Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1874-12-04

weight OF mails, with an additional allow
ance on certain thoroughfares for providing
| postal cars. AT present the matterl Is In a very
unsatisfactory condition, and some equitabl.
mode Of adjustment should be at once devised
and sanctioned 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 department
would allow. On the other hand, represent
atiyes of the leading. express companies
have contended that The act, which
took effect July !, 1874, permitting the
transmission by mail Of packages Of merchan-
disc weighing not over four pounds at the
rate Of one cent for each two ounces is taking
away the most profitable part of their bust.
ness, and will soon render them unable 10
meet the heavy rentals demanded by the
roads. Thus is presented 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 hand, that the law is
effecti1g such diminution of their revenues
that hey are unable to accede to the de-
mands OF the roads. / find no disposi-
ton on the part OF any railroad or Transports
tion company to deal otherwise with the de-
partment than in spirit Of fnirnoss aud jus
tlce. trust Congress Will adopt some equi-
table plan of adjustment which will not be
will be satisfactory to the companies. The
act Of March 3, 1878, readiusting the pay Of
railroads ON the basis Of the weight Of the
mails carried, added much more largely than
was anticipated to the expense OF the depart.
ment. The appropriation for that purpose
having become exhausted, have declined to
make further payments. 1would suggest that
the time has come when resolute effort should
be made to determine how far the Postoffice
department can properly go in Its efforts to
accommodate the public without trespassing
unwarrantably upon the sphere of private
enterprise. There must be limit to govern
mental interference, and happily 1t better
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 dissent
nate Information are primary functions Of this
department. Any divergence from the legiti-
mate sphere of its operation tends to disturb
the first rule, that In the ordinary branches Of
life the recipient of benefit is the proper
party to pay for 1t, 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 de-
partment are carried on remote from the con-
trolling center, the disposition to engage
in internal enterprises more or less foreign
to the theory Of the system will tend to
embarrassments whereby expedition would
be difficult. For years the franking privilege
was an incubus on the department and an
obstacle to efficient postal reform. Its abo-
lition, 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 rressOd to
successful issue before the department can be-
come self-sustaining. While l do not fatter
myself that shall be able to accomplish this
most desirable end during the short period Of
my service, propose to keep IL steadily in
view and to direct my best efforts toward its
attainment.
For the first time in the course of life de-
voted actively TO business l find myself in
charge OF an establishment the expenditures
of which largely exceed its receipts-a state
of affairs which strikes with great force
mind more or less disciplined by that close
inspection of accounts enforced in mercan-
tile pursuits. In ordinary affairs there is but
one end to this condition Of affairs-bank-
ruptcy. The deficiency of this department
has varied of late years from Is to 20 per cent,
while from the best data at my command
have been compelled to submit estimates
for the year ending June 30, 1876, which will
show an expected excess of the expenditures
over receipts of nearly $S,000,0OO, or about 25
ment. How far the American PeUpio ~
willing to go in this direction remains TO be
seen. The difficulties in the way of adopting
and enforcing a policy of economy which,
while properly guarding the revenues OF the
department, shall also afford to the new and
growing patrons Of our country the mail facili-
ties to which the enterprise of the people entitle'
them, are few or small, but in some way they
can and must Oe surmOunted. | deem II suit
able to say here that propose to guard with
strict vigilance the expenditures of this de-
partment, sanctioning no outlay which can be
avoided without detriment to the service, and
so to conduct its affairs generally that the in
terests of the public shall be paramount to
those of any Individual, corporation or party
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
MARSHALL JEWELL,
Cor