New-York tribune., 1874-11-28
THE POST-OFFICE.
REPORT OF POsTMAsTER-GENERAL
JEWEII


sERvICE-No REASON WHY THE MONEY ORDER
BRANCH SHOULD NOT BE sELF-sUsTAINING THE
CLAIMS OF THE RAILROADS DIsCUssED-THE NEW
POSTMASTER GENERAL DETERMINED TO ENFORCB
ECONOMY IN EXPENDITURES.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrDUNBl
WAsHINGTON, Nov. 27.-The report of the
General Is completed The revenues for the
year ending June So 1914 were s2L9G65 and the ex-
pendture <32i2G4 The estimated expenditures for the
year ending Juno30 1876 t696o3f; total estimated
revenue s29lisl56. leaving deficiency to be appTo-
priated out of the General Treasury OF s5s7s These
estimates do not include appropriations for steamship
service and stamps. amounting 20 s2,G9s.5Oo The
use Of the registered letter system Is steadily
increasing. Ihefe has been marked gain In
tho timefof transporting through mails, an average
gain from NewYolk to San Francisco OF hours and 81
minutes gain for mails to New Orleans OF hours and
81 minutes and going NORTH OF one hour ana 80 minutes
and perceptblc gam all through routes In regu-
ary and certainty The foreign mail system is in bet
ter condition than ever before. The number OF post
Offices in operation Juue 30 1874, 3,9i total num-
ber OF appointments during the year, 1924 The results
OF the extensions Of the cttercarrer system of the
most gratifying character. There has been gain OF
over 80 per cent IN the amount OF fees received from
money orders There been only erroneous pay
mont in 96 payments and only "A in as The increase
IN money exchanges with Great Britain and Switzerland
has been very marked.
NEWSPAPER POSTAGE.
By an act Of Congress approved June %, 1914 it is re-
qured that and after the 1st OF January 1876 postage
newspapers and periodical publications mailed !fom
q known office of publication or news agency and ad-
dressed to regular subscribers agents. shall be
charged at tho rate OF two cents per pound If issued
weekly or oitener; and at three cents per pound, II
issued less frequently than a week Tle act pro-
vides that matter shall DO weighed in bulk aud prepaid
with adhesive stamps to be specially devised
for the purpose Tho manner OF applying stamps
is left discretionary with the Department, and system,
which it is hoped will work satisfactorily, has been
devised for carrying the law into effect. Tie stamps are
course Of preparation and will be ready at the
time appointed for their use 1t Is expected that the
revenues OF the Department from postage printed
matter Will DO increased by the enforcement OF this act
Notwithstanding that rates cheaper than before as
now postage Will be prepaid, while heretofore much
loss has been occasoued TO the Department on account
OF the n0ncolecton OF postage at the point Of delivery
THE MONEY ORDER SYSTEM.
The money order business OF this Department appears
to be rapidly growing in public favor, and ia undoubt
edly very great accommodation TO a large number Of
persons who not within reach of banking facilities
CT who unaccustomed TO the OF them. Yet see
why this branch OF service should not be made
Selfsustalning. Tue apparent profits OF the money
order s. stem dutng the last year are about si5Ol,
while certain expenses to the amount OF slSOeJ Tor
clerk hire and stationery In the Post-Olce Department.
Auditors ON e. ana for money order clerks In lie POST
Office not charged to tue money order business, Dut
paid out OF appropriations or thar. while be money
order system agpars to eld revenue o o5 ooo there
the fees OF money orders be increased accorl lance
with the views OF the superintendent submitted mere
with Gee appendlx, or that the money Or!er system
SHALL Ike any Other business, De made 10 deIrdy all lts
own expenses.
TRANSPORTATION OF MAILS.
Tho number and length Of mail routes IN the United
States require expenditure for trausporatOn which
dwarfs into insigncance the cost OF similar service in
other countries. For the year ending June 80 1876 is
estimated that this item alone Will exceed slodOOOO
Tle portion 10 be paid to railroads will to
han sOO0OoO Opn.ons have differed wildly as TO tue
best method OF determining tue Ilghfd OK
pensaOn TO be paid 10 railroads Tor services rendered
TO TINS Dcpartu;ent Heretofore their nav bas been
based Oil the weight Of mails with al aIG maj allow
on certain tnOTougfdres for providing posal cars
AT present the matter Is in very unsatisfactory con-
dtOn, and some equitable mode Of adjustment should
be at devised and sanctioned 3y law. Some OF the
roads have represented TO the Depar mcnt thar the
carrying OF the mails little or NJ object to
them. because the express cOmp1Di.s were wllins
to pay much more for the accommodation furnished
than the Department would allow. On the other
hand representatives of the leading EXPIRE companies
have contended that the act which TOOK chee; jay l.
1874 permitting the Transmission ly MAI! o packages
OF merchandise weighing not over 1our ptGnis at the
rate OF one cent lUr each two ounces, s taxing away the
most profitable part oi their Luslnca' anh WI ioOh
render them unable 10 meet the heavy r,uta,s nand
ed by the roads Thus Is presented eur. 10 anomaly
the roads claiming that the Government does not y
the express COMPANIES cliInug, on the ot.tr maud,
thdt tho las Is chccting Sdtl q tim'Autlon of
their yenUes that they unable 10 ,ele to the
demands OF the ieals find no dIsp s,oh o. tne pare
OF any railroad transportation company 10 deal ON
q
and Justice. trust Congress will adopt some equitable
plan or adjustment, whlch VIII n9t hc 9urHensome
the companies. the act OF March g. io'J re1ujdstng
the pay OF railroads, ON the basis OF tuc T0lS Of Tho
mails carried add d mu'h more largely thHn was nh-
,icpated to the expenses Of the ID D.lJrlmcnL TIE
appropriation Tor that purpose having rceohe a.
would suggest that the time has COM Wien reso-
lutte effort should be made TO determine how far iDe
to accommodate the public without tre.pssins unwar-
rantaby upOu the sphere OF private enterprise There
nif m - III a
1t better genius of the American people 10 help
themselves than to depend on tIe State
TIE FUNCTIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT..
To communicate intelligence ana dissc inmate infor-
nation are primary functions OF this Department. Any
divergence from the legitimate sphere Of its operation
tends disturb the first rule, tba iu the ordinary
business OF life, the recipient OF benefit j. the proper
party to pay for it, since there is escape from tho
law that every service must, IN way, be
paid for by some one. Moreover in a country Of vast
extent like this where most OF the operations OF tho
Department are carried on remote from the controlling
center the disposition to engage IN lateral euerprses
or less foreign to the theory of ths system. will
lead to embellishments whence extrali,ion wolli be
dficult. For years the franking privilege az ncu
bus on the Department and an OJ>tac., o eicent
postal reform. lis abolition. fot whlth w are
largely indebted to the resolution and wisdom
measures. which have yet to be iuaugurated
aud pressed Issue be'orc the Department
can become self-susainns. While l do not fitter my
SELF that shall be able 20 accomplish this most desr-
able end during the short period ot ny service,
nose 10 keep steadily IN view aud to drGct my beet
eforts toward its attainment.
For the first time III the course Of life devoted
actively TO business find myself OF estab
lishmen the expenditures OF which largely exceed It's
recepis-a staic Of affairs which strikes with great
force a mind less disciplined 10y that close in
spection Of accounts enforced In mercantile pursuits
ordinary business affairs there bus end this
OF things-0ankrupcy The deDc,Hcy OF this
partmeDt has varied OF late from 10 To 40
cent while from the bes: data at my mmand,
[ have been compelled TO submit estimates
for tho year ending June 80. 1876, which
will show expected excess Of expcnaIlurcs over
receipts Of nearly sOO0 about IS per Of the