Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1847-12-29

statistical synopsis of the report Of the
Postmaster General, showing the opera
tons of the new law:
Post routes. Observation-Disclosures. 1888
Mails transported. miles per annum. 81, $50 ,s99
Cost OF Interpretations ....... .AO6, AS
Increase of Mail routes last year ....... ISIS
Additional cos, Of transportation. So. 9i3
Number Of Postuasters changed ....... J, 450
MAIL BURDENS.
Letters per annum. ............. So ia, lsn
Newspapers. Observation-Disclosures. SIS 200, 900
/ Free letters. Observation-Disclosures. !. 600 600
Dead letters I 500 900
Pamphlets. Observation-Disclosures ZOO. 900
Letter postage receipts. 81. 25l,5l
Entire postage Observation-Disclosures. $685. 500
Entire excess this year over last. %l5S 500
Excess Of letter postage. ..... .S5634 19
Entire expenses of the year. 81, $50 $40
De!inquenc of whole year only 1913 GIT
Receipts in the Department mt for yrs s. 500, 900
Drliuqnc ne les in fw wears. ........ H2l ,94S
Delinquents of I5.I4s Postmaster. l54
Estimated receipts for the next year,
including Sl5o 900 for steamers. 81 .099 206
The Postmaster General clorics much
over the success of the reform of the law
Of 1915; 10 which he was personally op.
posed. and which he did all in his power
to defeat. In reference to all this however
he is very shy; but tells the world that the
friends of the cheap postage system have
had their expectations more than realized.
The report is of prodigious length and We
can find room only for the following cx-
tract which embraces every thing Of gen.
cral interest:
1T is gratifying TO find that within SO
short period after the great reduction Of
the rates Of postage. the revenues of the
department have increased much beyond
the expectations of the friends Of the
cheap postage system; while the expendi-
lures for the same time have diminished
more than half mliioI of dollars annual
": and that the department is in condi-
ton to sustain itself without further aid
from the treasury
"Thcsc results have been produced,
mainly by two important provisions adop-
ted in the act Of 1915:
"First. The reduction in the rates Of
postage has produced so great an increase
in the business of the offices that the rev.
cnucs will soon equal those received un-
der the former high rates.
.Second, The direction 10 the Postmas-
ter General to contract with the lowest
bidder, without the allowance Of any adj
vantage 10 the former contractor, as had
been the case before its passage. had the
effect of enlarging the field Of COMPETE
ton and reducing the price Of transporta-
ton. except on railroads d in steamboats.
TO the lowest amount for which the service
can be performed; and will reduce the
whole cost of transportation, when the
other section is let to contract under it,
but little less than a million Of dollars per
annum from the former prices.
at is not doubted that these results
would have been still more favorable ifthe
notifications of fhe act Of 1916, hereto
fore suggested by this department, had
been adopted.
''First. Private expresses still continue
to be run between the principal cities and
seriously affect the revenues of the de-
partmen, from the want Of adequate pow
ers for their suppression.
second, The privilege Of sending
sealed letters sin relation to the cargo free
over mail routes is the source OF innumer-
able frauds upon its revenues.
..Third. If the single letter were made
the quarter or third Of an ounce. instead
Of half. except when written on a single
sheet Of paper. & prepaid or double post
age required when not prepaid, the reve-
nues of the department would have been
greatly improved.
Fourth, The postage On newspapers
is unequal and unjust 10 the publishers
themselves. The same postage is charged
on each without regard to weight. Many
of the larger class Of papers weigh over
two and half ounces each, and pay but
one cent and half for any distance over
100 miles: and if charged as letter post
age. would pay under 300 miles Is cents.
and over 80 cents. Other papers weigh
as low as half an ounce, only one-fifth Of
that weight, and pay the same rates. Some
Of the larger size Of periodicals weigh
over lal ounces and pay l4i c enis over
100 miles; and if charged with letter post
age would pay under 800 miles - 80
and over $3.50. This inequality OF tar