The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1874-12-11

countries. For the year ending June Soth,
1875, 10 " estimated that this item alone will
exceed ss,00,Ono. The portion 10 he paid 10
railroads will amount 10 more than si0,ro,.
600. Opinions have differed widely as TO
the best method 81 determining the rightful
rates Of compensation TO be paid railroads
for services rendered 70 this department
Heretofore their pay has been based on
The weight 81 mails, with an additional
allowance on certain through fares, for pro-
yiding postal cars. AZ present the matter u
In A very unsatisfactory condition, and some
cauitable mode % adjustment should he NJ
once devised and sanctioned by law. Some
Of the roads have represented 10 the depart
ment that the carving Of mails was little or
no object 20 them, because the express com.
panies were willing TO pay much more Tor
The Recommendations furnished than the de.
partment would allow. On the other hand
The representatives Of leading cypress com.
panics have contendcd that the act, which
took effect July I, 1874, permitting the trans
mission hy mail Of packages OF merchandise,
weighing not over four pounds, NJ the rate
of one cent for each two ounces has taken
away the most profitable part Of their bust.
ness, aud will soon render them unable To
meet the heavy rentals demanded by the
roads. There Is presented q curious auoma-
does not pay ~ much ~ the express com
panics are ready 10 pay, aud the express c"m-
pauies claiming on the other hand that the
Law il rnccting such n diminution of their
revenues that they are unable ~ acc,dc to
the demands II the roads. I iind Ne iisposi.
sion on the part Of any railroad ~ iranspor-
t,tion company To- deal otherwise with the
department than In y spirit of fairness aud
Justice. | trust that Congress will adopt
-. a s..I.. A. ..sl.
will not H. too burlensomc ~ the Cavern.
mcnt, aud which will he satisfactory tn the
sompanics. The act of March :, issl, ~.
adjusting the pay 81 railroads on The basis oi
the weight 1T mails carried, added much
more largely than was anticipated 10 the
department. The appropriation Tor that
purpose having been exhausted, I have de
clined to make further payment would
suggest that the time has come, when y reese
lutte effort should b. made to determine how
FAR the rostoifce Department can properly
20 in H. efforts ~ accommodate the public
without trespasssing unwarantahly upon the
sphere Of private enterprise. There must he
q limit 10 Governmental Interference, aud,
happily, u better suits the genius Of the
American people to help themselves, than 10
depend on the state.
To communicate intelligence aud discrim.
mate information are the primary functions
Of this department ANY divergence from
the legitimate sphere 81 it, operations tends
to disturb the just rule that, In the ordinary
business Of life the recipient Of n benefit is
the proper party To pay for II, since there is
no escape. from the universal Law that every
service nnist, In some way, he paid for by
some one. Moreover, in a country Of such
vast extent like this, where most Of the op-
crations Of the department are carried on re
mote from the controlling center, the dispo-
,ition to engage in liberal enterprise, mere
OF less foreign to the theory 81 the system.
NAV lead to embarrassment, when extrication
would be difficult.
For years the franking privilege was an
incubus on the department. and an obstacle
to the efficient postal reform. It's abolition,
for which we are largely indebted TO the res.
olution aud wisdom Of my predecessor opens
the way for other measures which has not
vet been inaugurstcd and passed 10 a success
ful issue, before the department eau become
self-susiaining. While ! do not hattcr my
self that | shall be able 60 accomplish this
most desirable end during the short period
ol my service, propose TO Keep Il steadily
in view, aud 20 direct nav best efforts toward
it, attainment
For the first time in the course IT a life
devoted actively Ia business lind myself in
charge Of an establishment, the expenditures
ui when largely exceed Us rtftints-a STATE
1T affairs which strikes, with peculiar force,
mind more or less disciplined by that close
inspection of accounts enforced IN mcrchan-
tile pursuits. In ordinary business affair,
there j. but one end h. this condition Of
things -hankruptry. The deficiency Of this
department has varied II late years from
fifteen To- twenty per cent, while FROM the
hest date at nv command. I am compelled io
submit the estimates for year ending June
Jmh, 1870, which will show an expected cN-
cess IT expenditure over receipts Of nearly
sS,Vn.Wo, and about twenty-five per cent oi
the entire revenues Of the department. IIos
far the American people will be willing Ia
90 in this direction remains 10 be seen. The
difficulties IN the way at adopting and en-
forcing q policy Of economy, which, while
properly guarding the revenues Of the de.
parimcnt shall also afford To the new aud
growing portions OF our country the mail
facilities 60 which the enterprise OF the pcn-
pie entities them, are neither few nor snail
hut IN some way they can and must he sur
mounted. | deem IL suitable tn say here that
propose to guard, with strict vigilance, the
expenditures Of the department, sanctioninr
no outlay which can he avoided withsui
dctriment To the service, aud 80 To conduct
il, affairs generally that the interest Of the
public shall be paramount Ia those Of any
individual, corporation, or party. Very re-
spectfully, youT obedient servant,
MARSHALL JEWELL,
Posimaster-tcneul
To the President.