The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-12
Ruin and Deficiency of the Post Once
Department.


Department..
The Postmaster General in his report shows
that the expenditures of the department ex-
ceeded the receipts this last year nearly six mil
lion and half dollars A few years ago there
was little surplus of income over expenses:
but gradually, from year to year, the depart
ment has been getting in q worse condition
and becoming burden upon our overburdened
taxpayers. The estimated ordinary expendi-
ture over receipts for the next fiscal year is
put down at six millions seven hundred and forty
thousand dollars, besides special appropriations
required of over eight hundred thousand dol
lars for certain ocean mail service This will
make, according to the estimate, an excess of
expenditure over receipts of more than seven
millions and a half. But it is probable the
| deficiency will reach nearer fourteen Millions
for the department, as we said, is going every
year from a bad to worse financial condition.
How is this state OF things to be remedied
The postal service is being constantly extended
as settlement advances over our vast territory,
and the cost increases in proportion without
q compromising return We cannot go
back 10 higher rates of postage, for
the people would not sanction that, and
then II is doubtful ifhigber rates would increase
the income of the department. The only
remedy is to incorporate the telegraph business
Of the country with the postal service and
place all under the Post Office Department.
One is as necessary to be under control Of
tho pfhar Tho sarvioa Ia ,f
the same Characterised of afiording and facili-
tating communication TO the people in every
section OF the country. There is, perhaps,
more urgent necessity for the telegraph to be
in the hands of the government than the postal
business for the former has become the great
est agent Of civilization and for the transaction
Of business. and should be made cheap. relia-
BILE and inviolabe. II should not be trusted to
the hands Of private individuals or companies.
| The government could give the people cheap
Geographic communication--yes, at reduction
! TO third or fourth the present charges-and
still leave a handsome surplus OF earnings TO
make up the yearly increasing deficiencies Of
the postal service. Thus we should have much
cheaper and more reliable telegraphic commu-
nication among the people and relief from
the deficiencies and burdens Of the Post Office
Department. without this either the postal
service will be ruined or our overtsxed people
will have to bear the weight of large yearly
deficiencies.
| We urge this measure. therefore on public
| grounds entirely. We have no hostility
10 any telegraph company or companies.
as has been stated. nor to the indi-
vidual members OF directors. The mana
| gers Of the telegraph companies are patriotic
! and pious persons, who say their prayers
| and 20 10 church regularly. and who, no
| doubt, will find comfortable place in heaven
when they depart from this world. But we
| cannot shut our eyes to the fact that they look
| only TO their own pockets and care nothing
about the public interests. We know that
their charges for telegraphing are enormous
or O reasonable return for the service they rem
der. The Western Union Telegraph Company
commenced with n capital of three hundred
and sixty thousand dollars at a hundred dol
lars share, upon which tho subscribers paid
only twenty FIVE dollars share. Its capital
now i over forty-one millions. The stock has
been watered from time TO time for the pur-
pose Of enriching the managers and stockbold-
ers. OF course this watering process Knocked
down the market price Of the stock from Two
hundred and fifty (ths highest point II ever
reacbed), in 1863 and 1864, TO thirty five, which
il the present value. But then the stock has
been doubled and quairupled over and over
again 10 the hands OF the holders thus pling
UP millions upon millions in a manner unpar-
alleled in the history Of business enterprises.
The public, a. consequence, are made 70 pay