Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1875-12-10
Abstract of the POstmaster-Ge
Report.

The Postmaster Generals annual report shows
the receipts of the department to- be $27 AL 1860
and expenditures $3, Gil ,309 The receipts exceed
those of 1874 13-100 per cent, and the expendi-
lures 62-100. The actual amount drawn from the
Treasury was $4716,329, or $543, 600 less than the
previous year. The recorded complaints of missing
letters number 5,645, of which 26U were registered
letters containing bonds, drafts, etc, amounting
to $T6 216 while the unregistered letters contained
valuables amounting to $75,997. OF the former
1O03 We're satisfactorily accounted for, I'll actually
lost, and 6S3 remain under investigation. Arrests
for violation of the Postal laws numbered 307, the
greater portion not being connected with the
postal service One hundred and seven conyic-
tons were had and 1877 await trial.
The department is in correspondence with the
British Department on the subject OF the increase
of United States territorial rate on British closed
mails transported between New York and San Fran
cisco, the present rates, fixed by the Postal Con-
venon of 1862, not paying the actual cost OF trans
pOrtation.
The report shows the operations of the various
bureaus of the department, concerning which
much information has already been published
The MOneyOrder Department, the annual trans
actions of which have reached about $50 900 900,
shows apparent profit of $120 900, though really
in more than that if the clerk hire and sta
tionery required for the business charged di-
rectly to its account The increase of rates on
small orders made by authority of the last Congress
will, it is believed enable the bureau to hereafter
pay its own expenses.
The fact that but one American steamship car
ries mails across the Atlantic, and none to South
America, is regarded as humiliating to American
pride. Mr.. Jewell thinks as matter of national
pride, as an aid to the revival of American com
merce, and as means Of supplying an efficient
steam marine service for immediate use by the
Government in case of war, provision should be
made for the transportation of our mails on i'm
portant ocean routes in steamships Differed and
manned by our own citizens and sailing under our
own flag. A moderate compensation in excess OF
the hostages now allowed would enable the estab-
lshment and maintenance OF American lines TO
Europe and South America and moderate mail
compensation for line to Japan and CHINA VIII
doubtless continue the mail service to those coun-
tries in American ships after the termination OF
will expire on the 31st of December, 1876.
/ think it safe to say that the sum
OF $50O,OOO. per annum now granted as
a subsidy to the Japan and China line for single
monthly service on that route would, IN add1tlo on
TO hostages on mails be quite sufficient, judicious-
ly apportioned between the respective routes, TO
| maintain an efficient mail service by mail steam
| ers sailing under our flag on all the important
American steamers.
Mr.. Jewell says the evil Of straw bidding, which
annually involves the department in the loss OF
many hundreds of thousands of dollars can, in his
| Judgment, be efectually removed by such change
in the law as will authorize the Postmaster Gener-
al, the failure of any accepted bidder TO offer
contract as at present to the next lower bidder I'D
the list il, in his judgment, the bid be not too
high, and, if this next lowest bidder declines to
enter into contract to be authorized to enter in
| to contract with any person not bidder at any
price not exceeding said next lowest bid.
The Postmaster-General speaks of the railway
postal service and roads doing il in high terms,
but thinks it would be more equitable to pay COM
panies by space instead of weight. This would IN
crease the compensation of the roads OF the larger
class, but reduce it materially on many smaller
and weaker ones. The fast-mal service is praised,
and the opinion expressed that at nc distant DAY
the business of the department will be so great as
to induce railroad companies to similar trains
| from New England to the gulf, and from the At
lantie to the Pacific.