The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-11-26
The Post Office Department.

Sd Postmaster General Creswelfs annual re-
port is before the people and is a very inter-
estinp and instructive document. No de-
partment of the government comes so direct
" and intimately in contact with the people
in their daily life and, curiously enough, none
gives more general satisfaction by its efficien
ey of management and care of public con-
venience. Naturally more subject to cavilling
and criticisms than any other, from its con-
tact with the people, its vast army OF EN-.
ployes and its numerous contracts with car
riers, its management has escaped the viru-
lent assaults which have been visited upon
the conduct of coordinate departments,
which may be accepted as proof that its oper-
atoms have, in the main, been satisfactory.
The report shows that the department is as
far from being self-sustaining as ever. The
receipts for the year ending June 80 1873,
were S22, 1895, TAI and the expenditures $29,-
OS4,945, showing deficit of $6.0oS, 204. 1t is
fair to conclude that no expectation can be
entert aimed that the department will be self
sustaining at any time in the near future.
The great extent and scattered population OF
the country, requiring long and expensive
routes for the convenience of the people,
compel much greater expenditure than can
be met by the revenues Of the Office. The
system must be made to meet the require
ments of all the people and what is not paid
in one way must be supplied in another. The
repeal of the ranking privilege may effect an
apparent extinction of this deficiency next
year, as the other branches of government
now make large contributions to the support
of this department.
The enormous extent of the postal service
is shown by statement of few general
statistics. There are 1924 mail routes ag-
gregating 256,210 miles in length and an an
nual transportation Of 119,909,650 miles.
There are 1924 post offices, an increase of
1881 over last year. During the year 3l6,-
364,635 letters and 5S,951, O3s papers were de-
livered by carriers In the cities.
The risks ofsending money by mail are IL
Illustrated by the fact that 2,1S5 registered
letters went astray of which BIB are wholly
lost, 800 have been found aud 973 are still
missing. OF dead letters, 4,402.34S appear
of which 1891 los have been delivered to
owners or Writers and 1888, 4S2 have been
destroyed. The money order system demon
strates its usefulness by serving tor the trans
mission of $57,516,216. That some losses
occur even to patrons of this system is shown
by the fact that the excess of issues over pay
ments was 1921, 2O4.
Mr.. Creswell discusses in vigorous way
several propositions respecting mis- depart
ment-notably the subjects of Postal Tele-
graphs and Postal Saving Banks, declaring
unequivocally in favor of both. The former
commends itselflo the favorable consideration
of the public and would be Of essential conven-
fence to the people. Its adoption may fairly
be assumed 10 be only a question of time.
The Savings Bank project meets no great
public need which is not already satisfactorily
supplied, and is of so vast financial magni-
tude as to be just subject Of apprehension and
distrust. Both these questions we have al
ready discussed to considerable extent and
shall undoubtedly have occasion to treat
again.