Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1864-06-27

and printiHg next year Is nearly one
hundred thousand dollars, while the pro-
posed change in the form Of accounts
will require less than one-half Of that
expenditure.
. The present Law limits tie commits
sioas Of Postmasters to two thousand
dollars per annnm, and slso foFbids al
lowances from other sonrcss beyond
that amount; 50 that, in fact, the Post
masters Of all the principal Offices al
ready have fixed salaries, lin no case
exceeding four thousand dollars per an
numl though they can only be paid after
presenting volzminous accounts on each
and every letter mailed, and OF nnmsr-
Gus rates Of commissions, differing &C
eording 70 the character Of the nail mat
ter, and also according to amount, there
being no less than ten rates Other
charges and credits in an account cur
rent number twenty-five, making in ell
thirty-EVe heads Of calculation; where
a., By the proposed new law, all accounts
will be reduced 10 the simplest forms
"The rule for fixing such salaries is
such IS to ensure ample justice to all
ofiees; and the provision for revising
the classification must have the effect q
stimulate Postmasters in performing
their duties, lest they should suffer a re-
ducsion Of salary for diminished bu-
siness, whilst they have the assurance
Of proper addition for an enlarged
business
"Ths reasons for special legislation in
the case Of the PoaIoffics At New York
are obviouz Its net revenues TO the
Department are now az the rate Of nearly
one million Of dollars per annum-one
hundred per cent above every other
Office. The business connection with
the foreign mails alone entitls that Office
TO separate classification. while its
other interests and responsibilities are
equally commanding, and eniitIs il to
corresponding distinction in respect TO
emolument
These are interesting facts bearing
upon the needed and contemplated re-
form--facts IN which the people are
vitality interested--because the more
simple the machinery Of government
can Be made 10 any Department the
nearer il approaches that standard which,
since the foundation Of republican insti-
tutious in this country has heen the de-
sideratum sought
To reeur briefly. The contemplated
reform proposes TO divide the comrensa.
sation Of Postmzsters into Eve classes,
the first 10 receive not more than four
and not less than three thousand dollars,
and so on down 10 the fifth, which from
the bnsinesH done afforda less than one
hundred dollars BY increase of basi-
Hess an Office may be elevated to q
higher class, thus presenting stimH-
liant 90 each officer 10 do bic duty ia
every respect TAe possoliies ineum-
bents shoald hail this reform as one
which, whilst il does not curtail their
salaries at al, relieves them Of The most
eumbsrsoms and perplexing part Of their
Iabora and responsibilities; ssd the pee
pie at large should hail il as one which,
lsss costly, ensnzss more prompsitnde
aud leisure for due services on the part
Of public iunctionAries Il 10 within
the paat few years that the most striking
and needfal Improvements in a branch
Of the public service so necessary 70 ths
welfare aud comfort Of society have
been made, aad altar what has already
been accomplished In this direction, we
are prepared to welcome with our best
wishes whatever may make Il ssill more
perfect IN is capacity to benefit society
and the world at large