The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1874-12-05


partment appears to be rapidly growing in
public favor, and is undoubtedly very
great accommodation to large number of
persons who are not within reach of bank
ing facilities or who are unaccustomed to
the use of them. Yet see no reason why
this branch of service should not be made
elfsustaining. The apparent profits Of
the money order system during the last
year are about sos, 900, while certain ex-
penses to the amount of $1S2, 900 for clerk
hire and stationery in the Post Office De-
partment, Auditors Office, and for money
order clerks in the Post Office, are not
charged to the money order business, but
are paid out of appropriations; or that,
while the money order system appears to
yield a revenue of $105, 900, there is, in
fact, deficit of $40, 900. l suggest, there
fore, that the fees of money orders be in
creased in accordance with the views of the
Superintendent, or that the money order
system shall, like any other business, be
made to defray all its own expenses.
TRANSPORTATION OF MAILS.
The number and length of mail routes
in the United States require an expendi-
ture for transportation which dwarfs into
insignihcance the cost of similar service in
other countries. For the year ending June
80, 1876, it is estimated that this item alone
will exceed $40, 900, 900. The portion to be
paid to railroads will amount to more than
$4,000, 900. Opinions have differed widely
as to the best method of determining the
rightful rates of compensation to be paid
to railroads for services rendered to this
Department. Heretofore their pay has
been based on the weight of mails, with an
additional allowance on certain thorough
fares for providing postal cars. At present
the matter is in very unsatisfactory condi-
ton, and some equitable mode of adjust
ment should be at once devised and sane
toned by law. Some of the roads have
represented to the Department that the
carrying of the mails was little or no object
to them, because the express companies
were willing to pay much more for the ac-
commodation furnished than the Depart
ment would allow. On the other hand,
representatives of the leading express COM
panes have commended that the act, which
took effect July /, 1874, permitting the
transmission by mail of packages of mer-
chandise weighing not over four pounds at
the rate of one cent for each two ounces,
is taking away the most profitable part of
their business, and will soon render them
unable to meet the heavy rentals demanded
by the roads. Thus is presented curious
anomaly, the roads claiming that the Gov
eminent does not pay as much as the ex-
press companies are ready to pay, and the
express companies claiming, on the other
hand, that the law is effecting such dimi-
mutton of their revenues that they are I'M
able to accede to the demands of the roads.
l find no disposition on the part of any
railroad or transportation company to deal
otherwise with the Department than in a
spirit Of fairness and justice. trust Con-
gress will adopt SEINE equitable plan of ad-
justment which will not be burdensome to
the Government, and which will be salts
factory to the companies. The act of
March 3, 1873, readjusting the pay of rail-
roads, on the basis of the weight of the
mails carried, added much more largely
than was anticipated to the expenses of
the Department. The appropriation for
that purpose having become exhausted,
have declined to make further payments.
l would suggest that the time has come
when a resolute effort should be made to
determine how far the Post Office Depart
ment can properly 60 in it's efforts to ac-
commodate the public without trespassing
unwarrautably upon the sphere of private
enterprise. There must be limit to gov
ernmental interference, and happily it bet
ter suits the genius of the American people
to help themselves than to depend on the
State.
THE FUNCTIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT.
To communicate intelligence and dssem-
mate information are primary functions of
this Department. Any divergence from
the legitimate sphere of it's operation tends
to disturb the first rule, that, in the ordi-
nary business of life. the recipient of
benefit is the proper party to pay for it,
since there is no escape from the universal
law that every service must, in some way,
be paid for by some one. Moreover in
country of vast extent like this, where most
of the operations of the Department are
carried on remote from the controlling CEN
ter, the disposition to engage in lateral en-
terprises, more or less foreign to the theory
of the system, will lead to embarrassments
whence extradition would be difficult
For years the frankipg privilege was an in
cubus on the Department and an obstacle
to efficient postal reform. Its abolition,
for which we are largely indebted to the
resolution and wisdom of my predecessor,
opens the way for other measures, which
have yet to be inaugurated and pressed to
a successful issue before the Department
can become self-sustaining. While | do
not flatter myself that | shall be able to
accomplish this most desirable end during
the short period of my service, | propose
to keep it steadily in view and to direct my
best efforts toward it's attainment.
For the first time in the course of a ,if.
devoted actively m business find ,nvself
in cb,roe of an estabI;shment rho exnend
itnres of which LARGELY exceed IT'S rece;nts
"A state of affairs which strikes with great
force mind more O, less Disciplined by
that close inspection of accounts enforced
in mercantile pursuits. In ordinary bust
condition of things-bankruptcy. The de-
tciency of this Department has varied of
late years from 10 to 20 per cent, while
from the best data at my command, have
been compelled to submit estimates for the
year ending June 80, 1876, which will show