Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1847-12-31

being gradual mp to 5000. and on that sum the
increase IS only SiO while there is gradual
decrease from that sum of about u per cent.
''n'li the sum of 81, 1873 25 is obtained and
upon Offices yielding that SUN the compensation
10 postmaster rs under both laws is the same
IN the offices yielding from the sum of ST.
~ % tn Si.5ll %. the conversation allowed
by the act of 1925 exceeds that allowed by the
late law, making a gradual deciease until the
sum OF $4,000 is reached, when the loss of
compensation amounts to S95. The loss of
compensation is gradually diminished until the
sum OF Si,5ll % is reached and at that poin,
the compensation under both laws is the same.
At offices yielding over that sum- the compen.
Safion to the postInasters is regularly increased
Il per cent.
An increase of the above compensation is
advised.
The report continues:
The number of letters and papers passing
through the United States Mail, during the last
year, may be stated As follows:
Paid and unpaid, single rate of cents, 3s.,5255s
DO do 10 cents, 1851 531
Ship and steamboat letters at 6 cents, 425 800
snip and steamboat letters forwarded in
the mails from foreign countries, Z cents
added to the regular postage. $500
Dropped letters S65 1913
Printed Circular letters, LOIS 3oi
Total, 52,l13,iSO
The free letters sent by persons entitled to he
franklng privilege, and those sent free TO tie
Army, it is believed, would not fall short of s.
100000.
The newspapers passing through the mails
annually, are estimated at 55,0oO,OOO. Pam
phlets and magazines at 100000. The num-
Der OF transient newspapers. paying three cents
each. cannot be ascertained with any accuracy,
AS the postage is usually returned with that on
letters. The dead letters passing through the
offices ascertained, number annually about ] =
100000 which, calculated at an Intermediate
point, would make an annual loss to the depart
ment of Sl35,OO0.
The revenues Of the Department for the year
ending the Both Of June last including S65 555
55 due from the United States Treasury for the
hostages of the Government, appropriated BY
the 18th section of the act of Sd of March, 1917
and not drawn from the Treasury. amounted to
$3,945,s93 81, exceeding those of the preceding
year, by the sum Of Si5S,693 So. being an in-
crease of the last over the preceding year of
49, 10 per cent and falling short of the annual
revenues of the nine years preceding the first
Of July, 1915, by the SUN of SilS,73l 81
OF this sum, there was derived from letter
postage. including the sum yet due from the
Treasury for the Government postage, the sum
g. SO, 2t l5ls GS which tXceo5 TIE am.s.int of
letter postage Of the preceding year S372 ol5
"a, making AN increase Of II 81 per cent. while
it falls short of the annual average revenues
from the same source, for the nine years prece-
ding the lst Of July, 1915, the sun OF $685.
479 81.
In the same time there was derived from the
hostages on newspapers, pamphlets, etc. S6l3,-
100 %, making an increase over the preceding
year Of sSSl obs 10. and an increase over the
annual average of the nine preceding years, Of
Sll4,lSl 81.
This statement includes the sum of S35 500
%, paid by the British Government for the tram
portation of her closed mails from Boston to
Canada part of which property belongs to the
revenues of the preceding years, but was not
paid until within the last year
Full returns for the quarter ending Sept. 80,
have not been received so FAR the indications
are that the revenue for that time increased
about II per cent. For the whole year. the in
crease is estimated at about & per cent. This,
together with 100000 appropriated for Gov
eminent postage as the Report says.
"WIl make the revenue of the current year
SL3l3.l57, which will exceed thc annual aver
age revenue OF the nine years before the rcduc-
ton of postage, and will exceed the expend-
lures of the lat year S323 5S7. The eXp2nd-
lures of the year ending the Both OF June, lS47,
amounted to S3,979,51O GS, making only S33,-
677 30 more than the revenues
The expenditure OF the present year will cX-
coed that of the last by the following sums:
For the mail steamer Washington, 100000
For the steamer Herman, for seven months, 5,,33j
For cost OF the mail routes, established by
the act of 81 March, lSi7 10000
Add Tor contingencies, 10000
Total. SECS 1888
From this sum may be deducted the savings
which were made in the southern section, at the
lettings in the Spring, which amount 10 SlOs,-
697.
The means of the Department for the present year are
estimated at Si,3i3l5I
Expenditures estimated for the same time 1909 !o6
Leaving a surplus of s2l3.,jl
The result, says the report, is gratifying 1t
would have been better if the following previous
suggestions OF Mr.. johnson had been adopted
These suggestions refer: /, To the suppress
sion of private expresses; }. The privilege OF
sending sealed letters =" in relation to the cargo,
free over mail routes, is the source of frauds
and ought t. be interdicted To make the single
letter quarter or a third of an ounce, instead of
a half, &c; 4,To eqnalize postage on new spa
pers according to weight; 5. The payment OF
postage, or double postage, on all letters passing
through the mails for delivery within the United
States, and prepayment on letters destined for
foreign countries, not having postal arrange
manis with the United States, and on all printed
matter; and g. The abolition or modification OF
the ranking privilege.
Ifthese measures were adopted lower uni
form rate of postage would be practicable, though
the Department would still have to draw on tie
Treasury for time. During the war, therefore,
no change in the rate of postage Is recommen-
ded.
During the last two years out of $1,000 600