Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1874-12-04
The PostOMce.
WASHINGTON, Nov. %.

The report of the Postmaster-General is
completed.
The revenues for the year ending June 80,
1874, were 1924, 500, ,56S, and the expenditures
$32, 1861 Ala. The estimated expenditures for
the year ending June 80, 1876, are $50, ,964, ,034;
total estimated revenue, $29, l4S, 156, leaving
deficiency to be appropriated out OF the gen.
eral treasury Of $7,8l5, ,S7S. These estimates
do not include appropriations for steamship
service and stamps, amounting to 81, ,09o, 500.
The use of the registered letter system is stead
lily increasing. There has been marked gain
in the time Of transporting through mails, an
average gain from New York to San Francisco
of five hours and thirty-two minutes, gain
for mails to New Orleans of two hours and
ffty-seyen minutes, and going north of one
hour and fifty minutes, and perceptlble gain
on all through routes in regularity and GER
tainty The foreign mail system is in better
condition than ever before. The number OF
postoffices in operation June 30, 1874, was
"a, 1894; total number of appointments during
the year, 9,42S. The results of the eXten-
sions of the letter carrier system are of the
most gratifying character. There has been
gain Of over 80 per cent. in the amount of fees
received from money orders. There has been
only one erroneous payment in 59,677 pay
ments, and only "a in all. The increase in
money exchanges with Great Britain and
Switzerland has been very marked.
NEWSPAPER POSTAGE.
By an act of Congress approved June %,
1874, it is required that on and after the lst OF
January, 1875 postage on newspapers and
periodical publications mailed from known
office of publication or news agency, and ad-
dressed to regular subscribers or news agents,
shall be charged at the rate of two cents per
pound if issued weekly or oftener; and at
three cents per pound if issued less frequent
ly than once week. The act provides that
matter shall be weighed in bulk and prepaid
with adhesive stamps to be especially de-
vised for the purpose. The manner OF ap-
plying stamps is left discretionary with the
department, and a system, which it is hoped
will work satisfactorily, has been devised
for carrying the law into effect. The stamps
are now in course of preparation, aud Will
be ready at the time appointed for their use.
1t is expected that the revenues of the de-
partment from postage on printed matter
will be increased by the enforcement of this
act, Notwithstanding that rates are cheaper
than before, as now postage will be prepaid,
while heretofore much loss has been occa-
stoned to the department on account of the
n-collection of postage at the point OF de-
livery.
THE MONEY ORDER SYSTEM.
The money-order business OF this depart
ment appears to be rapidly growing i'll public
favor and is undoubtedly a very great accom-
modation to a large number OF persons who
are not within reach of banking facilities or
who are unaccustomed to the use of them.
Yet see no reason why this branch OF
service should not be made self-sustaining.
The apparent profits of the money-order
system during the last year are about
$105,0o0, while certain expenses to the
amount of $1s20OO for clerk hire
and stationery in the Postoffice Department,
Auditors office, and for money order clerks in
the postoffce are not charged to the money
order business but are paid out of appropria-
tions; so that, while the money-order system
appears to yield revenue of $lO5,OOO, there
is, in fact, deficit of $4,000. | suggest,
therefore, that the fees of money orders be
increased in accordance with the views of the
Superintendent, submitted herewith (see ap
pendix), or that the money order system shall,
like any other business, be made to defray
ali its own expenses.
TRANSPORTATION OF MAILS.
The number and length of mail routes in
the United States require an expenditure for
transportation which dwarfs into insignif-
canoe the cost of similar service in other
countries. For the year ending June 90 1876,
it is estimated that this item alone will exceed
$1O,000,O0O. The portion to be paid to rail
roads will amount to more than SS,0oo,o 600.
Opinions have differed widely as to the best
method of determining the rightful rates OF
compensation to be paid to the railroads for
services rendered to this department. Here
tofore their pay has been based on the weight
of mails, with an additional allowance on GER
tain thoroughfares for providing postal cars.
At present the matter is in very unsatisfac-
tory condition, and some equitable mode OF
adjustment should be at once devised and
sanctioned by law. Some of the roads have
represented to the department that the carry
ing of the mails was little or no OBJ
ject to them, because the express companies
were willing to pay much more for the accom-
mediation furnished than the department
would allow. On the other hand, represent
atives of the leading express companies have
contended that the act, which took effect
July 1, 1874, permitting the transmission by
mail of packages of merchandise weighing
not over four pounds at the rate of one
cent for each two ounces is taking away
the most profitable part of their business,
and viii soon render them unable to meet
the heavy rentals demanded by the roads.
Thus is presented a curious anomaly, tne
roads claiming that the Government does
not paw as much as the express companies
are ready to paw and the express companies
claiming. on the other hand, that the law is
effeeting such a diminution OF their revenues
that they are unable to accede 10 tne de-
mands Of the roads. find no dlsposl-
tion on the part of any railroad or transporta-
tion company to deal otherwise with the de-
nartment than in a spirit of fairness and JUS
fice. trust Congress will adopt some equi-
table ulan of adjustment which viii not be
hurdensome to the Government, and which
will be satisfactory to the companies The
act of March 3, 1873 readjusting 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. / would suggest
| that the time has come when resolute effort