The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-12-17
R.pers Of the Pe.tma.ter General.


Postmaster General Randall takes very high
ground in his annual report, in justification of the
increase In the expenditures OF the poetofdce de-
partment. The report is unusually full and ex.
ceedingy interesting. Alter setting forth the de-
tails Of the increased mail service, and the vari-
Gus improvements and reforms established within
the past two years, of which full statistics are
given, he closes in the following pungent manner:
"The increase Of the expenses Of the postal
service, based as it ia upon public necessity and
agement, is Q subject Of congratulation. The res
toration of so large part Of the postal service
suspended during the war, and the new service
created by Congress since the close OF the war,
equal to one-thrd Of the amount OF service In
operation at that time, have produced less def
cheney than existed in time Of peace and prosper
ity previous to 1850. The proportion OF deficiency
to revenue lie far less now than then notwithstand-
before.
In 1859 the sum of the deficiency was only
81 100000 less than the entire revenue 10 1850
the sum Of the deficiency was about $3,500.0O0
less than the entire revenue for the year 1858 the
deficiency is $40 600 900 less than the entire reve.
nue.. The majority Of the Southern States have
never paid their own expense for postal service.
They will not do so for long time to come.
With the exception of Iowa and Missouri, none OF
the States or Territories west Of the Mississippi
river have ever paid revenue equal to their pos
tai expenses. The cost of the transportation OF
mails in all new States and Territories. and In ell
sparsely populated portions of the country. never
has been paid by those States or Territories out
of their own revenues. Il Is only as population
and business increase, and the country is devel-
oped, that the postal service can be self sustain
ing. The idea that the postofhce department can
be self sustaining, in the present condition OF the
country, il absurd. 1t cannot be. and ought not
to be. for fifty years to come. The revenues will
largely increase, and so will expenditures. Ten
years hence estimate the expenses of the post.
Office department az $40, 000, 900 and the revenues
at nm Oo n a
as the country prospers, and mineral, agricultural
and commercial business increases. The mines
are not yet all developed, the lands are not all
cultivated. the rivers are not all navigated, the
railroads are not al surveyed, the cities are not
all built, the sea has not given rs all We have
right to exact. Our country is not finished. Until
it is finished be is is not wise nor sagacious
man who assumes that the postal service will pay
for itself.
1.-THE postofice department can be made self.
sustaining in one way, and that ie by cutting of
the postal service in the States and territories
where the receipts for hostages are not equal to
the expenses. This would exclnds ell but Iowa
and Missouri or the Mississippi, and all the
States overborre by the rebellion. 1t could
further economic by Withdrawing all aid from
the China, Brazil and Sandwich Islands steamship
lines, thus saving $725.p 900. 1t could save $780,.
600 by abolishng the lettercsrrier system for the
cities. Ii could also economize to the extent of
over 500. 600 by overturning the system of postal
cars. 1t is true that in the public estimation the
indispensable, but the system costs money and
brings small revenue. 1t is all disbursement and
no receipt. What If from twelve to twenty four
hours are saved in the transmission of mails from
Washington and Cincinnati, or St. Louis, or Chi.
cago, and the whole West and Northwest, by
these travelling postofices, which put off and
receive mails while travelling at thirty miles an
hour and which receive mails, make up mails and
distribute mails as they go hurrying along? 1t costs
money, and the government, like a miser, can
keep its money in its chest. 1t gives no return
and helps nobody, but is safely boarded. A halt
ing, tmid. illiberal policy like this will save one
million and lose twenty. Every dollar put out by
the government in subsidies to build railroads, In
subsidies to aid ocean commerce. in liberal appro.
priations to open lines of travel and develop
material resources in great nation like this, is
money put out ct exorbitant usury, and will bring
returns in the development of material wealth,
and in making the nation great and rich and
strong in everything Of value and interest to q
great people"