New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-12-02
THE MAILS.
GEN. JEWELL,S REPORT.


CHANGES IN FosTMAsTERs' SALARIES AND
POSTAL RATES ADVISED.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 1.-The report OF Postmaster
General Jewell which has been submitted, contains
variety of interesting facts about the postal busi-
ness Of the year ended June 80, 1870 not yet pub
Hshed of which the following arc the most i'm
portant:
The ordinary receipts OF the Department were
f2667l 2lS So increase Of S299,344 80, or liz per
rent over the receipts Of 1874 being less than the es
mate made in 1873 Ivy 81 s09,331 To the ordinary re
sep,s should be added the sum Of $65OO0O subsidies to
team ship lines drawn from the general treasury ana
expended and al 90 revenue from ordinary order
business, making the receipts from all sources
BIT AL 800 81 The expenditures OF all kinds were
1909 49, OF Slis4,S9 81, or 4e2 per
rent over those for 1874 than the amount ee
mated in 1873 by $3ls,603. The amount drawn from
the general treasury under appropriations TO meet def
,iences was S6.054646 96. Deduct Sl.33S,319 90,
above referred to- 1t will leave the legitimate amount
drawn on Of the past fiscal year. Si7l0329 46
against S. $50 1913 So for the fiscal year Of 1S73-14
difference in favor of 1875 of S543,606 90.
The recorded complaints OF missing letters amount 20
2969 Unregistered The registered letters contained rs
alleged currency bonds, drafts, etc, amounting 70
amounted to Sl5997 16. or the 2677 registered let,
tiers reported lost 083 satisfactorily accounted
for Oh actually lost and 6oS remain under 'es'e"
ton. $500,
During the wear 800 persons were arrested charged
with various violations OF the postal laws, inc greater
portion OF whom were not conneoed WIN tle lMs,'sS
service The employees OF the Department mus arrested
were classified follows PoSmasiers, Al assistant
pOsmasters, 10; posi-obce clerks, 70 roule asens'
local agents man carriers 10; nf u ibnse nelson's
arrested who not in the employ OF the peparihe
the majority We're t4ps anG The fo"WnV isposi
made of these cases; Convicted 10Y aGqm,-
tered : not inflicted 4 ; escaped 4 forfeited bail Il
died before trial, 2; dismissed and awaiting tral loI
of which have reached about SS0O00O0O, shows an a
parent profit Of about $4,000, though is really IN
arrears more than that sum. II the clerk lre anu st
tionery required for the business, and now charged
against the postal revenues were transferred TO TINS &c
count where they properly belong. Inc money H Saug4
business nothing less than Government Dahk
Ing for the benefit OF the public ana those VINO aSa
themselves OF its benefits should pay its
Congress- at the last session. advanced the fees on small
money orders to point al weh ~ ls psneveu !. Mn
1t should for the current year and hereafter pay It's own
expenses
OUR OCEAN MAILS.
The fact that but line of steamships carrying our
flag employed in conveying mails across the Atlantic
and none whatever South America, is Illuminating to
the lust pride of every American citizen This line makes
regular weekly trips from Philadelphia to Liverpool and
carries small mail satisfactory manner for the post
ages compensation for the service but the great bulk
OF mails for Europe is carried by steamers under
foreign nags sailing from the port Of Newly rk on Tues
days. Wednesdays, Thursdaj and Saturdays of each
week. As a matter Of national pride, an aid to the
revenue Of American commerce, and as meens OF sup
plying efficient. steam MARINE available Tor lmme-
date use by the Government III case OF war provision
should be made for the transportation OF our mails on
important ocean routes, in steamships differed and
manned by citizens and sailing under our own
flag Ii is believed that the payment OF moderate man
compensation in Of the hostages now allowed ui-
der the provisions Of the general law woud enable our
citizens 10 establish and maintain steamship nes across
the Atlantic and 10 South American ports which would
prove remuneratve To the propIleOTs ana promote te
general prosperity of the country reasonable allow
for line to the west coast OF South America would
assure regular mail communications by American s'e
with sister republics on that coast; ana ln0
crate mail compensation for line TO Japan ana emma
viii doubtless continue the mail service 70 those eoun-
tries American ships after the termination OF the e1
December, 1876 think II safe to say that the sum OF
100000 per annun, now granted as q SUBSIDY 70 the
China and Japan line for single monthly service on that
route. would, in addition to the hostages on tne mails
conveyed be quite sufficient Judci0usiy appOIuoned u
tween the respective routes. TO maintain an efficient mail
by steamers sailing under our flag on al the i'm
lOrant routes which should be occupied py AuIet
lean steamers.
THE EVIL OF STRAW BIDs.n
change in the law is needed, such IA will authorize
che General in order TO obviate the evil OF
straw BIDS the failure of any accepted bidder to carry
inland mails TO offer the contract, rs at present to the
next lowest bidder the list in his judgement the bid
be not too high aud if this lowest bidder declines
10 into the contract TO be authorized TO enter INTO
contract with a persOn not a bidder at any price not
eeedng said next lowest bid III no contract can be
made with any party at this price, 10 go on up the INST IN
like manner, always giving the bidder the tsl chance
In this way will the Postmaster General be enabled 10
command the entire field Of contractors the bidders ay
ing no control they Will take the contract at
tie price named
THE ENORMOUS BUSINESS BY RAIL
No antagonism serious differences of opinion have
occurred during the last year between the Department
aud the railroad companies The Department pays the
railroad companies for transportation of the mails about
S1OOOOO annually and they in return are offering all
the facilities at their command, and in a manner which
indicates the utmost cOrdiay between them and the
Government aud every disposition to advance the in
terests of the Department The compensation is now
based upon the weight of mails carried Many OF the
mos. intelligent gentlemen controlling these corpora
feel il would be equitable TO pay by space In
the estimate made for compensation last year IL was
found that while the basis would increase the pay
OF several hundred roads generally OF the larger class II
would reduce II very materially on many of the smaller
and weaker ones. aud the Department hesitated 10
advance measure likely TO mlng so much
antagonsIn During the last few months new impetus
has been given to the railway postal service and new
facilities to the business OF the country by the establish
necOn with passenger trains are now transported at
speed hitherto unqtalned III tie service. Upon one @;
TIE largest lines has been placed postal railway train,
under the entire control Of the Post-Chce Department
carrying no Passengers These new p0s0nce cars
hear the seal United States and Of the Pos0nice
department. II believed at distant day. the busl
OF the Department will be great as to induce tie
railroad companies TO run similar trains from New
England TO the Gulf and from the Atlantic to the Pacific
NEEDED CHANGES IN THE POSTAL LAWS.
would repeat the recommendation made by my pre-
his annual report for the fiscal year ended June
So 1873 that he permitted, without additional
charge, write form Of presentation in any BOOK
pamphlet magazine, periodical, or on any other matter
Of the third class and also that the sender OF any pack
sge permitted without additional charge, to write
his or and adress the outside thereof with
the word from above preceding the same so as 10
inform person addressed Of the name Of the SENDER
and TO write briefly on any package the number and
name OF the articles inclosed. l recommend that the
postage transient newspapers and periodicals, books
printed matter of all Sorts Autographs and maps sheet
music, photographs and manuscripts dCsigne9 for publ
cation shall reduced to cent for each two ounces
or fraction thereof, which the rate before
tie enactment OF the law advancing IL du-
ring the closing hours OF the last Congress.
The act Of June %, 1874, requiring prepayment In
stamps OF postage newspapers and periodical publea-
tom, mailed from known Offices Of publication or news
ageI cies addressed regular subscribers news
ir.tn nnn ilID N