Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-12-11


in 1891. aOss,29e 40
Deficiency. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES s4.ss7. 4ea II
Expenditures for &c.,. ........ sll,l25.ss4 10
Revenue for 1861. e,0l2,5s Sc
Deficiency .......-.-.-........ s2.ll2,sl4 81
Reduction Of expenditures compared
with $780,. '...................... ss,74s,4os 90
Reduction Of expenditures as compared
with 1851 zsoi YSSf W
The Department has not been, for many years,
so nearly self sustaining. Tie result IL largely
owing 70 the suspension of postal expenditures in
the South which were greatly in excess of the
postal receipts there. but not alone to that. A
revision OF all discretionary expenses has been
made, and large reductions ordered. The pay OF
~ gents has been regarded and equalized; economy
has been established in the larger Offices, where
waste was found. lncOmgetency, wherever found
in official position. has been removed, and an
eifoIt made to adopt standard OF merit and of
administrative efficiency in lieu Of other and in
ferior motives for appointment.
The Postmaster General expresses his determi-
nation TO adhere to this
The number of postage stamps issued TO Post
masters during the year was 2ol .Joi lO3: the
number oi stamped envelopes was 24.e69 300
The value of these stamps Was 81 0I6,i ee; the
value OF the letter envelopes was $I33 255 50
The value of the stamped newspaper wrap ers
IL S23. 6io 80. The increase OF issue over lc6l
is 81, I44 s5s %, and the total value sold was
$6.9l0,l3l 60.
The increasing demand on the part of the
public for the stamped newspaper wrappers
shows that their introduction has satisfied pub
lie demand ard promoted the convenience OF
correspondence.
In the first quarter OF the current year. ending
the Goth of September, the number OF stamps
issued TO the Postmasters l04 600 900. their
calls being for about 300 600 900, which would
have been nearly sufficient to meet the usual de-
mand for n year. This extraordinary demand
arose frem the temporary use OF these stamps as
a currency, in view OF the smaller denominations
of specie, and ceased with the introduction of the
so called posta currency The difference be
tween the value of stamps sold aud stamps can
celed in the fiscal yeor, 1862, shows $73S,319 90
as the amount in the hands of Postmasters on
the LIST OF July, 1862.
The whole number of depd letters received ard
examined during the year was 2 .2S2 obs. which
is 267 600 less than the previous year. The
whole number of valuable letters sent out by the
dead letter Office was 81 $50.
Many interesting details are given in the report
touching the operations of this Office; but OF 81,
1873 cases where the causes of non delivery were
ascertained, only 225 were attributable TO the
the fault of Postmasters, aud c22 letters had no
address whatever
III
authorizing the employment of twenty five adj
ditional clerks to facilitate the return of dead
letters to the writer's. with the expectation that
the receipts OF postage thereon would cover
the appropriation or 500 600 made for their
compensation. The result thus far shows an
excess OF revenue theretrom over the expenses,
that has accrued, to the amount of several thou
sand dollars
The whole number of postoffices in the United
States remaining established on the 30th of
June, 1862 was 2S ,S15, of which there were in
the loyal States aud Districts ~ 913 and in the
insurectionary States and Districts there were
$500 The net increase in the established offices
over last year was 1911 The number of cases
acted upon by the appointment Office during the
year was 1,Is5.
The total postage assumed on the United
States and European mails during the year
amounts 10 Sl,l44.095 s. being a reduction
from the amount of the previous year of S2l7,-
9iJ 50. OF the total amount collected, the ex- |
cess collected in the United States was S2l2 COZ.
SO. which constitutes the balance paid to the |
several foreign departments, the cost of exchange |
being paid by the United States The POStmas |
ter General objects to the as inequitable and
proposes to relieve the Department from this
burden.
The mail lettings, which went into operation |
on the first of July last on the Western division
were effected such favorable terms, com
plrel with the previous letting, that reduction
of expenditures resulted to the amount of
1891 900. At the same time the length OF
routes was increased by 6.l59 miles with an
annual increase of transportation OF I54, i2o
miles
The total annual cost of inland service in op-
Grafton on the 3Oth of June last 50, e53 1874,
to which add the cost OF the various agencies
route. local messengers, &c, $3.50 $50 90 and
the cost OF service at that date Is S6,3lI 46i o.
which includes 81 600 600 Tor the inland route.
not before charged on therevenue OF this depart
ment
He discourages the use of the mails for trans
hitting money, and speaks favorably of a lin
tied money order system, and of amendment
10 the registry system, by which return receipt
shall be sent 10 the dispatching party evidence
of the fact and date of the delivery of his pack
age.
The public attention is called to the great i'm.
poriance of good postal officers for successful
of the department. If Postmas-
tiers and their clerks selected without chief
reference TO their efficiency aud personal fitness
no amount of good legislation will secure public
satisfaction
An energetic. faithful and efficient Postmaster
devoted 10 the interest of the service should be
sustained as long as he illustrates these qualities
in the administration OF his office he attributes
the success Of the English system largely to the
permanent character OF their officers. and their
peculiarly with law and regulations, and regrets
the extent to which other motives to appointment
have prevailed in this country.
He urges a return To the old standard of hon
esty, capability and fidelity and anticipates more
public satisfaction and administrative success
from the adoption of such principle than from
any other single act of reform. He uses the fol.
lowing languages:
1T i my intention TO adhere fully to nv de
termination 10 dispace incompetency and indiffer-
ence wherever found in official position under my
control, without any discrimination in favor of
appointments which may myself have made
lnder nlisnfOrmation of facts.