The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1872-12-13


The postage thereon amounted to,
81 ,S7l ,257 25. The total weight of
mails exchanged with European|
countries exceed eight hundred and
twenty tons. The cost of the UnitedI
States transatlantic Mail Steamship
service is $500, ,301 20, The total
cost of the United States Ocean,
Steamship service, including the
amounts paid to subsidized lines of
mail steamers was 81 ,027 ,020 o.
The following are the only steamship
lines now receiving subsidies for mail
service under special acts of Con-
gress; The Pacific Mail S. S. Co..
receives $500. 900 per annum for car
rving monthly mail between San
Francisco, Japan and China, which
will be increased to 81 .000, 900 per
annum for semi-monthly mail on
and after October 1st, 1873; the O..
s. aud Brazil S. S, Co. receives $780, :
600 per annum for carrying month
" mail between New York and Rio
de Janciro, Brazil; and the Califor-
mia, Oregon and Mexico s. S. Co.
receives S75, 900 per annum for car
rying a monthly mail between San
Francisco and Honolulu, Hawaiian
Islands, making the total amount of
mail S. s. subsidies at present, SIPS,
900 per anuum.
Our postal communications with
all parts of the civilized world have
been placed upon the most advanta-
geous footing by improved postal
conventions and arrangements re-
Gently concluded with tho leading
commercial countries in Europe and
America, and the gratifying state,
ment is made that with the conclu-
sion of satisfactory convention with
France, the details of which have
been definitely agreed upon By the
French postal department, subject to
the approval of the Minister of Fl,
nance, little remains to be aceom-
plished by treaty for some time to
come.
In respect to the reduction of the
rate, or improved facilities of the
postal service. your favorable consid-
GRAFTON is respectfully invited to the
recommendations of the Postmaste,
General for an increase of the ser
vice from monthly to asemi-month.
" trip on the mail steamships to
Brazil; for subsidy in aid of the es
tablishment of an American line ol
mail steamers between San Francis
co, New Zealand and Australia; fol
the establishment of postoffice saw
ings banks, and for the increase o.
the salaries OF the heads of bureaus
l have heretofore recommended
the abolition of the franking priv
ilege, and see no reason now fol
changing my views on that subject
1t not having been favorably regard
ed by Congress, however, l now sug
gest modification of the priyileg,
to correct its glaring and costly abu
ses.
L would suggest the appointment
of a Committee or Commission Il
take into consideration the bes
method, equitable to private corpora
tons who have invested their tim,
and capital in the establishment 0
telegraph lines, of acquiring the it'll
to all telegraph lines, now in opera
ton, and of connecting this seryic
with the postal service OF the ma
ton. 1t is not probable that thi
subject could receive proper con
sideration during the limit of tht
next session of Congress, but it ma,
be initiated so that the further action
may be fair to the Government ant
to the private parties concerned.
There are but three lines of oceai
steamers, namely the Pacific Mai
Steamship Company, between Sal
Francisco, China and Japan, Will
provision made for a semi-rnonthl,
service after October 1st, 1873; thu
United States and Brazil Line
monthly. and the California and New
Zealand and Australian Line. month
ly, plying between the United State
and foreign ports, owned and opera
ted under our flag. I earnestly rec
ommend that such liberal contract
for carrying the mails be authorized
with those lines as will insure thei
continuance if the expediency of ex
tending the all of the Governmen
to lines of steamers which hithert.
have not received itshould be deemec
worthy OF the consideration of Con
gress. Political and commercial OBJ
iects make it advisable to bestow sucl
aid on the line under our flag betweel
Panama and the western Soutl
American ports. By this mean
much trade now turned to othe
countries might be brought to US t,
tbs mutual advantage of this countr,
and those lying in that quarter of sh
continent of America.
PENSIONS.
The amount paid for pensions il
the last fiscal year was $50, ,469 $40
an amount larger by So, ,70S, ,538 thai
was paid the preceding year. OF tn
above amount, s2'315 400 was pal,
under the act of Congress of 1871, t,
survivors of the war of 1872. Th
increase of pensions by legislation o
Congress has more than kept plac
with the natural yearly losses fror
the rolls. The act of Congress O
juno 9Th 1872, has added an estimat
ed amount of $3.50, 600 per annum t.
to the rolls without increasing th,
namber of pensions. We canno
theEefore look for any sgbstantiol de
crease in the expenditure of tn,
Government on this account for som,
time to come. or as long as Congress
continues to change the date of pen
sions. The whole number of sol
lick<al IL, ..r1... ee 1