New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-12-07
TuE pnSTOFEICE.

The annual report of Mr.. Postmaster -Ueheiai
Cresswell is concise and clear in its statements
and statesmanlike in its recommendations.
The ordinary revenues of the Department Tor
the last fiscal year were something over
Els, ,OOO and the expenditures trifle under
1923, 100000; and bad as our Postal system
is it is a comfort to know that inc
increase in revenue has exceeded the increase
in expenditures over one million dollars. The
sales of Postage Stamps and Stamped EnVel-
ones were S15,O78,O6i, an increase OF Sl,2l4,05i
over the preceding year. The number OF mail
routes is stated at $40, making an aggregate
of 223. 73l miles, and in annual transportation
of mails 90,723 400 miles, at cost Oh
81, GS1, 1928. Of these routes 2o.537 miles are
by rail, and 2O,770 by steamboat. Inc
increase over the preceding year mas
been G,S03 miles, and in annual transportation
6,499078 miles, at an increased cost OF Sl4o4fo'
A careful revision and readjustment by Con-
gress of railroad compensation for transport
ing the mails is recommended. Since the COM
pletion of railway communication to the IA
cifc records have been carefully kept OF
the time occupied in the transmission
of the mails between New.YOrk and san
Francisco and intermediate points From these
1t appears that the shortest time from San
Francisco to New-Y York was six days. fifteen
hours, and twenty minutes, and that the aver
age for the month of October was seven days,
two hours, and twenty three minutes.
The system of special agencies has been re-
organized and systematized in q manner which
gives promise of good results The plan Oh
Railway Post Offices is highly commended for
its efficiency. The Postmaster General strongly
recommends the simplfcation of our postal ar
rangements with foreign Governments by
adopting the compulsory prepayment OF all
postage and that the postage collected
Oh all international correspondence, shall
belong wholly to the dispatching Office, with
no CHARGE whateyer at the Office of delivery.
The principle has already been adopted in the
conventions with some of tho countries WITH
which we have direct postal relations. Offers
have been made by responsible citizens to
transport, in first-class steamers, our mails to
Europe for the ocean postage, provided they
can secure long contracts, which the P0stmaste-
General has no authority to make. Some of
these gentlemen proposed that tho postage
might be as low ~ cents per hall ounce.
This looks as though cheap ocean postage may
come by and by.
All attempts TO negotiate o liberal postage
treaty with France have proved abortive, and
il il probable that direct postal cOmmunica-
tions with that country will terminate on the
list of January next. On the other hand, ne
gotiations with Great Britain have been sub
stantaly concluded, by which postage will be
reduced to four cents per half-Ouncc, two cents
ocean and two cents inland.
There are in tho United States 27lO6 Post
masters, an increase during the past year of
CPS. OF these $50 are appointed by the Pres-
dent and Senate, and the remainder by the
Postmaster General During tho past year
there were received at the Dead dieter Office
1859 1862 letters. The money ordcr system has
been gratifying success. The business has
grown from $l,3GO,l99 in 1865, to S2fSlS,O5o
in 1869, and the last year paid profit to the
! Department of SG5,jj3.
IL is refreshing to find q man at the head of
tho POst-01ico Department, who bravely
grappes with that stupendously expensive
humbug, The Franking Privilege. Mr. Cress-
well recommends the total extirpation of the
time -honOred evil, and gives most cogent rca-
sons therefor After careful examination of
the question, he concludes that the expense
of transporting free matter is not less
than five millions per annum, and that about
one.half of the matter thus transmitted through
the mails is in fraud of the laws as they now
stand. If the Department were relieved OF
this incubus it would no doubt in a short
time pay expenses, and, with good manage
ment, ultimately become remunerative. Mr..
Cresswell deserves and will receive for tins
IIo commends to the consideration of Con-
gress the subject of postal telegraph without
venturing any recommendation on the subject,
wisely intimatng that it will be Iwell enough
to get our present postal system in good run
ming order before venturing upon new one.