Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-12-06
w. d. WALLACH.
Synopsis Of Department Reports
Report Of the Ps.,ma.,sr General.

hcPort et tne Eostmaster General.
The Postmaster Generals report states that the
whole number Of post ofices In the United States
on the SOth Of June, 1851 % $50; and that the
entlre number Of cases acted upon during the
% ame period was 10 ,cas, Including appointments
made oy the President Of the United States The
whole Number Of appointments made bv the Post.
master General was ,235, and the number by the
President during the same period, 337.
Ine expenditures OF the dep Irtment In the 6s-
cal yeor ending June 20, 1861, amounted to sI3,.
The expenditures were s1i, ,s7i III 50, showing
decrease In 1851 ofjS1 ,26S, ,Cl3 7S
The gross revenue for the wear 1861 Including
receipts from letter carriers nd from foreign post
ages, amounted to s. 49 2oS 40.
The estimated deficiency OF means for 1861 an
ment December ., 1859, was IS ,98s .424 OF he.
ductine the actual deficiency, 81 65I ,966 9s and
there is an excess of estimated deficiency over ac
tual deficiency Of 81 .436, ,457 o.
The revenue from all sources during
the year 1860 amounted to. ...... 50 2IS O6f 40
The revenue from all sources during
tie year lS6l, amounted To-. co.'s, ,296 90
Decrease Of revenue for 1861 sI6s 771 On
Tue ne: proceeds from postoffices in the loyal
states for the fiscal years ending June 80, 1890,
% 6oS 900 Sc, and in 1891 50 sol 4s7 O. showing
an increase In 1851 Of SIl2 79e 81 aud in the dis
loyal states, In 1850, $50, $40 81, and in 1851
s677 100 ~, showing decrease In 1851 Of sI42,.
S3g 81.
The decrease In 1-6I from the net proceeds of
le6O In all the states appears to be $50 .OI3 20
The estimate Of the total expenditures for 1867
Is somewhat less than those Of previous wear.
heretofore submitted. This difference arises from
the fact that only partial estimates are made for
suspended. nv
The whole number Of ordinary dead letter, re-.
s,550.OOO
The number of these letters containing money
which were registered and sent out during the
year ending June 30, 1891 was 10 $50
number of dead IettSrS rota,na1
70 foreign counties during the fiscal wear was
ul4f, which added to shs number OF dons.tic
letters lug 500 soni out as above gives the whole
the year, 2l5 C33 NS A"i
Tue result Of successful investigation In = 5so
cases, connrms the past experience Of the depart
nt tnat toe failure of letter to reach its desti-
SdGSa Is, IN the vast majority of instances the
ta9it alone OF the writer or sender
Ins exl xlerience Of the Department shows that a
LSige proportion OF domestic letters written by
dsaeient In one or both Of these respects
In view Of these and other facts the Postmaster
General suggests that valuable dead letters when
returned to their owners, should be charged with
treble tAe ordinary rate Of postage-com prising
one rate for return transportation to the dead let
Ter odce, one rate for registration there and one
rate Tor return transportation to the writers or
owners.
A treaty with Mexico has been concluded
awaiting the ratification by Mexico establishing
common International rate Of twenty -hve cents
Oil lctLcIs, WHO ntner useful provisions
The Postmaster General has accepted the offer
made In 1857 by Great Britain for a reduction of
the International rate between the two countries
on letters from twentY-four to twelve cents which,
however, has not yet gone into operation, as It
awaits the response OF the British office
The above abstract presents merely few of the
points Of the important report
The Postmaster General gives at length his
reason Tor the change Of contracts for disIoyalty
Not only was IL unsafe, he saws to entrust the
transportation Of the mails to 4 person who re-
fused or failed to recognise the saGctity Of an
oatn, put to continue payment Of public money
10 the enemies OF the Government and their allies
was to give direct aid aud comfort 10 treason in
arms
The Postmaster General also gives his reasons
Tor excluding disloyal publications from the
mails To await the results Of slow judicial pros
secutsol was 70 allow crime 70 be consuumated,
with the expectation Of subsequent punishment
p1onni ,nd Ta 88fsSentnng It's PIlshment by
sented for his action, upon the princip pies which
he names, he hai, by order, excluded from the
malls twelve OF these reasonable publications. of
which several had been previously presen ed by
the grand jury as incendiary and hostile 10 the
constitutional authority.
While the Postmaster-Gener did not claim
me AntnoIity 70 suppress any newspaper, however
dtsloyal and reasonable It's contents the Depart
ment could not be called upon 10 give them cir
culation. IL could not and would not inter fere
VIII the freedom secured by law, but IT could
and did obstruct the dissemination of tba license
which was without tne pale Of the constitution and
law. The mails established by the United states
government could not, upon any known princi-
pal Of law or public right be used for its dsstruc
ton. As well could the common carrier be le-
gally required to transport a machine designed
Tor the destruction Of the vehicle conveying It. or
an Inn Keeper be compelled to entertain a traveller
whom be knew to be Intending to commit rob-
berry in his house.
he nnds these views supported by the high
authority OF the late Chief Justice Story of the
Supreme Court OF the United States whose onIn.
ion he quotes.