The Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1834-184?, 1847-01-07
POSTMASTER GENERALS ANNUAL
80 REPORT.

The gross income under the cheap post
age system, for the year ending June Both,
1913, was S3,4S7, 1913 45. The average
yearly income for nine years, ending June
80, 1916, was 1864 ,625 65--making the re-
ceipts underi the new law less by 1857 ,425
40 than under the old law. This diminu-
ton is tracedin part 10 other causes thar The
reduction OF postage, and for the remedy of
these ii is recommended: .,f.~-.
I That the law be so amended as 10 make
the. single letter weigh one quarter instead
of the half ounce and written upon single
sheet of paper. si. --sasssff lt
That the same Powersbe givento the Post
Office Department 10 prevent violation of
its revenue laws. as is now given toihe Sec
rotary of Treasury against smugglers.
That all letters passing over mail routes
which relate to the cargo, be Tree, when
they are unsealed, and subject to the inspec-
lion of the posi- Office agents, when fraud is
suspected. And that the postage on news
papers be so adjusted as 10 approach more
Inearly the cost ottEansportation and delivery,
and be made more equal and Just, as. be-
tween the publishers. This may be accom-
pIished without any material interference
with the policy of disseminating Intelligence
among the people by their general circula-
| lion. e,t, ...a .t.,- -.
The low postages on papers, without re-
gard 10 size, weight, OF the distance 10 be
taken, operate unfairly between the publish
hrs themselves, by enabling those papers
published in large commercial cities 10 COM
pete with the village press for circulation in
their respective localities. whilst The sending
papers free for 80 miles from the place of
publication, counteracls TO some extent this
advantage each alike unjust TO the other,
and both unjust TO the community, as the
burden of both is thrown upon the Trea-
sury. ..+.
AS an act of justice between the publishers
themselves, the rates of postage should be
regulated according 10 the size or weight of
papers over mail routes out ofthe mails; and
as an ACT OF justice TO the community, these
rates should be so high as TO cover any de-
fciency which The reduced rates OF postage
on letters may make, so as 10 render the IN
come of The department equal 10 its expen-
ditures.
Transient newspapers, or those sent by
others than the publishers 10 the subscribers,
as they are usually sent in lieu of Letters,
should be rated higher than other newspa-
pers.
All printed matter passing through the
mails should be prepaid aud all letters be pre-
paid, or rated with double postage. Some
such amendments of The late law are believed
TO be necessary to give the cheap postage
system fair trial by securing 10 the depart
ment lis legitimate revenues; and ii adopted
by Congress il IS confidently believed, from
the reduction which have been made in the
1.-Two sections already let 10 contract, and an
Eticipated savings in the other two branches
Iof the service, that there will be no need Of
call upon tie treasury for further aid, after
the Ist of January, .l84S, when The whole
service will be placed under the new law.
An increase ofihe salaries of deputy post
masters is recommended, as they get a pei
centage on the receipts, which are greatly
reduced under the present law-for instance
the receipts in lS45 at New York were
1854, 5ll, and in 1916, but $l92 ,69l; and
al fillmore in l845, SS4 $50. and in 1916
$40, O33.
! He calls the attention of Congress 10 the
fact that private express is run between
Montgomery (Ala.) and Mobile, on the arri-
val at the former place of news by the stea-
mers.
The contractors for the transportation of
the mails between New York and Bremen,
BY ocean. steamers, are rapidly progressing
with the construction of the first vessel, and
but little doubt is entertained that the service
will be commenced early in the spring.
1t is proposed also TO extend the line of
roreion mails TO other places.
On The subject of the telegraph the Post
. master General recommends, for conclusive
i reasons, that the lines oftelegraph should be
: owned and controlled by the Government,
u and il is to be hoped that Congress will ap-
:, prove this recommendation as no doubt nine
: Ptenlhs Of the people will.
Under the authority given at the last ses-
sion of Congress, an. arrangement has been
: made with Messrs Vail and Rogers, tie prin-
: cipal officers having charge Of the line be.
lwenn Baltimore and Washington, by which
) it will be kept up until the 4th of March
. next, for its profits, and without any further
= calls upon the Treasury.
e NATIONAL MUSEUM.
The identical hair that suspended the
IS sword over the head OF Damocles.
N The trunk that the elephant brought into
II the ark.
r The handle of "Jona's gourd.''
D. The identical cane that killed Abel
IL A niece OF the eouinoctai line. {present