Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1870-12-14
The Postmaster Generals Report.

else and clear in statement, interesting IN
its statistics, and contains recommendations
which commend themselves to all.
He show. that the affairs OF his depart
ment are in healthy and, in fact, steadily
improving condition. The fevenues for the
fiscal year ended June go we're sl9,I12.-
22O 65, and the expenditures Of all KINDS
s23, 9eS. .S37 63, leaving deficiency Of only
81 900 GIG 50 as against deficiency OF
s5. .354, ,620 rs for the fseal year 1869 The
increase of revenue for the year 1870 over
the year 1869 was 81 ,427,703 90 or 1-IS per
cent. and the increase of expenditures
$500, 700 13, or l.32 per cent, showing
net increase in revenue of 81, ,l2T, ,003 So
The increase in revenue for the year 1870
over the year 1868 was 81 ,26S, 24f 9S, or
81 per cent. The increase in revenue for
1870, as compared with 1869. was less than
the increase for 1869, as compared with
1868, by 1924, l99 90; and The increase in
expenditures for 1870, compared with 1869,
was less than the increase for 1869, com.
pared with 1868, by 5000, ,S32 -. The
increase in the issue Of stamps, stamped
envelopes and wrappers in the fiscal year
1870 ever 1869 was 81, 395, ,06S so, ami the
value of stamps and stamped envelopes lost
in the mails was S9lS 80, which is much
less than the amount of similar losses in
1869.
He recommends the passage of a law to
increase the pay of railroad companies for
carrying the mails, and supports the recon
mcndation by sound reasons. A contract
between government and It's citizens is or
should be as free transaction as contract
between private individuals, and the fact
that many Of the railroad companies find the
pay so inadequate that they have no desire
to taxa the contracts for carrying the mails
work, which undoubtedly occasions a far
greater loss 70 the Department than can be
offset sy the trifling saving Of expenses thus
effected, besides suljecting citizens to great
Inconvenience and annoyances through
Irregularities and delays in the delivery OF
the mails.
He favors legislation to encourage the re-
cstabli,hment of American lines of trans
Atlantic steamships for the transportation
Of the u. S. mails to Europe
On the subject Of the franking privilege,
| the Postmaster General does not seem to
have changed his mind. He still favors its
abolition, and expresses the opinion tha. if
it were repealed the department would soon
md
source Of revenue instead of yearly burden
to the government.
He recommends the adoption of the sys
tenn OF correspondence, or postal
cards, which is in use US in Great Britain
and North Germany These cards, de-
signed to be used for short. open mes
sages By mail, are ruled Oh one side for the
address, on the other for the communica-
ton, and are stamped. In Great Britain
! their price is half penny each, which in
cludes the cost of transportation and de-
livery by the post Office. IF they could be
afforded at as cheap rate in this country
| the system might become popular, it
would undoubtedly be, in a great many
cases, both convenient and useful.
The postal money order system has proved
a success The number OF money order of
fees has nearly doubled since the last fiscal
year and over thirty four million dollars
were, under this system. safely and promptly
transmitted during the present year. The
fees received for the issue of these orders
amounted to hcarly quarter million dol
lars, which w2s an excess of ninety odd
thousand dollars over the expense Of carry
ing on the system, 80 that while the money
order branch of the service is a very great
convenience to the community at large, it
is also positive source Of revenue to the
department There are a number of other
interesting facts stated and suggestions made
blythe Postma ster General in connection with
this system
The postage between Great Britain, the
Netherlands, Italy, Belgium, Switzerland
and and the North German Union has been
reduced from twelve to six cents which is
especially important in the case OF Great
Britain and Moth Germany, between which
countries AID the United States very large
amount OF correspondence taxes place. Dl-
rect postal intercourse with France las been
suspended since January |. 1870, in conse-
qucnce of the abrogation of the postal con
vention with that country. This, it is
hoped, will be remedied by the government
of France when peace shall be restored TO
that country.
The document contains many other points
of minor Importance, but we omit noticing
them for want of space. Suffice it to say
that the report is a most excellent one
throughout, and we have no doubt the sug
gestions it contains will be generally ap-
proved By Congress and the people.
DECLINES TO CONTEST. - Hon. d. J.
Morrell declines TO co; test the election of
Mr.. Speer in the Seventeenth Congress
siOna District. He saws