Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-01-02
MISCELLANEOUS.
REPORT OF THE POSTMASTER
GENERAL.

expenditure oil 81 905, 501
The number al mail contractors on the ia,
above mentioned was 3,21I.
Il is stated that, while the annual transPora
ton in 1915 was greater than in the preceding
year by 224, 6i5 miles, the cost has been less b,
$50 79i.
On the Both OF June 1915, there were 1918;
post offices; during The preceding year 3o2 were
created, aud 269 were discontinued.
The revenue OF the department for the perioe
mentioned amounted 10 S42S9,S4l on; ana th n
expenditures for the same time were 81 ,32O, I3l33
The nell revenue Of the department amounted
10 S29422l7 Il.
II is estimated from data given in the report
that there will be falling of, in The nett revenue
10 the amount Of fony-hve per cent; and, nndei
the supposilion that the savings on contracts Will
not transcend the expense oil "new routes" and
other meditated Improvements, the conclusion Is
drawn, that the means OF the department Tor The
present year will be lessened 81 ,323,997.
II is stated, that the cos, of transportation in
New York and in the New England States will,
during the present fiscal year, ending in June
next, be reduced 1852, 1872 This reduction has
been accomplished by means OF the provision OF
a late act of Congress, Of which the department
has awaited itself.
Great difficulty seems TO have occurred is The
making of contracts with railroad companies
The companies have for the most part, been dis-
lowed; and the Postmaster General complains Of
the large amounts taken from The revenues Of The
department for the payment OF railroads. II IS
alleged that that mode OF transportation has m
vaIiaoly increased the expenditure, and, IN some
instances, two or three hundred per cent. Of the
entire service 10 the department, one-tenlh part IS
rendered by railroads; and yet The companies derive
onc.fHh Of the whole revenue The English e1-
ample of comforting such privileges, II IS deemed
g. tpll
The Postmaster General regrets in strong Ian
guage, the resolution OF the Philadelphia and Bal
imore Railroad Company, not 10 convey mail
agents over their road. Phe course OF that coEl-
pany, in this respect is stated 10 be an exception
TO the spirit of accommodation generally mani
tested By other companies Serious consequences
10 the revenue, il is sappns sd NAV possibly have
resulted from the persistence OF this company ~
that resolution
The Postmaster General states that should
saving similar 10 tina, effected in New York and
New England be realized in other pats OF the
country upon the practical introduction OF The
"new law" then in the "Western section" AFTER
july next reduction in The cost OF transportation
will be effected TO the amount OF S332000; in
the "Southern section" a reduction, in lSdI, oi
$233, 900, and in the middle section, alter July,
1913, Of Sl8 1000 per anAum. The whole reduc-
ton al The period last referred 10, WILL upon the
But the report states, that il may not be safe TO
infer a corresponding reduction elsewhere 10 that
which has occurred in New York and New Eng
land.
The compensation 10 pastmastcrs and office
expenses Tor tn, year ending on the Both June last,
amounted TO 81 ,4O9,S75 IS.
With some exceptions, occurring in The large
towns, this class Of public servants, II is affirmed
are worse paid, in proportion TO the labor encoun-
fh<,. ,,f
ment. The late law, in the opinion Of The Post
master General, aggravated this disparity, in
taking away the iranking privilege, and by the
reduction of salaries, depending as these did for
theirimount upon the amount OF revenue. The
"new law" operating with such hardship, occa.
stoned the resignation Of , 600 postmasers. Bat
the Postmaster General, presuming (under The
expectation, which was understood BY the friends
OF the law, that the revenue would not be dmi-
nished) that Congress did not contemplate re-
duction OF the salaries, continued them a, they
had existed
In view of these facts, it * supposed that in
short time resort 10 the treasury, for the sup
port Of the department, would become indispen-
sable: Congress is, therefore, admonished 10
avoid that necessity, upon reasons founded in
Inc past policy OF national legislation with regard
10 the Post Office Department, and the expedirncy
Of making the Post Office Department support il
self
The deficiency for The current year, as calcu-
lated upon the returns Tor the quarter ending the
Goth September, will be more than a million and
quarter; and il is stated that it will not be less
ihan million next year, without an amendment
ofthe existing law. An increase OF the revenue
Of the department is recommended.
The rating OF letters by rcisht, instead OF by
the single Sheet is said 10 have been productive Of
very injurious practices. Under this branch, the
stprC upp nj n m Ipto hpu
ing through what cxpedienis the Just rights OF
the Government have been more or less impaired
The report recommends a continuance of lh-
rates OF postage Oh written communications, sub
iect TO these notifications. The FIVE cents pay
ior each single letter for fifty miles and under
that len cents pay for each letter for any distance
between fifty and three hundred miles until Ltt
30,h juno lS4S; and after that time that the ter
cents paw for any distance over fifty miles; ant
tha, fifteen cents be paid on each single letter to
any distance over three hundred miles, until III,
3Oih June 1913, when il shall cease
tits supposed by the Postmaster General, that
ifolher suggestions which he makes, OF a kindred
character, are adopted, the cheap postage system
NAV, after the present year, be continued, with
out burdening the treasury
prepavmcnt OF hostages, hitherto often recon-
mended is pressed upon The favorable considers
lion OF Congress, and various considerations Jus
tifying the innovation are presented.
The report, referring TO the law OF the last ses
s;on of Congress, authorizing the Poslmaste
General to provide by contract Tor The lranspol
ia,ion of the mails between the ports of this an
foreign countries, states, that OWING 10 the como
lion of the finances Of The department, II has bee
considered proper 10 postpone the making sue
contracts until the meeting OF the present Cor
gress.
The successful operation of the electro-maf
netic telegraph il is supposed by The Postmasis
General, will, under the control OF the patentee
be the means OF securing much OF the CUISINES
that has hitherto been transacted through IN
United States mails, and occasion dimint
ton of the resources OF the department. IL
considered question Of importance for the gov
eminent to determine whether individuals sha
divide with it the business of transmitting int
lisence or whether the government should pu
chase the telegraph.
The power for good or for evil, which this II
venlion has supplied, is deemed too great TO .
left in the uncontrolled possession OF individuals
The report of MIR. Cave Johnson is distinguish
ed for the strong practical sense of IFS aulho
In all that concerns economy and retrenchmen
no one can be more vigilaht and assiduous lha
the honest and laborious man who stands al IN
head of the Post Office Department. The cour
try is most ably served BY such man as Cav
Johnson Uaioa.
[Ffom The ~ " f. Ga-ehc.l
Some persons commit frauds on the Pos, Office
by sending a number Of letters on thin paPe
addressed to different persons, under one enve
one. In one case, where the envelope hurst
the Post Office, on which 81 80 had been pai
there were counted 100 letters enclosed, liable
postage of $40.
The Pos,maser-General thinks that the sing
sheet should be restored or the weight syslei
be retained, that it should he reduced 10 quartz
of an ounce for single postage.
The grea, weight of the mails is caused b
printed matter In 1886 the weight passing ihrons
the Pos, Offices in New York, Philadelphi;
Washington and Richmond in one week was a
arto;nea and