The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-12-08
Postmaster Generals Report.
TIE FRAMING PRIVILEGE.

Mr.. Crcswell is very severe upon the
traiIking privilege. He declares that it is
| impossible to prevent frauds under its opc-
ration. Ii it be urged that to abolish it
| would prevent or impede the diffusion OF
the knowledge OF public affairs among the
| people, then it may be said IN reply that II
| it be the purpose of Congress to give intor-
nation to the people, a tar more telling eX-
pedient may. be resorted to. An unbur-
dened press, managed and directed by pri-
vate enterprise, can do more than Congress
| to enlighten the masses. Better far that the
franking privilege should be abolished, and
that all newspapers sent to regular and
bona fde subscribers from known office Of
publication should be carried free, without
regard to weight, throughout the United
States, as now throughout the country
wherein printed and published. The re-
ceipts Of the department for the last year
FROM newspapers and pamphlets" amount
| ed to ST, SS2. This portion Of its receipts
| the department can forego, provided it can
he protected against the frauds, more than
three times in amount, inseparablc from the
| franking privilege. There are 81 1888 persons
who have the tranking privilege. 1t is the
parent of fraud. 1t costs at least five MIL
| lions Of dollars per annum.
THE FINANCIAL CONDITION.
The ordinary revenues of this department
for the fiscal year ended June 80, 1869, were
SIS, 3344 80, and the expenditures. 81, $685.
l3l. For the year ended June 80, 1865, the
ordinary revenues were SIG, 292 600, and the
expenditures, S22,73O,592. The increase Of
revenue for the year 1869 over the preceding
fiscal year was S2,05l 800, and the increase
of expenditures $685. ,53S. The increase OF
revenue for 1868 over 1867 was 81, O55, 1913,
and the increase of expenditures for 16GS
over 1867 was s., 49,, 100. The ratio of in
crease of revenue for the year 1869 IS 1888
per cent, and of expenditures 4.25 per
cent, compared with receipts and eXpendi-
lures for the year 1868. The increase Of
revenue for the year 1869 is greater than
the increase for 1868 by S99G, 33335, and the
increase of expenditures for 1863 Is less
than the increase for 1868 by -, 527 $40. Ii,
therefore, the increase of receipts be CON-
pared with the increase of expenditures for
the year last ended, it will appear that the
increase of receipts exceeded the increase
of expenditures in the sum OF 81 ,0S4 81 !;
while like comparison OF the receipts and
expenditures for the year 1865 will show an
excess in the increase of expenditures over
the increase Of receipts for that year OF
81, 439, 535.
THE GREAT SOUTHERN NAIL.
Mails have been transmitted twice day
each way between New York and New Or-
leans since the 1st Of March last; once over
the southwestern route uG Washington,
D. c., Lynchbur2, Va, and Knoxville,
Tenn; and once over the western route
via Louisville, Ky, and Humboldt, Tenn.
By the latter route 4 portion of the trips
have been made in shorter time than by the
former, the shortest being 20 hours and 80
minutes going south, and rs hours and 10
minutes going north, while the shortest by
the former was 81 hours and % minutes
going south, and So hours and 70 minutes
going north. Greater regularity exists on
the southwestern route, however, on which
the average time from March to september,
inclusive, was 50 hours and % minutes going
south, and 80 hours and SO minutes going
north, while the average on the western
route tor the same period was 81 hours and
Is minutes going south, and 90hours and Il
minutes going north. Taking both direc-
lions together, there were carried through
from March to September, inclusive, on the
southwestern route 429 mails, at an average
speed of 80 hours and Il minutes and on
the western route 800 mails, at IN average
speed of 81 hours and Is minutes. BY COM
parison with the through mail tables IN the
last annual report it will be seen that the
average time on both these routes is sensibly
improved.
APPOINTMENTS.
Number OF post-ofIices established during
the wear, 1858 number discontinued, ,02s;
number in operation on June 80, 1869, y lC6;
number of offices to be filled by appoint
ments of the President, $50; number to be
filled By appointments OF the fostmastei-
General, 2G, l26.
The number and aggregate compensation
of special agents, route agents. mail route
ffs,onro roafol railway clerks, local