The New York herald., 1873-11-22
THE POSTMASTER GENERALS REPORT.
WASHINGTON, Nov. q, 1873
The following points are from the elaborate re-


port OF the Postmaster General
The ordinary revenues OF the Post ONCE De-
partment for the fiscal year ending June,
1873, were ss2,soe,74l. and the expenditures
mated expenditures for the year Is7S are
s33929,9l2, the total estimated revenues
s2s, 29s, sis-leaving deficiency 10 be appropriated
out oil the general Treasury oi $46S6 This does
not include $l225, 900 for mail service between san
Francisco and Japan and China, and between the
United States and Brazil, and between san fran-
cisco and the Sandwich Islands.
The report OF the Postmaster General IN SPEAK
that SO many persons Will persist sending money
through the mails, thereby suolectng themselves
and the public to Iisk and tempting sne Meat weak
ment provides the means or sale TRANSMISSION oy
money orders at an insignificant cost. some OF
the most experienced officers IN the service are OF
opinion that Congress should adopt sucn ieRisia-
tion as Will prevent the use OF the malls Tor the
conveyance OF money IN letters. ana conpei Inc
registration OF every valuable package.
Il is stated that, counting all the railway lines
bolh ways, the mail service over them Is 1920
| miles daily Comparing the year 1878 with 1872 the
rate OF increase IN the total NUMBER OF letters eA-
changed with foreign countries was l2}s per cent
and the rate of increase IN the amount OF
postages thereon was eight per cent. the
Increase in the number OF letters exchanged with
European countries was l0s4 per cent, and the in
crease OF postages thereon amounted 10 ~ per
cent
new contract has been executed with the
Pacific Mail Steamship Company for the additional
monthly mail between san Francisco ana Hong
Kong via Yokohama, authorized by the act OF June
lS72 The additional service authorized by the
act should have been commenced the lst OF octo-
ber by American built iron steamships OF not less
than 1900 tons register. The company has, how
ever iailed to comply with this contract, because,
is alleged, OF unexpected difficulties which re-
ing constructed for that service No good reason is
perceived why the company should not be per.
hited 10 continue 1ne service az AZ u1s ,sa
hne, with the understanding that II shall make no
claim upon e the additional al subsidy or any I part IT
heretofore, in 1ull compensation Tor The
additional service until the contract shah
be fully complied with. A postal convention,
establishing and regulating an exchange OF CORE
spondence between the United states and Japan
by means OF direct lines of steamers plying be-
formally agreed upon and executed with the
Charge d'Anares OF Japan at Washington, and is
TO be carried into effect SIX months after Its rat.
cation by the government OF Japan.
The Postmaster General, In speaking OF the
regulation between the United States and France
for postal convention, says the Department
yielded to France increase OF the rate OF letter
ing her postage by the smaller standard or weight,
and nothing canbe urged against Its adoption ex-
cept the demand that this country shall use
the exceptional French standard Tor rating letters.
1t has been submitted by the French Minister to
this government ior instruction. and the Posts
master General trusts 1t will be accepted, as IL con-
cedeS all that, in his judgment, the department.
can concede TO effeet settlement OF the veXed
questions in the controversy, due regard being
had TO the interests and convenience OF the
The Postmaster General repeats his recommen-
dation for the prepayment Of postage on news
papers and other matter OF the second class by
weight OF the package rather than by the present
system. So marked would be the improvement in
collecting under this plan that he believes the de-
partment could safely consent in case OF It's adop-
ton, to a reduction in newspaper rates OF 40 per
cent on present prices.
He further recommends that on all matter OF the
third class the postage be made uniform at one
cent Tor each TWO ounces or traction thereof and
the maximum weight OF packages increased TO
four pounds; also that any person be permitted in
that additional charge to write form OF presenia
tion IN any book, pamphlet, magazine, periodical
or other matters OF the third class, and also that
the sender OF any package be permitted, without
address on the outside thereof, with the word
From, -, above or preceding + the a same 50 as to
sender, ana TO write briefly on any package the
number and name OF the articles enclosed.
The Postmaster General at some length recon-
mends
POSTAL SAVINGS REPOSITORIES.
Throughout the plan for their organization and
works two ideas predominate-frst, the United
States is to insure the sale return OF principal
and interest whenever demanded;. and, sec
ond. the extensive machinery OF the Post
Office is to be used to bring its
advantages home to the great mass OF the people,
and the system, organized and constructed on the
basis presented, would not only encourage econ
omy and habits OF saving on the part OF all who
be w wou sIs ar to ze and Keen ID
in circulation the immense amounts which are
paid out for wages and IN business, and gave every
depositor direct interest IN the stability OF the
government
The Postmaster General again urges the assump-
ton by government OF the control OF the telegraph.
A government postal telegraph Is the only means
by which the full benefit OF this great invention
can be secured. for wherever the telegraph is un-
der government management 1t Is operated at us
minimum cost and the people receive the benefit
in low rates OF transmission and greatly extended
facilities The telegraph should be made part Of
the postal system without further delay.
AS Congress does not seem inclined to exercise
the discretion given in the third section OF the act
OF July "a 1885, to appoint appraisers to value the
lines, property and effects OF the companies now
in operation and as the Western Union Company
appears TO be unwilling to make a voluntary
sale at fair price, the Postmaster GeDeral
recommends that provision be made by law for the
immediate establishment OF the postal telegraph
and Tor the construction OF all such lines as may be
needed, under the direction OF competent Officers
OF the engineer corps OF The army. The expert
ence they acquired during the war OF the rebel
lion would enable them to do the work in the
most economical and satisfactory manner.