Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1856-12-18
PLYMOUTH INDIANA THURSDAY DECEMBER

lost by the death of the insovent debt.
ors. Part of this large aggregate is due
from defaulling officers. a fraction from
insolvent Deposit Banks, but the larger
amount from importers o goods under the
exploded system of credits for duties
No credits are now given for either Du-
ties or Lands. 1t is wisely suggested
that the hopelessly lost debts be charged
to profit and loss. and stricken from the
current accounts of the Treasury.
Formerly, disbursing officers settled
their accounts quarterly, and were strong
ly tempted to use meantime the public
moneys in their hands in specula lions
Now they are required to settle month
ly, with the best effect. The Secretary
says but one desalcaiion has occurred un.
der this system. He proposes its extern
sion so as TO reach all officers .:ntrustea
with public money.
Mr.. Guthrie urges an increase Of the
salaries. Of the principal Accounting off,
GERS in his Department.
He proposes that the Government
should sell out the stocks held by il in
sundry State corporations (for internal
mprovcmen,sj and sell also the Slate
stocks in which il invested the Smiihso-
nian and certain Indian Trust funds.
pocketing the loss md re investing in
more reliable securities. This may be
advisable; but if the investments had
been properly made in the frs, instance,
there would have been no need Of incur.
ring loss. State stocks are good proper
ty when judiciously bought; but invest.
ments in Arkansas or Mississippi bonds.
made 10 benefit some Senator or carry a
dolegs tion for some Presidential nspirant,
are sure to turn cut badly.
Though this Report is too long. and
not always right II is on the whole o
good one. and may be studied with prof
it. Mr.. Buchsns will be fortunate If
he SECURES so able and upright Secretary
of the Treasury as James Guthrie.
The General Post-Omice.
Itappears from the Postmaster-Ge Gener
ais Reports that The number of Post Of
fees in the Union on the 30th Of jane
last vas 25,662 OF these, 339 have an
income of over $1,000 per snnum. and
the Postmasters appointed BY the Pres
ident. subject to the confirmation Of the
Senate. The total compe nsario of Post
masters was, for the last fiscal year, 81,
l02 $50. The numbe Of mail route con.
tractors was 6,372; Of mail agents, 394,
and OF mail messengers, 1.l00. The
mail was carried over 20.323 miles By
railroad. over 4.95l miles in steam
boats, over 50,i53 miles in coaches, and
over l53 9f5 miles by inferior convey
ances. The cost Of transportation for
each mile travelled is. by railroad. 10.6
cents; by steamboat, 1913 cents; By
coach about cents, and by inferior con
veyances nearly s cents per mile. The
total cost Of mail transportation for the
current year. including he salaries of
agents md messengers. but excluding
the ocean service. is Sc. 576. l29.
The Postmaster-General renews his
complaint Of the large amount paid to
the Panama Railroad. smounting for the
last fiscal year to sl4l. .308. and for the
first quarter OF the current fiscal year to
S44. sos. He recommends an act limi-
ting the amount to be paid for that SER
vice to $4,000. and an appropriation Of
$500. 900 toward semi-monthly mni!.
sia Nicaragua or Tehuantepec. giving.
with the Panama route, weekly mail to
CalaforIis.
The total expense of the Department
for the last fiscal year was sl0405, ,296.
The entire revenue. including the annual
amount OF 500. 900 for mail service rem
dered the Government. was 81. .626,82l,
showing deficiency of So, ,787, ,046.
which considerably exceeds the average
Of the preceding three years.
The expenditures for the current year
are estimated at sl0.658.67S. The rev.
enue ate9,99l. .794.
The foreign mail service occupies Q
large part of the Report. No postal
convention with France has yet been
concluded. though provision has been
made for the transit conveyance through
Engisnd 10 France. Algeria and all those |
parts az Turkey. Egypt. and tho Levant.
with which Frsnce has postal communi
cations Of books. newspapers and other
prinsed matter, upon prepayment Of the
same rates o! Un5ted States postage ss
are chargeable on the same matter when
sent directly 20 France.
A proposition from Gseat Britain is
pending to reduce the inter-ocean postage
between the two countries Sto Twelve
cents the single letter. or one half the
present rates. but is yet delayed. 10 con-
sequence of another proposition attached
to it as condition that the transit /
charge on alt British and Americsn mails
passing through the two countries re-
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