The Plymouth Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1869-1941, 1870-12-08
POSTMASTER GENERALS REPORT.
Post OFFICE DEPARTMENT,
II ~

",
stE: The ordinary revenues Of this Department
fer the fiscal year ending Jure go 1870 were 49,
IT, 900 IS, and the expenditures OF all kinds s23,
$685. S37 63 For the year ending June 30, 1869, the
ordinary revenues were *1S,34i51 -, and the ex
penditures COS 131 50. The increase of revenue
for the year 1870 over the year 1869, was q. 427,
9.93 or rs per cent and the increase of expen-
ditures 1900 761 10, or 30 per cent showing net
increase in revenue of 127. DOB 81 The increase
in revenue for the 1870 over the year 1865 was
$3479619 So or 81 IS per cent, and the increase OF
expenditures for 1870 1863 81 ,26S, "a 9S
or 5.57 per cent The increase in revenue for 1870
compared with 1859, was less than the Increase
'or 1850 compared with 1863: by So 1899, and
the increase in expenditures for 1870 compared
with 1863. less than the increase for 1869 COM
pared with 1868. by $3.50 S32.72 If, In ADDITION to
the ordinary revenues the department be credited
with 81 0O0 $50 appro priated for free matter and
the amounts drawn and expended for subsidies to
steamship lines, it will appear that the deficiency
provided out of the General Treasury for the year
1870 will be S2.s4,116.9s, against 1891, SD for
the year 1869 There were in the service OF the
department on the S)th of June, 1870. 7,295 con-
tractors for the transportation of the mails. OF
mail routes in operation there s.s6l aggre
eating in length pal 1872 miles; annual transporta-
ton, 970 2i9 96 miles and in annual cost $40, S4-
653 Adding tie compensation of railway post
Office clerks, route agents, local agents, mail
messengers. mail route messengers and baggage
masters in charge of registered packages amount
ing to lao 500, the aggregate annual cost was
s12 3J55i3 The service was divided as follows:
There was an increase over the preceding year IN
length of routes of 1901 miles in annual trans
III.
Adding the increased cost for railways. post office
clerks route. mail and other agents, S19o, COB, the
total increase in cost was S673,S15.
The foregoing statement or increase ana costs
does not include service for special Offices There
were at the close of the year. 2. 1863 of these each
with mail carrier, whose pay from the depart,
ment is rot allowed to exceed the Let postal yleld
of toe office Special routes and their carriers are
included, however, in the number OF contractors
and routes as given above. The attention OF con,
and readustmenl of the rates OF compensation
established by law for the transportation OF mails
on railroad routes, The managers OF railroads
insist that the pay awarded them under the opera
ton OF the act of the Sd of March, 1865, is made
quatc to the service required, and many or them
have refused and still refuse. 10 enter into con-
tracts with the department, alleging that they will
not bind Themselves by permanent arrangement
at the present prices. The consequence is that or
many of the most important routes the mails are
carried az suits the convenience of the companies
and with but little regard 10 the public interest.
Many complaints of inefficient service, and in some
instances of gross neglect the part of railroad
companies, have been made during the past year
by some OF the leading newspapers of the country,
but Notwithstanding the most persistent efforts 10
remedy the evils complained OF. very little II any
Improvement has yet been effected, the depart
ment having no control Of the time or manner or
running trains, except in cases where contracts
have been regularly executed. After careful
consideration of the subject, j am satisfied that
the compensation fixed by law Is not
fair return for the important service rem
/ repeat my recommendation that re
adjustment of their pay be made by law, and
a. the same time tney De reduireu 70 ndton nr.
cedent to drawing any increase or compensation;
The amount of fines imposed on contractors, and
deductions made from their pay on account oil
failures and other delinquencies during the last
year. 500, 1916 ~ and the amount RENTED Tor
the period SOS 753 20, leaving the net amount
sri OF. This shows increase on the net
amount Of fines and deductions the year 1869,
OF sci 379 25 and decrease in the amount OF re-
missions of $17,197.74. The increase IL the fines
aud deductions il attributable to incrc ased de-
linquencies hut to the fact that since the LIST OF
April. 1869. the provisions of many contracts for
the forfeiture of the pay Of trip when the trip
has not been made has been enforced in conformity
with the act OF July ., 1896. Since the adoption
OF this rule, contractors have evinced much
greater amount OF energy In their efforts TO carry
the mails through to the pointsNf destination
During the rast year. 3.n7i cases of loss by mail
depredations occurred. of which 1.514 registered
letters were reported to the department, invoiv-
ing losses In bonds. drafts. and money to the
amount of 1893 81, comfortable portion OF
which has been recovered. The number Of ar
rests for violations of the postal laws was l43,
and the number Of convictions OF those who were
brought to trial "A, the remainder being released,
acquitted, or held for trial. The department IA
constantly availing itself of all the means within
it's reach to give perfect security TO the mails and
to bring to justice any OF its employees who yield
To the temptation to violate the trust reposed in
them.
The cost of the trans Atlantic mail steamship
service during the three preceding fiscal years
was "a follows: For the fiscal year ending June
80 1877, S501 .33SUl; Tor tie nscal year ending
June 30, 1885, s4s1 26f a for the fiscal year ending
June 30, 1860, S33G, 7.49. From July
1 to December 81. 1864, the Atlantic
mail service was performed by steamships of the
Hamburg, Cunard. Bremen and Imam Lines.
sailing from New York On Tuesdays, Wednesdays, !
Thursdays and Saturdays of each week. The |
agents of each of these lines having decined to |
transport the mails for the reduced rates of sea |
postage established by the additional postal con
ventiOn with the United Kingdom, which went |
into operation the 1st OF January, 1870, The |
service was for short time nterrupted but |
arrangements speedily concluded on /
the basis of the reduced rates of compensation |
for regular semi-weekly conveyance of mails To |
Europe by the steamships OF the Liverpool and
Great Western Company. Williams 4 Guon |
agents, on Wednesdays, and by the steamships of |
the North German Loyds. of Bremen, on satur- !
days, which were soon followed by arrange |
mcnt with the Hamburg American Packet Com |
pany for an additional weekly service on Tuesday,
on the same terms, thus securing tri-weeky |
dispatch of mails by steamers of average good |
speed. Contracts were executed with each OF |
these companies for the conveyance OF the mails |
1870. and ending December 81, 1871, copies
Of which are annexed. In the month OF July |
last, the steamships Of the North German LLOYD |
and d amburg lines withdrawn from service
on thor respective routes, and temporary ar
rangenent was made With the Inman line to convey
the mails from New York on Saturday of each |
week, supplying the omitted trips of the North |
German lloyd line, aud after period of nearly
three months had elapsed, with no prospects or
early resumption OF The North German Lloyds /
of Bremen, was constrained to annul the con
tract with that company for repeated failures, and
to make permanent contract with the Liverpool,