the medium Of transmisslon
Much difficulty has been experienced in con-
tracing with the Railroad Companies. The
rate of charge has been considered quite 100
high. In consequence Of the Department being
limited to a certain rate per mile, and therefore
unable al all times to effect the transportation OF
the mails through this medium, the Department
has frequently been charged with the fault that
belongs entirely to the Railroad Companies.
This evil, il is to be hoped, will be remedled.
The estimated expenditure and income OF the
Department for the last year shows an excess OF
the former Of about $4,000, leaving tins
amount charge upon the Treasury but to re-
medy the evil in future, the Postmaster Gene
raj proposes TO reduce the expenditure by re-
ducing the commissions of the Postmasters,
charged upon the ranking privileges.
The estimated expenditure and income OF the
Department stand thus
Expense Of mail transportation, S3,l4o,ooO
Commissions to Postmasters l,ol5,oOO
Shin. steamboat. and way letters, 10000
Incidental expenses, blanks, statlone- 100000
ry, printing
$4,490OO0