Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1864-06-02


labor and perRlexity. the compensation o.
the Postmaster remains the same. Blu
perhaps the best explanation Of what il
Contemplated in the direction indicated
can be bad from letter addressed by the
Postmaster General himself TO the Chair,
man of the Committee on Post Office.
and Post Roads of the House Of Repre-
sentatives. We give an extract:
1.-THE first seven sections refer to the
mode of compensating Postmas'ers, 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-
cent themselves to my mind in favor OF
fixed salaries instead Of commissions for
Postmasters:
Under the existing law, minute ac-
counts are kept of the postage on all mail
able matter sent and received, paid as
well as unpaid, involving the necessity
of employing many cler Ks in 'postoffces
for this particular purpose, and also in
the Office of the Auditor Of the Treasury
for the Post Office Department, where
the accounts of Postmasters are exam
ined.
Thus. from Boston, New York. Phil
adclphia, Cincinnati and Chicago--oniy
i've Post Officcs-fifty thousand folios Of
transcript are sent to the Auditor each
quarter. the originals being kept in these
,fiices Tho whole bulk Of accounts from
Ill the post Offices can lie reckoncd by
'ons; and they are mainly kept for the
purpose of arriving at the allowances to
| Postmasters. which are estimated on these
mount of postage effected. For any
other purpose the accounts of mails sent
and received are practically useless. Tar
great mass of mail matter is prepaid by
postage stamps, which are Charged to
Postmasters, and for which they are held
accountable. In this way the revenues
# the Department are sufficiently pro-
tected. If, then, the compensation of
| Postmasters be fixed, as proposed by the
bill in question, no accounts will be re-
luircd of mail matter prepaid by stamps
md the work in all the post Offices Will
he expedited. with great saving of la
Dor and expense The accounting in
the Auditors Office of this Department
will be much simplifcd, and there will be
no difficulty in holding Postmasters to
strict responsibility each quarter; whereas
now in the ordinary course of business.
The accounts of Postmaster for a given
quarter cannot be adjusted until after the
end of the next quarter.
There will also be considerable saw
ng in the items of blanks for post-oices
The estimated cost ofpaper AMI printing
next year is nearly one hundred thousand
dollars. while the proposed change in the
!orm of accounts will require less than
one-half of that expenditure.
The present law limits the commission
# Postmasters to two thousand dollars.
per annum, and also forbids allowances
rom others sources beyond that amount
so that, in fact the Postmasters Of all the
principal Offices already have fixed sala-
ries. Tin no case exceeding four thousand
dollars per annum) though they can only
be raid after presenting voluminous ac-
counts on each and every letter mailed,
and of numerous rates of commissions,
Offering according to the character OF the
u a ! matter. and also &c o:ding to amount
there being no less than ten rates. Other
changes and credits in an account current
number of twenty-five making in all
t'.irty five heads of calculation whereas,
by the Iraroe ed new law, all accounts will
reduced to the simplest foims.
The rule for fixing salaries is such as
t, ensure ample justice to all Offices and
the provisions for revising the classitica-
lion must have the effect to stimulate
Postmasters in performing their duties,
st they should suffer II reduction of salt
nv for diminished business, whilst they
have the assurance of proper addition
Tor an enlarged business.
The reasons for special legislation in
the case of the Pest tfce at New York
are obvious. Its net revenues to the
Department are now at 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 cntitle that Office to separate
classification. while its other interests and
responsibilities are equally commanding
and entitle it to corresponding distinc-
lion in respect to emolumcnt.
These are interesting facts bearing
upon the needed and contemplated re-
iorm-facts in which the people are Vi
aally observation-disclosures the more sim
pie the machinery of government can be
made in any Department the nearer ii
approaches that standard which, since
The foundation of republican institutions
in this country, has been the dcsidcratun
sought.
To recur briefly. The contemplated
reform proposes to divide the compensa'
ton of Postmasters into FIVE classes. the
irst to receive not more than four and mo-
lcess than three thousand dollars, and ST
: IN down 10 tho fifth. which from the bus