Evening star., 1869-12-06
ERAI..

REPORT OF THE POSTsIAsTERG GEN.
ERAI..
Postmaster General Cresswel states that the
ordinary revenues of his Department for the lis
cal year ended June 90, 1869, were sis -3+i ,5i0.2
and the expenditures so ,e9s, 1880. For the
year ended june 30, 1883, the ordinary revenues
were SIC 30, ,610.s0, ami the expenditures s21,-
40, ,592,5. The increase of revenue for the year
iS9 over the preceding fiscal year NSs S2,05l,-
9C3..g2 and the eN penlifures 500. ,53S.S5.
The estimated expenditures for the year end
ing June 80, 1S1, are SIS, 0gi; the revenues,
estimated at 10 per cent. increase over last year
S20, ,961; standing appropriation for free mat
ter, s,0,oCo-S2o, s,9oE leaving deficiency OF
| S4,102 ,132.
The fore egoing estimates do not include the
following special appropriations i'm the nature of
| subsidies: For mail steamship service between
San Francisco Japan and China, $500 ,O00 for like
| service between the United States and Brazil,
| $4,000; for like service between san Francisco
| and Sandwich Islands, S75 ,O00 total, SI2j ,Ooo
OF the deficiency appropriated for the year
1860 there remains uneXPended balance of
| 81 200 Zoo; against which there are properly
| chargeabe sundry unliGuidated accounts, which
| Cannot exceed the following estimates For bal
ances to foreign countries. $40 .Oo0 fOT mail
vice under contract and recognized, S2Si, 1855;
/ for mail service UnrecOgnizcd, $50 ,0o9-S6Si, :,
| 1s6.i5; leaving net balance. after settlement
| and payment of all liabilities, OF 5,st3.65.
| The whole number of stamps, envelopes, and
newspaper wrappers issued during the year
was N2, .o $50, of the aggregate value OF S15,-
| 01S,06lJO.
The Postmaster General recommends a care
| full revision and read jJs.ment by Congress of
| railroad compensation for carrying mails
An interesting exhibit is given showing the
| greater expedition obtained in forwarding the
mails over the leading routes in the country and
! noticeably i'll the transit of mails from Wash
| ipgtOn, New York, Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati
| and st. Louis to Denver City, Salt Lake City,
| Sacramento City, and San Francisco, and back
| and also between New York and New Orleans
and New York and Chicago.
Iarf CONT 70 Err
| countries exceeded the pOssages upon letters re-
ceiyed from Europe in the sum of ~H ,96S.13, the
excess OF letters sent being about six per cent.
| This very small excess of postage on cores
| pOndence sent over that on correspondence re-
| ceiyed is convincing argument i'll favor of
| simplifying our postal arrangements with other
countries by dispensing with the present COM
pIcated and expensive international postage
accounts.
| The necessity of some legislation 20 encourage
the re-establishment of American lines OF trans
atlantic steamers is apparent from the fact
that, of the many lines of steamships now profit
ably employed in the carrying trade between
this country and Europe, there is not one
| steamer bearing the American flag. 1t is hu-
initiating to our national pride to find not only
that our vast commerce with Europe is monOp-
| Olized by foreign steamship lines, but that
even the mails we send abroad have to be
transported under the protection Of foreign gov
crnments.
The illiberal spirit shown by the French Gov
ernment i'm regard to negotiating for the reduc-
ton OF international letter postage Is commented
upon. All efforts to make any satisfactory
arrangement such as has been effected with
other countries have failed, and on the lst of
January next. through the expiration of the
postal convention of 1851 all direct postal com
municatiOn between France and the United
States will cease. This is in striking contrast
with the course of Great Britain, the govern
mcnt Of which has shown the most liberal dispO-
sitiOn to extend postal facilities, audhas accepted
the proposition made by the Postmaster General
to further reduce the postage on letters pre-
paid to threepence (siN cents on the 1st JAN
uary, 1870, of which one penny 1.-TWO cents should
the inland postage vi each country.
The free delivery system, though rapidly i'm
prov ing, has not attained such degree OF eff
of the public. Much can yet be done to promote
the celebrity and precision of tie collection
and delivery OF mail matter, and thereby COM
mend it to popular favor. For some time to
be directed to the attainment OF more thorough
organization and more satisfactory results in
the cities wherein the system has already been
established, rather than i'll seeking its further
The largely increased use OF stamped cnveI-
opes bearing return requests" that is, re-
quests that they be returned to the writer's after
stated number OF DAYS, has operated to de-
crease in considerable degree the number of
dead letters. AT first it was required that there
should be a FORMAL request, printed or written
on the envelope, for the return OF the letter to
the writer. if unclaimed. For the greater con-
venience Of TIE public, il is Now provided by
law that any writer of n letter on which the post
age prepaid may secure n return thereof with
out additional postage, after remaining uncalled
for thirty daNs, by merely iHdOrsng his name
and address thereon. This appearing to be the
simplest cXpedicnt that can be devised, compat-
iblc with safety and accuracy, the department
urges It's universal adoption, with caution,
however, that every writer should indorse his
own address and not trust TO the business card
Of hotel or iilm with which he is not connect
ed. Letters returned to one address cannot be
remailed, even if the residence Of the writer be
known, without additional postage.
The great and constant increase, from wear to
year, in the transactions OF the InOney-order
system, clearly indicates its utility as n safe,
convenient and expeditions mode OF making
small 1cmttances, and shows that il Is steadily
increasing in favor with the public, as practical
experience demonstrates its advantages. With
a view to its further efficiency, the Postmaster
General recommends additional legislation to
authorize its extension to the stations, or sub
post Offices, in the large cities.
Postmaster General Cresswel. treats the ques-
ton How to increase the efficiency sft the postal
service: with clearness and intelligence. He
says that as far as lay in his power during his
short administration he has reduced the ex-
penditures and increased the revenues of the
Department.; but, notwithstanding his efforts,
lie found himself, at the end of tile fiscal wear
confronted with deficit Of II, ,353 G2O.SO.
The principal causes operating to prevent the
Department from becoming self-sustaining are
three, to wit: 1st. The depreciation OF the paper
currency. I'd. Unpaid pOstages on printed mat
ter. Sd. The franking privilege.
The iirst Of these Is temporary. and WILL in q
SnOGI tilnc. III Is nOl'eu cease 10 operate. Again,
| the Department is defrausled out of a large
amount OF postage on newspapers by parties
Who, while protesting to be sending out papers
from known offices Of publication TO regular and
bo"d fde subscribers, are, in fact. loading the
mails with specimen" papers and mere bllsi-
ness circulars disguised in the form of newspa-
pers. For this mischief there Is but one a,ie-
auate remedy. and that is TO require prepayment
| on all printed matter. due regard to the con-
Nenience OF the publishers of newspapers would
require that postage newspapers should be-
charged according 10 the weight OF packages
To accomplish this reform considerable re,iuc-
ton on present rates might he conceded By the
Department.
The foregoing are evils which. doubtless
ought 10 1T corrected. 1t is possible, however
for the department to endure them, and vet
retain a fair degree OF efficiency But the re-
manning cause of complaint has become intol-
cradle, and must be removed, il the department
| i, 10 be saved from utter decentralization. The
| franking privilege has grown to bc an abuse 50
mOn>trous that it liow threatens the very life Of
| the service.
Under the laws establishing the department,
its TeI ehues are not drawn from the public
| treasury, but are collected directly from ali
| alike, whether high or low, rich or poor, who
claim its assistance. Congress having excluded
| all competition by law, every principle Of fair
dealing requires that government shall give to
| the people the most ample and satisfactory
reeompcnse for the postage they are obliged to
pay.
The franking privilege is n special privil-
egc granted to favored class at the ex-
pcnse OF the many. The cost OF Stree