Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-12-14
Report of the Postmaster General.

The Postmaster Generals report is notwithstand-
ing Its length. both important AID interesting. The
total expenditures for the
Fiscal year have ZIG ,7s2 Is
Of which belongs 42g6 OO9 90
Leaving the total expenditures for sI4 s7472 SO
The total Revenue for ls5O..........s ,sls,O67 40
Expenditure more than j5j5 7O5 40
There is however, by reason Of appropriations
from the Treasury, a credit balance to the
Rsverue account for 1850 81 ,2II 86N II
Of which is available only $50 6'S IL
The balance........... ..... s605.l6s 20
is made up Of arrearages from postmasters umu-
lated since 1885, and which may as well be charged
to profit and loss The increase Of revenue for 1860
was previously estimated at four per cent above
1857 il proves however, TO be near seven per cent
But in the estimate for 1861 and 1862 1t is thought
best adhere TO the former calculation of Increase
The history CT the department since 1888 shows an
increase of expenditure Of about one million per
annum, until 1858, and a similar increase of def
cheney except between lS55and 1876, when the in
Grease of each was but half a million. Between
1855 and 1859 the increase Of each was about two
million: since which period. although the eXpendi-
ture has continued about the same, the deficiency
has been diminished by about S6GOO0O The esti-
mates indulge the hope that million more will be
saved in 1862
The total sum received for stamps and stamped
envelopes was SG.26l533 81, an increase of $685.
7S2 50 over the sales Of 1856: More than twOthirds
of the revenue Of the department from stamps
and the accurate management OF this part OF the
business involves great increase Of labor and ex-
pcnse to the department, for which, and on other
accounts the Postmaster General asks for the crea
ton of eleven new clerkshIps The statistics in
ference the foreign mail service and the negotIa
tons with the British pOstofce the subject of in
ternatiOnal pOstages will be found Of interest. The
latter are yet incomplete, but the claims Of the Uni
ted States, which the occasion of demur on the
other side seem reasonable.
Sufficient time having elapsed-three years-to
give the people perfect understanding Of the obi
cation of prepayment, the department no longer
notifies writers Of un-prepaid letters Of the fact. 1t
is curious that the number Of letters of this class
has not diminished, and there seems no way 10 eff
feet change but by sendUg them to the dead let
ter office which is done. About 100000
dead letters are received annually and it is found
that Of those which contain valuable enclosures more
than three-fOurths instructed or illegiby SUI
prescribed The department is defended for the
additional charge of cent on drop letters, and
also for making the streets Of Boston, New York
and Philadelphia post routes, to the exclusion of
expresses, which measures are claimed to be strict
ly legal. But it is recommended that Congress
pass a more definite law upon the latter subject.
The criticism of the people and the press upon these
movements of the department, are rather querul-
Ousy complained Of The registry of letters is con-
sidered useless expense, its only and very doubt
full advantage being to divert the attention of rob
bert from the general TO the register mails. 1t Is
thought that something better may be devised. by
which at increased rates the government should be
held responsible and safety IL conveyance insured.
We learn from this report that Mr.. Vanderbilt
was induced to convey the San Francisco mails I'M
til March 4th. upon the express assurance that the
President should recommend Congress to pay HIM
well for the service to which pledge Mr. Holt here
adds his recommendation. ntmating that the steam
ship king came ito the relief Of the department in
conuncture of great embarrassment
Inc case Of Mr.. Fowler IS very briefly mentlore !