The Portland daily press., 1874-11-30
additional allowance on certain throroushfares

is presented q curious anomaly-the roads
claiming that the government does not pay as
much as the express companies are ready to
pay, and the express companies claiming on the
other band, that the law, etfecting such d-
minution of the revenues, that they are unable
to accede to the demands of the roads.
l find no disposition on the part of any rail.
road or transportation company to do otherwise
with the department than in spirit of fair
ness and justice. l trust Congress will adopt
some equitable plan of adjustment which will
not be burdensome to the government and
which Will be satisfactory to the companies
The act of March 3, 1878, read iustiDg the paw
of railroads on the basis of the weight of the
mails carried, added much more largely than
was anticipated to the expenses Of the depart
ment 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 Department can prop
erly go in its efforts to accommodate the public
without trespassing unwarrantably upon the
sphere OF private enterprise There must be
limit to government interference, and happily
it better suits the genius of the American peo-
pie to help themselves than to depend upon the
state.
The Functions Of the Department
To communicate intelligence and disseminate
information are the primary functions of this
department.. Any divergence from the legiti-
mat epucIt VI It's operation te0QS 10 disturb
the first rule, that in the ordinary business of
life the recipient of a benefit is the proper par
ty 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 form the controlling centre,
the disposition to engage in lateral enterprises
more or less foreign 10 the theory of the system
Will lead to embarrassments whence extradi-
tiOn would be difficult.
For years the franking privilege was an inca
bus on the department and an obstacle to eff
cient postal reform Its abolition, for which
we are largely indebted to the resolution aud
wisdom OF my predecessor opens the way for
other measures which have yet to be inaugural
ed and pressed to a successful issue before the
department can become self sustaining. While
L do not fiatter 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
towards its attainment.
For the first time in the course of a life of de
voted activity to business, find myself in
charge OF an establishment the expenditures of
which largely exceed the receipts. A state of
affairs which strikes with great force mind
more or less disciplined by that close Inspection
OF accounts enforced in mercantile pursuits.
In ordinary business affairs there is but one
end TO this condition of things-bankruptcy
The deficiency of this department has varied
OF late years from 15 to 20 per cent, while
from the best data at my command l have been
compelled to submit to the estimates for the
year ending June 80, 1876, which will show an
expected excess of expenditures over receipts
of nearly $780, 200, 900, or about 25 per cent. of
the entire revenue of the department. How far
the American people will be willing to go in
this direction remains TO be seen.
The difficulties in the way of adopting and
enforcing policy which will properly guard
the revenues of the department, and shall also
afford to the new and growing regions of our
country the mail facilities to which the enter
prise of the people entltle them, are not few
and small, but in some way they can and must
be surmounted. ts-
l deem it suitable to say here that propose
to guard with strict vigilance the expenditures
of this department, sanctioning no outlay
which can he avoided without detriment to the
service, and so conduct affairs generally that
the interests of the public shall be paramou MT
to those of any individual, corporation or par
ty.
(Signed,) MARSHALL JEWELL,
Postmaster General.
Rumors Respecting the Safe Burglary.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 2S.-Several memorialists
say that the whereabouts of Nettleship, under
indictment for the safe burglary conspiracy,
and also of Benton, under indictment, are
known and that they can be Brought here
again when wanted. 1t is said that Nettleship
will turn states evidence. Exclusive of the
Der term will be of Harrington, Whiteley, Geo.
E. Mile, alias Bliss, alias Albert Williams and
Albers kunz.
There seems to be settled conviction that
some of the safe burglary jury were unduly
influenced. Deputy Marshal Phillips state that
he found ex-Gov. Shepherd and Mr. Melcher
in the east corridor OF the city hall building
some time after dark. He went to the outside
door of the east wing and found it locked. I'm
locking 1T he went in, IN company with II. S.
Ihn,t md tl,nxr 6%%I~ -l,Avl
Melcher there pacing up and down the corridor.
They made some inquiry about the prospects of
verdict and passed out of the door which
Phillips had Just unlocked and went into the
street. Phillips went into the court room and
found three or four other persons there in the
dark, and the door leading to the central vesti
bule unlocked. He directed one of the baliffs
to clear the room and lock the door, which was
done.
Gold Sales.
The Secretary of the Treasury has directed
the Assistant Treasurer at New York to sell
$500, 900 in gold each Thursday during Deem
ber. The aggregate amount to be sold is 81,
1000.
Swindlers.
The Postmaster General has issued an order
to Postmaster Jamel at New York, under au-
thority given him by section 800 of the postal
code, forbidding the payment of money orders
or the delivery of registered letters to r. j.
Mulligon q Co., against whom numerous COM
plants have been made by persons in all parts
OF the country, who claim to have been swind- =
led by false representations made by that firm
IN regard to cheap sewing machines.
The Postal GBngress.
Mr.. Blackfan, Superintendent of the Foreign
Mail Bureau OF the Postof1lce Department Just
returned from Switzerland, speaks in enthusi-
astic terms of the success OF his mission to the
Postal Congress. He accomplished all he de-
sired in relation to a uniform postage. The
m m Of oharpa will ha sly rents bn-
tween the United States aud other countries
parties to the convention. which rate will go
into effect on the first day of July 1875. Mr..
Blackfap says that but oneErate will be charged
on letters to and from California, regardless of
distance.
A member OF the House Committee on APP
propriations says that at least five of the prin-
cipal appropriation bills win be ready for re-
porting to Congress on the first day of the ses-
siop, and nearly all the others are in q state of
forwardness.
Life Saving Stations,
The reports of the revenue marine bureau
exhibits satisfactory accounts concerning the
management of the life saving stations on the
sea coast within the last year. Only two
deaths occurred and these were occasioned by
the careenng of vessel and the falling of her
masts. A large number of the life saving sta
tions are to be established on the lakes.
Annual Reports.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 29,-All the reports of
the heads OF departments, with the exception
of the Secretary of the Treasury and the Secre-
.ary of the Navy and the Attorney General are
in the hands of the public printer.
The last named usually makes his report in
January, but this year it will be transmitted
to Congress early in December.
The Secretary OF the Treasury will supply the
press by sending printed copies of his report to
the principal cities in advance of its delivery to
Congress, but it will not be given out until it
has been communicated to that body,
The Presidents message will be teIegraphed
hence as heretofore to- the press.
Various Matters.
The French Minister has officially informed
the United States that the Craving docks of
Algiers were now open to commerce and nayi-
gaticn.
Riot Among Minc-s.
PErTsBURG, Nov. 29.-A despatch from Sha.
ners, Pa, gives the following particulars of q
riot near that village to-day: "This morning
about % armed Italian miners crossed the river
from Armstrong and are conducting them.
selves in riotous manner.an drove the women