The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1874-12-11
The Postmaster.General's Report.


The revenues for the year ending June 30,
1874. were ga SEQ. sos, and the expenditures
ESQ led. 4i4. The estimated expenditures for
the year ending June 30, 1876, are S35, .034.
The total estimated revenue l. S29 ,l4S, l56,
leaving a deficiency 10 BE- provided for OF 81
.l5ls1s. The estimates do not include the APP
preparation for steamship service and
stamps, amounting 90 81 .0e,S 800.
The Use Of the registered letter system j.
steadily increasing. There has been marked
gain IN time Of transporting through mails
AN average gain from New York 10 san Fran
cisco OF iiye hours and thirty-two minutes; a
gain for mails To New Orleans OF two hours
and fifty-seyen minutes, and going North. Of
one hour and iifty minutes, and a perceptible
gain on the through routes In regularity and
certainty. The foreign mail ~ stem j. in \
better condition than ever before. The num-
Der OF post-oifices In operation June 30, 1874,
was "a .2g4. The total number of appoint
ments during the year was 9,42i- The re-
suits OF the exte nsion Of the letter-carrying
system are OF n most gratifying character.
THE NEW POSTAGE LAW.
BY an act OF Congress approved July %,
1874, II il required that on and after Jan. l.
1875. postage on newspapers and periodical
publications mailed from 3 known Office OF
publication or news sgency, addressed TO reg
ular subscribers or news agents, shall be
charged at the rate OF two cents per pound IL
Issued weekly or oftener, and three cents per
pound IL issued less frequently than once q
week. The act provides that matter shall be
weighed in bulk and prepaid with adhesive
stamps TO be specially devised for the pur-
pose. The manner Of applying the stamps is
left discretionary with the Department, ard
a system, which il ishcped win work salts
factorily, has been devised for carrying the
law into effect. The stamps are now in
course Of preparation. and will be ready 1T
the time appointed for their use. II is ex-
"A he ray Rf 4rf inc INF
from postage on printed matter will be in
creased by the enforcement Of this act. not
withstanding that the rates are cheaper than
before, a now postage will be prepaid. while
heretofore much loss has been occasiOned 10
the department on account Of the non-collec-
ton Of postage at the point OF delivery.
MOSEY-ORDER BUSINESS.
The money-order business Of the depart
meni appears 10 be rapidly growing in public
favor and is undoubtedly avery great accom-
mOdstion 10 large number Of persons " no
are not within reach Of benkng facilities. Or
who are unaccustomed TO the use Of them:
Yet know no reason why this branch Of the
service should no; be made self-sustaining.
The apparent profits Of the money-order sys-
TEN during the last year were about Sl0J.OO0.
while certain expenses TO the amount Of
SlS2,00O Tor clerk hire and stationery in the
Post0fiice Department. Auditors Office, and
for noney-Orier blanks in pOstoffices are not
paid out of the appropriations. so that while
the money order system appears 10 yield
revenue of 100000, there j.. in fact. deficit
OF $1,000. | suggest, therefore. that the
fees Of money-orders be increased. in accord
ance with the views Of the Superintendent.
or that the money-Order " stem shall, like any
other business, be made 10 defray its own ex-
penses.
TRANSPORTING TIE MAILS.
The number and length OF mali routes in
the United States require an expenditure for
transportation which throws into insignif-
canoe the cost of similar service in other
countries. For the wear ending June 30
lS76. II j. estimated that this item alone Will
exceed g. 100000. The portion to be paid TO
railways will amount 20 more than 81 100000.
Opinions have differed widely a, 20 the best
method Of determining the rightful rates 81
compensation 10 be paid railways for services
rendered TO this department. Heretofore
their paw has been based on the weight al
mails. with additional allowances on certain
thorOughfares for providing postal cars. At
present the matter i Ia a very unsatisfactory
condition, and some equitable mode Of adjust
ment should be 40 once devised and sanctioned
BY law. The act OF March 3. ls13. readiust-
ing the pay OF railroads on a basis OF the
weight OF mails carried. added much more
largely than was anticipated 10 the expenses
OF the department. The appropriation for
that purpose having become exhausted. l
have declined to make further pay menis.
THE LEGITIMATE BUSINESS OF TIHE DEPART
MEM.
would suggest that the time has come
when a resoluie effort should be made TO de-
termine how far the Posfofiice Department
can properly 20 on in its efforts 10 accommo-
date the public without trespassing unwar-
rzntably upon the sphere OF private enter
prise There must be a limit 10 governmental
interference, and, happily, II better suits the
genius Of the American people to help them
selves than TO depend on the State. To COM
municate intelligence and disseminate infor-
nation are the primary functions OF this De
pertinent. ANY divergence from the legiti-
maie sphere Of its operations tends 20 disturb
the Just rsle that, in the ordinary business OF
life, the -eci pient Of benefit i the proper
party to pay for IL. since there Is no escape
from the universal law that every service
must in some way be paid for by some one.
Moreover, in a country OF vast extent like
this. where most Of the operations Of the De-
p4rtment are carried on remote from the con-
trolling center. the disposition 10 engage in
enterprises more or less foreign 10 the theory
Of system. NAV lead TO endorsements
whence extricafion would be difficult.
POSTAL REFORM.
For years the franking privilege was an i'm
cubus on the Department. and an obstacle TO
efficient postal reform. Its adjustment. for
which we are largely indebted TO the resolu-
ton and wisdom OF my predecessors, opens
the way for other measures which have yet 10
be inaugurated and passed TO a successful Is
sue before the Department can become self
sustaining. While I no not fstter myself
that shall be abte to accomplish this most
desirable end during the short period OF my
service, propose to keep IL steadily in view,
and 10 direct my best efforts toward its at
tainment. For the first time in the course OF
a life devoted actively TO business, I find my
self In charge OF an establishment the expen-
ditures Of which largely exceed its receipts,
state Of affairs which strikes with peculiar
close inspection OF accounts enforced In mer-
camille pursuits. In ordinary business sffairs
there j. but one end 10 this condition OF things
bankruptcy. The deficiency Of this Depart