Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1864-06-27
fFrsm the Baltimors Amsrieaa.
The Subject OF Postal RefOrms.-Im.
DOrtant Changes.


of the many subjects Of special In.
terest commended from time 70 time TO
the attention Of the American people,
in the way Of Administrative reforms
and improvements, nothing has, perhaps,
marked the progress Of the age more
plainly than the great Advancement
made in postal matters. The new "money
order system, although long in use
abroad, ia just about to be brought into
use here a. a most beneficial i'm prove.
ment on the old method of Transmitting
small sums OF money over n wide extent
OF country, whilst in the other changes
contemplated By Congress at The sug-
geSlion Of the Postmaster General, the
enlightened friends OF the Government
will see shat our progress is encouraging
in the attempt 10 keep IN the froat rank
Of an enlightened Advancement
Amongst these changes, however, is
one which, in itself emineu'ly reform,
seems 10 have produced not little alarm
amongst the many postmasters relied
upon for an enlightened cooperation in
carrying on the business Of the Depart
ment; and this expressed fear is on the
score Of possible curtailment Of their
rates OF compensation. Nothing ia fur
ther from such a result, as will be learned
by brief explanation of the matter in
question As the case stands st present,
hhy thousand foiios Of transcript are sent
to Washington edch quarter, FROM but
firs post Offices, 10 enable the Auditor
to keep the Office accounts correctly.
The reform in question proposes to do
Gcay irifh ail this-to so simplify the
method Of doing business, that whilst
all parties are saved immense labor and
perplexity, the compensation Of fhe Post
master remains tAs same But perhaps
the best explanation Of what is contem-
plated in the direction indicated can be
had from letter addressed by the Post
master General himself to the Chair
man Of the Committee on Post Offices
and Post Roads Of the House Of Repre-
seniativea We give an extract;
"TAe first seven sections refer to the
mode Of eempensating Postmasters, q
subject which has heretofore claimed the
attention Of Congress, and one which |
consider Of the FIRST importance to this
Department The following are among
the more prominent reasons which pre-
sent themselves to my mind in favor Of
fixed salaries instead Of commissions for
Postmasters;
Under the existing law, minute ae-
counts are kept Of the postage on all
mailahle matter sent and received, paid
as well as unpaid, involving the nsces-
sisy of employing many clerks in post
Offices for this particular purpose, aud
also in the office of the Auditor Of the
Treasury for the Postofiee Department,
where the accounts of Postmasiers are
/ examined
/ Thus, from Boston, New York, Phil
adelphia, Cincinnati and Chicago-only
/ Ave postofhees--hfty thousand folios OF
transcripts are sent 70 the Auditor each
quarter, the originals being kept in those
Offices. The whels bulk Of accounts from
all the postotiices can be reekoned BY
tons; and they are mainly kept for the
purpose of arriving at the allowances to
Postmasters, rkieh are estimated on the
amount of postage collected For any
other purpose the accounts Of mails sent
and received are practically useless
The great mass Of mail matter is pre-
paid by postage stamps,w b are charged
to Postmaste-s, aud for which they are
held accountable. In this way the reve
nues Of the Department are Sufficiently
protected II, then, the compensation
Of Postmasters be fixed, as proposed b.
the bill ia question, no accounts viii b
required of mail matter prepaid D.
stamps, and the work in all the postof
ces will be expedited, with great savins
OF labor and expense. The sccountin!
: in the Auditors Office of this Depart
ment will be much simpli6ed, and Their
will be no difficulty in holding Postmas
ters to strict responsibility each quarter
whereas, now, in the ordinary course 0
business, the accounts of Postmaste
Tor gwen quarter cannot be adjuste'
until after the end of the next quarter
There viii also be a considsrabl
saving in the items of blanks for post
Offices. The estimated cost of pape