The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1875-12-09
Abstract Of the P0stmaster.GeneraPs
Report,

htpOTts
The Postmaster Generals annual report shows
the receipts Of the department to be ST, AL $50
and expenditures Ss3 eli 800. The receipts exceed
those OF leii l3 100 per cent, and the expendi-
tures 62-1C0. The actual amount drawn from the
Treasury Was Si1l6 80 or Sjt36O6 less than the
previous year. The recorded complaints of missing
letters number 5GI5. Of which 26. were registered
letters containing bonds, drafts, etc, amounting
to S62l6, while the unregistered letters contained
taaahles amounting to $t5,E'1. Of the former
l0S3 were satisfactorily accounted for 9l1 actually
lost and 6e3 remain under investigation Arrests
Tor Violation Of the Postal laws numbered 3UT the
greater portion not being connected with the
postal service. One hundred and seven couvic-
tons were had and f57 await trial
The department il in correspondence with the
British Department the subject of the Increase
OF United Statcs territorial rate on British closed
mails tranr ported between New York aud San Fran
cisco. the present rates, fixed by the Postal Con
Vchton OF 1852 not paying the actual cost of trans
p0rtatiun.
bureaus of the department concerning which
much information has already been published.
The MoheT Order Department, the annual trans
actions OF which have reached about {S0OOO.CGn.
shows an apparent profit OF 600. though really
in arrcars more than that il the clerk hire and sta
uonery required for the business were charged di-
rectiy to It's account. The increase OF rates on
snIl orders made by authority OF the last Congress
Will 1t is believed, enable the bureau to hereafter
pay its own expenses
The fact that but one American steam hip car
rles mails across the Atlantic. and none to South
America is regarded as humIiatng to American
pride. Mr.. Jewell thinks 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 ofiCered and
manned by our own citizens and sailing under
own FLAG. moderate compensation in excess OF
the postageS now allowed would enable the estab-
lishment and maintenance of American lines to
Europe and South America. and moderate mail
compensation for line to Japan and China will
doubtless continue the mail service to those COun-
tries in American ships after the termination OF
the existing subsidy, the contract for which
will expire on the 31st of December, 1876.
! think it safe to say that the sum
OF $4,000 per annum now granted as
subsidy to the Japan and China line for single
monthly service on that route would, in addition
to hostages mails. he quite sufficient judiciOus-
ly appOrtiOncd between the respective routes, to
maintain efficient mail service by mail steam
ers sailing UNDER our flag on all the important
ocean routes which should be occupied by lines of
American steamers.
Mr. Jewell says the evil OF straw-b bidding which
annually involves the department in the loss Of
many hundreds Of thousands of dollars can. in his
judgment, be ef,ectually removed by such change
in the law as will authorize the Postmaster Gener
al, on the failure of any accepted bidder to offer
contract as at present to the next lower bidder in
the list, it. in his Judgment, the bid be not too
high, and il this next lowest bidder declines TO
enter into contract, to be authorized to enter in
np to eGntrset with any person not bidder any
The Postmaster General speaks of the railway
postal service and roads doing it 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 serrice is praised,
and the opinion expressed that at no distant day
the business OF the department will be great as
to induce railroad companies TO run similar trains
from New England TO the gulf and from the AT
lantiC TO the Pacific.
1t is recommended that any person be permitted
without additional charge to write form of pres
entation in any book. pamphlet. magazine, period
ica or any other matter Of the third class. and also
that the sender of any package be permitted with
out additional charge to write his or her name and
address on the outside thereof. with the word
from above or preceding the same, so as to in
form the person addressed OF the name of the
sender, and TO write briefly on any package the
number and name of articles inclOsed. The send
ing OF public documents through the mails has not
delayed the delivery OF ordinary mails percepti
bly, increased their cost.
A. to the transient printed matter, the Post
master General says: Il recommend that The
postage on transient newspapers and periodicals.
books, printed matter OF all sorts lthogrlphs and
maps, sheet music, photographs and manuscripts
designed for publication shall be reduced to one
cent for each two ounces fraction there
o.. which was the rate before The enactment OF
the law advancing it during the closing hours Of
the last Congress" Concerning newspaper
postage he says the law. which went into
effect the Isl of January. 1915. from present in
dications will realiz" about S1UtO,HD for the first
calendar year. This is not material varia-
ton from the average results of the old law.
though during the last year in which this latter
was in operation the aiEnnnt was increased by
the payment of postage on newspapers CirCulGt-
ing within the county OF publication a require
ment that was discontinued At the end OF one
year. While therefore, there has been no increase
in the aggregate receipts. there has been large
net gain by saving commissions on collections al
lowed by the old law under the present law.
The great bulk of postage is paid at large Offices
whose salaries are no; affected by this item. Tn
der the old law there was no check 10 insure col
lcCtonS at the Office OF destination, and the Conse-
auence was much matter went unpaid and it Is n
satisfaction that under the present more equitable
mode universal collections have made up for the
reductions in rates. The new system has worked
so admirably. and has given such general satlsfac-
ton, that no change is deemed necessary.
1t is recommended that the pay Of Postmasters
OF the fourth class be based upon the business Of
their respective Offices. determined hy the can
collation. OF stamps, the account to be duly sworn
to for each quarter and returned 10 The SlXth
Auditor" There is great want OF equity III thr
compensation Of Postmascrs Of the first second,
and third classes II the salaries mt smaller Offices
excessive, those of the larger cities are GER
tainly too low. find PostmasterS as a Class TO he
efficient capable and attentive beyond my eNpecta-
ions and their salaries should hc proportlonate
to their duties. Cases are said 10 exist, however
where few or no duties are actually performed by
the Postmaster. law compelling Posmastcrs
whose net income is ray. $l.0D or more 10 give
entire attention to the duties of their offices. or
failing in this to employ some person or persons
to perform them at their own and not at the Gov
ernment's expense would be, most undoubtedly
beneficial to the service.
In estimating the expected revenues for the year
ending June So 1871 and wishing to be on the safe
side. the estimates have been submitted which
show an expected deficiency Of s. ISL .62 but il is
believed that the deficiency for that year VIII be
very much less than the estimates. Basin% the eSti
mates Of the revenues AT the smallest amount, and
of the expenditures at tn" largest. an increase Is
shown in the percentage OF deficiency only OF
10 50 100 a"ainst2i 6310O. which was the estimate
Of the percentage OF the deficiency last year over
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