Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1874-11-07
THE MAIL OUTRAGE,


coma, at an annual compensation of
$40, $50. The same party submitted
bid to carry the mails from Olympia at
s26, $50, which was rejected by the De-
partment. The telegram likewise an
nounced that Mr. Moore was authorized
to begin his service at once, although
he is not required by the terms of the
contract to begin it till the first of next
January. Under these circumstances
Mr.. Starr, the present carrier refused
to receive the mails and the North Paci-
fc left a day in advance of the old sche-
dule time, on her regular trip. This
was the situation of matters until Mon
day evening, when another telegram
was received announcing that the De-
partment had made a contract by tele-
graph with Mr.. Starr for the continu-
ance OF semi-weekly mail service be-
tween Olympia and Victoria, until the
first of January, when the new contract
will begin.
1t is presumed. therefore, that for a
short time the old service will continue,
and Olympia remain in communication
with the more favored points on the
Sound. After that date, she must re-
feet by the light of other days." un-
less some more determined move is
made by those having influence with
"powers that be" then has yet been
employed.
Our local newspapers are especially af-
fected by the new schudule. Papers
printed on Saturday must go to Tacoma
by railroad on Monday and lie there till
the second trip of the steamer, on
Thursday, consuming nearly week in
reaching destinations hitherto supplied
on Monday. The papers printed at
the several points on the Sound will
likewise be from twelve to twenty-four
hours behind the time they were formerly
delivered to subscribers. In view of the
fact that a recent act of Congress makesit
obligatory upon publishers to prepay
postage on their publications, the
change really amounts to hardship TOO
grevious to be borne in silence. If
publishers are compelled to pay postage
on all the papers mailed by them, COM
mon equity would seem to require that
the Government should afford facili-
ties at least equal to those of private
companies for their speedy delivery.
The new schudule will absolutely CON-
pell every publisher on the Sound to
make arrangements for the transporta-
ton of his papers by private conveyance;
it closes the mails to them as absolutely
as if no service existed.
These objections apply with equal force
10 the transmission of other inailable
matter. A letter for Seattle, Port Town.
send, Victoria, or any other point on
the Sound mailed here on Saturday will
not reach its destination in less than five
or six days, requiring considerably over
a week for reply to be received or an
order filled, unless the business public
patronize the express or telegraph COM
panies to expedite that object.
We do not believe it consistent with
policy of the Government, or that which
has controlled all parties in such mat
tiers, that the oldest and one of the
most enterprising cities in the Territory,
the Capital and place of record for so
large a scope of country, should be cut
off from speedy communication with
ether points with which she has hither-
to maintained close business relations,
simply because it will save to the
Treasury the paltry sum OF $1,000 per
annum.
Renewed effort should be made for
the extension of the new contract to
misplace. It may be accomplished with
a proper hearing before the Depart
ment. Experience has shown that the
petitions of the people have but little
influence. unless supported by those
having the ear OF the Administration.
II the Federal office-holders would but
display ior This measure anything like
the zeal they manifest to retain them
selves in position, the object would
very soon receive the attention it de-
serves; unless indeed the Administra-
ton is literally owned by the Tacoma
land-ring.
P. S.-Siuce the above article was
placed in type, we have been informed
by Postmaster Burr that he has received
| telapranhic Instructions to send all the