The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1875-12-09
Annual Report of the Postmaster
General.

Inc postmaster Ucnerdi aiiuu"itc-
port shows the receipts to be 81, 44l,-
$50 and the expenditures $3.50, 81 .309.
The receipts exceed those of 1874 by
one and thirteen one hundredtbs per
cent, and expenditures BY four and
sixty-two one hundredths per cent.
The actual amount drawn from the
treasury was $4,716.3 29, or S544, 606 less
than the previous year.
The recorded complaints of missing
were 5,645, of which 2,677
were registered letters containing
bonds, drafts, etc, amounting to $780,
PIG, while the unregistered letters COLI
tanned valuable contents amounting 10
s75.999.
OF the former 1888 were satisfacto-
rily accounted for, Oil actually lost and
6SS remain under investigation.
Arrests for violation of the postal
laws numbered 307, the greater portion
not being connected with the postal
service.
There were 107 convictions and 157
awaiting trial.
The report shows the operations of
the various bureaus of the department
concerning which much information
has already been published.
The money order department, the
annual transactions of which have
reached about eighty millions, shows
an apparent profit of Sl20,000, though
it is really in arrears more than that, if
The clerk hire and stationery required
for the business were charged directly
10 its account. Tho increase of rates
on small orders, made by authority of
last Congress, will, it is believed, ena-
bile the the bureau TO hereafter pay its
own expenses.
The fact that but one American
steamship line carries mails across the
Atlantic ocean and none to South
America is regarded humiIiating 10
American pride.
MIR. Jewell thinks that as matter OF
national pride. as an aid to n revival of
American commerce, and as Il means
of supplying an efficient steam marine,
available for immediate use by the
Government in case of war, provision
should be made for transportation of
nur mails, on The important ocean
routes, on steamers ofiicered aud
manned by our own citizens, aud sail
lug under our own flag.
A moderate compensation in excess
of postage now allowed, would enable
The establishment aud maintenance OF
American lines to Europe and South
America, and moderate mail COM
pensation for line to China and Jap
an, will doubtless continue the mail
ser,ice to those countries in American
ships after the termination of the ex-
isting subsidy contract, which will ex-
pire on the 3lst Of December, 1876.
The fast mail service is praised, and
The opinion is expressed, that at no
distant day the business of the depart
ment will be SO great as to induce rail-
road companies to run SIMILAR trains
from New England to the Gulf. and
from the Atlantic TO the Pacific.
Ii is recommended that any person
be permitted. without additional
charge. to write form of presentation
in amy book, pamphlet, or magazine. or
any other matter of the third class !:
and also that the sender of any pack
age be permitted, without additional
charge. TO write his or her name and
address on the outside thereof, with
the word 'Irom'' above or preceding
The same, SO as TO inform the person
addressed of the name of the sender,
and TO write briefly on any package the
and name of the articles en-
closed.
AS to transient printed matter, the
Postmaster General says: 81 recon-
mend that the postage on transient
and periodicals, books.
printed matter of all sorts, lithograph-
ing and maps, sheet music. photographs
and manuscripts designed for publica-
ton shall be reduced TO one cent for
each two ounces or fraction thereof,
which was the rate before the enact
ment of the law advancing it during
the closing hours of the last session of
Congress.
Concerning newspaper postage, he
SAYS: "The new law which went into
effect on The first day of January, 1873,
from present indications will realize
about one million dollars for the first
calendar year.
This is not a material variation from
the average results Of the old law.
though during the last year i'll which
this latter was IN operation the amount
was increased by the payment of post
age on newspapers circulating within
the county of publication a require
ment that was discontinued at the end
of one year.
While there has been no increase in
the aggregate receipts. there has been
a large ne. gain by saving the commits
sons on collections allowed by the old
law. as under the present law the great
bulk of postage is paid at III" large of
fees. where salaries are not Affected by
this item.
The new system has worked so adj
mirablv. and has given such general
satisfaction that no change has been
deemed necessary.
Ii is recommended thai the compen-
-ation Of post.Ba>tcrs OF The tourlb
class be based upon the business OF
their respective offices as determined
by the cancellation of stamps, the
amount being duly sworn to for each
quarter and returned to the Sixth Au-
ditor.
There is great want of equity in
the compensation of postnasiers OF the
first. second aid Third classes; if sala-
ries of smaller Offices are not excessive
those of larger cities are certainly too
low.
fluid postmasters. as a class, to be
efficient, capable and attentive beyond
INV expectations, aud their salaries
should be pioportionate to their du-
lies.
In estimating the expected revenues
for the year ending June 30ih, 1877.
wishing to be on the safe side estimates
have been submitted which show an
expected deficiency of So, lSl .602. but ii
is believed the deficiency for that year
will be very much less than the esti-
mates, basing the estimates of the rev.
enues at the smallest amount and OF the
expenditures at the largest.
An increase is shown in the percent
age of the deficiency of only nineteen
and toity-uine one-bundredths against
Iwenty-four and sixty-five one hum
dredths, which was the estimate OF the
of the deficiency OF last
year over that of its predecessor.