The Portland daily press., 1874-11-30
WASHINGTON.
Report of the Postmaster General,

New YORK, Nov. ga special Washing
ton despatch gives the following abstract of
the Postmaster Generals Report:
The revenues for the year ending June 30tb
1874, were $24, 596, ,56S, and the expenditures
$32, 126,41f. The estimated expenditures for
the year ending June 30th, 1876, are S36, 1884,
04. Total estimated revenue $29, 14S 156-
leaving deficiency to be appropriated out of
the general treasury of $7,815,S7S. These esti-
mates do not include the appropriations for
steamships and stamps, amounting to s., ,O9S,-
500.
The use of the registered letter system is
steadily increasing. There has been marked
gain in the time of transporting through mails
An average gain, from New York to San Fran
cisco, Of five hours and thirty-two minutes, a
gain for mails to New Orleans of two hours
fifty y-seven minutes, and going north, of one
hour and fifty minutes, and q perceptIbIe gain
in all through mails in regularity and certainty
The foreign mail system is in better condition
than ever before.
The number of postofices in operation June
30, 1874, was 81 294 Total number OF appoint
ments during the year were 9424. The results
of the extension 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 for money orders
There has been only one erroneous payment in
59,677 payments, aud only "a in all. The in
crease in money exchanges with Great Britain
and Switzerland has been very marked.
Newspaper Postage.
By an act of Congress, approved June 23
1874, 1T is required that on and after Jan. /,
B75, postage on newspapers and periodical
publications, mailed from a known Office of
publication or news agency, and addressed 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 frequently than once q
week. The act provided that matter shall be
weighed in bulk and prepaid with adhesive
stamps, to be specially 6evises for the purpose
The manner of applying stamps is left dis
cretionary with the department., and q 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,
and will be ready at the time appointed for
their use. 1t is expected that the lrevenues of
the department. from postage on printed matter
will be increased by the enforcement of this
act, notwithstanding that the rates are cheaper
than before, as now postage will be prepaid
while heretofore much loss has been occasioned
to the department on occount of the non. col
lection of postage at the point of delivery
Vhe Money Order System
The money order business Of this department
appears to be rapidly growing in public favor,
and is, undoubtedly, u very great accommoda-
tion TO large number OF persons who are not
within reach of banking facilities, or who are
unaccustomed to the use of them. Yet l see
no reason why this branch of the service should
not be self-sustaining. The apparent profits of
the money order system, during the last year,
are about $105O00, while certain expenses to
the amount of $182ooo, for clerk hire and
stationery in the Post-office Department,
auditor office and for money order clerks in
the post office, are not charged to, the money
order business, but are paid out Of appropria-
tions; OF that white the money order system
appears to yield revenue of $105, 900, there is,
in fact, deficit of $4,000. I suggest, there
fore. that the fees of money orders be increased
in accordance with the views of the superin-
tendent submitted herewith; (see appendix), or
that the money order system shall, like any
other business, be made TO defray all its own
expenses.
Transporsation cf RgniIs.
The number and length Of the mail routes in
tue United States requires an expenditure for
transportation, which dwatfs into significance
the cost of similar service in other countries
For the year ending June 80, 1876, it is esti-
mated that this item alone will exceed $40 O00.-
600. The portion to be paid to railroads will
amount to more than $S,00O,Oo0, Opinions
have differed widely as to the best method of
determining the rghtful rates of compensation
to be paid to the railroads for services rendered
to this department. Heretofore their pay has
been based on the weight of the mails with an