The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1864-06-16
NUMBER 3
The Subject Of Postal Reforms Important
Changes.
Frnm the Raltimnre American

administrative reforms and improvements,
of the age more plainly than the great adj
vanCement made in postal matters The
new 'Fmoney order system, although long
in use abroad, is just about to be brought in
to use here as a most beneficial improvement
on the old method of transmitting small sums
of money over wide extent of country.
whilst in other changes contemplated by
Congress at the suggestion of the Postmaster
General, the enlightened friends Of the Gov
eminent will see that our progress is en-
couraging in the attempt to keep in the front
rank Of an enlightened advancement.
Amongst these changes, however, is one
| which, in itself emiuently reform, seems
to have produced not little alarm amongst
the many postmasters relied upon for an en-
lightened cooperation in carrying on the
business OF the Departments and this ex-
pressed fear is on the score of possible cur
tailment of their rates of compens alton
| Nothing is further from such result, as
will be learned by brief explanation OF
the matter in question. AS the case stands
at present, fifty thousand folios Of transcript
are sent to Washington each quarter, from
but fue postoffices, to enable the Auditor to
keep the Office accounts correctly The re-
form in question proposes to do Gaoag a0dt@
| 1kE hiS-to so amplify the method Of doing
business, that whilst all parties are saved
immense labor and perpIexity, the coanpea-
sutton 0ftbe Postmaster remains the same.
But perhaps the best explanation of what is
contemplated in the direction indicated can
be had from letter addressed by the Post
master General himself to the Chairman of
the Committee on Post Offices and Post
Roads Of the House of Representatives.
We give an extract
''rhe first seven sections refer to the
''mode of compensating Postmasters, a
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
''ixed saleries in stead of commissions for
''Postmasters
"Under the existing law, minute oc
counts are kept of the postage on all
| ''mailable matter sent and received, paid
''as well as unpaid, involving the necessity
''of employing many clerks i'll postoffices
'for this particular purpose, and also in
'the Office of the Auditor of the Treasury
''for the Postoffice Department, where the
accounts of Postmasters are examined.
''Thus, from Boston, New York, PhiIa-
'delphia, Cincinnati and Chicago-only
Five postoffices-fifty thousand foios of
transcript are sent to the Auditor each
quarter, the originals being kept in those
| offices. The whole bulk Of accounts from
call the postolfices can be reckoned by tons;
'and they are mainly kept for the purpose
'of arriving at the allowances to Postmas
tiers, 1odich are eStjH1a ed on the amount Of
''postage collected. For any other purpose
1.-The accounts Of mails sent and received
''are practically useless. The great mass
of small matter is prepaid by postage
stamps, which are charged to Postmasters,
''and for which they are held accountable
''ln this way the revenues Of the Depart
''ment are sufficiently protected. If, then,
''the compensation of Postmasters be fixed,
cas- proposed by the bill in question, no ac
counts will required of mail matter pre-
paid by stamps, and the work i'll all the
''postoffices will be expedited, with a great
saving of labor and expense. The account
ling in the Auditors office Of this Depart
''ment will be much smplifed, and there
twill be no difficulty in holding Postmastcrs
''to strict responsibility each quarter; where
''as, now, i'll the ordinary course of business,
'the accounts Of a postmaster for a given
quarter cannot be adjusted until after the
lend of the next quarter.
There will be also considerable saving
Sin the items of blanks for posoffices The
estimated cost of paper and printing
next year is nearly one hundred thousand
''doIlars, while the proposed change iii the
'form of accounts will require less than one
half of that expenditure.
''Ihe present law limits the commissions
''of POstmasters to two thousand dollars per
''annum, and also forbids allowances from
''other sources beyond that amount; so that
Sin fact, the Postmasters of all the principle
''offiCes already have fixed salaries, Gin no
Cease exceeding four thousand dollars per
''annum) though they can only be paid af-
''ter presenting vOluminous accounts on each
''and every letter mailed, and Of numerous
''rates Of commissions differing according to
che character Of the mail letter, and also
'acc Jrding to the amount, there being no less
ethan ten rates Other changes and credit |
Gin an account current number twenty-five, |
making in all the thirty-five heads of cir
''culation; whereas, by the proposed new |
claw, all accounts will be reduced to the
simplest forms.
''1'he rule for fixing salaries is such as to
ENSURE ample justice to all Offices and the
provision for revising the classification |
unjust have the effect to stimulate Postmas- |
''ters in performing their duties least they |
''should suffer reduction of salary for u
diminished business whilst they have the
assurance of proper addition for an en-
Charged business.
''I'he reasons for special Legislation in the
cease of Postoffice at New York are obvious.
ats net revenues to the Department are
''now at the rate Of nearly one million of
''dollars per annum--one hundred per cent
''above any other Office. The business con
INJECTION with the foreign mails alone enti
''tle that Office to a separate classiiicati on,
''while its other interests and responsib htles
''are equally commanding, and entitle it to
"a corresponding distinction in respect to
'emolument
These are interesting facts bearing upon
the needed and contemplated reforn-facts
in which the people are vitality Interested
because the more simple the machinery OF
government can be made i'll any Depart
inent the nearer it approaches that standard
which, since the foundation of republican {
institutions in this country, has been the t
sought. t
To recur briefly. The contemplated reform
proposes to divide the compensation of Post
masters into FIVE classes the first to receive
not more than four and not less than three
dollars and so on down to the {
fifth, which from the business done affords
less than one hundred dollars. By increase K
Of business an Office may be elevated to
higher class, thus presenting stimulant to
to each officer to his duty in every respect.
The postofice incumbents should hail this
reform as one which, whilst it does not cur
tail their salaries at all, relieves them Of the
most cumbersome and perplexing part Of their
labors and responsibilities; and the people at
large should hail it as one which, less cost
Iy, ensures more promptitude and leasure