Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-02-05
Largest Circulation in The District
Thc Postal Scrnicc.

m i understood that thg bill INTRODUCED in
The senate on Wednesday by Mr. Dorsey. pro-
viding for the more rapid transmission oft-c
mails and making II obligatory upon all
railroads 10 transport letters and daily news
papers on any and all express trains the
Postmaster General may indicate. meets the
views OF large number OF Senator, and z p
personalities, and especially o: those who
ave been charged with the duty ol iuvcStiCa-
ting matters connected with the postal ser
vice OF the country. The necessity for th'
passage Of such law will he conceded
when ~ is generally understood that the rail-
road companies can under existing laws
refuse 20 carry the mails except on certain
trains. This frequently operates 10 impede
~" prompt transmission and delivery o. inn
pOrtant mail matter. McSSrS. West. Win
dom and Davis, the Subcommittee ON postal
revenues Of the Senate Appropriations Com
mittee, are giving the subject Of the postal
service special consideration. AMI are in
favor OF any reforms which vii, increase the
efficiency OF said service.
An investigation Of the manner Of trans
PORTING the mails has revealed the fact that
their transmission i frequently seriously
Interfered with. especially in lar-' cities. by
The transportation % matter other than that
Of the first class. such rs weekly papers. pa-
radicals. packages Of merchandise, &c. and
hence tho disturbances OF 4 law ing pre-
Cedcnce 10 the transmission Of fresh matter
Of the first class. such as letters AMI daily
newspapers. The view is naturally ken by
those who have considered The subject that
= few hours delay in the transmission OF
other than first class matter j. comparatively
= matter OF slight Importance, such matter
generally being Of character that Will
. keep or course weekly papers or period
icals prhliShei on the same dav would b.
forwarded simultaneously. 80 that no unfair
advantage could be taken of any one for
warding sEch matter. nor wOUlj the latter
DC any the less valuable on account OF = few
hours delay. The proposition il brief then
- To forward frSt-claSS matter as often aud
- rapidly as possible. and in case the rrapa-
ration at other mail matter for transmission
would interfere with the prOmpt fprwarIing
of sucI live intelligence as letter, and daily
newspapers 10 send il subsequently by local
on accommodation trains.
In view Of the Deficiencies fu OFr POSTAL
revenue. The subject Of postage on packages
of merchandise is attracting the serious con
SideratiOn or the proper authorities. The ex-
press companies would b. delighted If Con
gre>S would abolish the law allowing all
packages under four pounds in weight u
PASS through the mails. but that holy is too
enlightened not 10 know that the present Law
has the warm approval of thu people ganCr-
ally and that its repeal would be- Ila; with
a storm OF popular disapproS5tiO1. Ere
question Of postage, however. on such pack
ages is. perhaps, one for careful cOISiIer3-
ton. Letters now pay at the rat. o. ninety
six cents per pound, while packages pay but
eight cents. or twelve times les per pound
The question of Increasing the postage on
the latter matter il under consideration at
the Capitol. and many claim tLa. The def
clencicS IN our postal revenues are largely
attributable u the smIIlucS~ Of the sum
charged FOR the tTauSmi>>i0. OF such pa. X
sse>. and that the rate, OUgh.. consequently.
To- Dc increased. While an Increase NAV De
demanded fCT economic reasons. our law
makers doubtless, well understand that il
wo"id be- ruirou, 20 put Tao stgr> ON par
with tefterS. a. rr-frI~ ppStlg- or To 80 IN
crease the rates a % place the transmission
"i such packages beyond tine means Of the
people generally. To- 10 This would pr.t.tI-
raily pat The country at tho mercy %. the e.-
press companies.