Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1875-12-09
Abstract Of tho Postmaster.6eneral's
Report


Tbe Postmaster Generals annual report shows
the receipts OF the department to be ~, al .30c
aud Expenditures t33 81 800. The receipts exceed
those Of 1874 13-i0 per cent, and the expendi.
lures o. 100 The actual amount drawn from me
Trrasury WAS A. 7I6 32S or f543 sos less than the
previous war The recorded complaints Of missing
letters number 5S45, OF which 1877 were registered
letters containing bonds, dra is, etc, amounting
10 ZIG 2lG while the unregistered letters contained
yaInnb,es amounting 10 $75,17. or the former
183 were satisfactorily accounted for, VII actnsay
Jost ard GS3 remain under inv estigation. Arrests
foy violation OF the Postal laws numbered 3V, the
greater portion not being connected with the
postal service. One hundred and seven convic-
tions were had and i5T await trial.
The department II in correspondence with the
Byiti.h Drpartnent on the subject Of the Increase
Of United Staer territorial rate on British closed
mails transpor'ed between New York and San Fran
cisco the present rates. nxed by the Postal Con
vention OF 1851 not paying the actual cost OF trans
portatiOD.
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 trans
actions OF which have reached about Sopoo.Ou
shows an apparent prolt of $l20 600 though really
in arrears more thai that II the clerk hire and sta
tionery required for the business were charged di-
rectly 10 It's account The increase OF ratea on
small orders made By authority OF the last Congre-s
will. 1t is beloved enable the bureau to hereafter
pay its own expenses.
The fact that but American steamship car
ries ais across the Atlantic and none To South
pride. Dir Jcweli thinks a. a matter OF national
pride aid to the revival of American com
mprcc. and ~ means OF supplying mn einelent
steam marine service for Immediate 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 oiNcered ana
manned by our own citizens and sailing under our
own Nag. moderate compensation in excess 81
the hostages now allowed would enable the estab
lishinent and maintenance Of American lines TO
Europe and South America, and n moderate mail
linz. and IN
doubtless continue the mall service to those conn
tries in American ships after the termination of
the existing subsidy, the contract for which
will expire on the 3lst OF December 1873
think It safe TO say that the sum
of $500 900 per annum now granted ~
sub ,idy to the Japan and China line for single
monthly scrvi, on that route would in addition
70 postsges On mails be quite sufficient, judcious
~ apporioned between the respective routes, to
maintain m efficient mail service by mail steam
ers sailing under our nag on Nil the important
ocean routes which should be occupied by lines Of
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 cficctually removed by such change
In ths ,sw ~ will authorize the Postmaster Gener-
nj, on the failure of any accepted bidder. 10 Offer
contract ~ at present 10 the next lower bidder In
the list II, In his Judgment the bid be not too
high and, II this next lowest bidder declines TO
enter into contract. TO he authorized 10 enter in
10 a contract with any person not bidder at any
price not exceeding -nid next lowest bid.
The Postmaster General speaks OF the railway
postal service and roads doing II In high terms
but thinks 1t would be- more equitable 10 pay com
panics by space instead OF wei ,ht This would in
tbs compensation OF the roads OF the larger
class, but reduec IT materially on many smaller
and weaker ones. The fast mall service Is praised
md the opinion expressed Tint at no distant day
the business Of the department will be so great as
to induce railroad companies 20 run similar aims
from New England to the gulf and from the At
lantic TO the Pacific.
it's recon- ncndta that any person he permitted
without additional charge to write form OF ptcs
enta,ion In any book. pamphlet. magazine, period
zeal any other matter Of the third class. and also
that the sender Of any package be permitted With.
out additional charge to write hs or her name and
address on The outside thereof, with the word
from" above or preceding the same, 40 "a to in
form the person addressed of the name Of the
sender, and 10 write briefly on any package the
number and name If articles inclo-ed. The send
delayed the delivery Of ordinary mails or perecpi-
bly, Increased their cost.
A,tc the transient printed matter, IN. Post
master General says! Il recommend that The
postage an transient newspapers and periodic ais
books, printed matter Of all sorts Autographs aud
p,nps 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
tho law advancing II during the closing hours Of
the last Congress Concerning. newspaper
postage he Gays the new law, which went into
effect on The Isl of January 1879 from present in,
dicstons will realize about 81 10000 for the first
calendar. year. This IL not a material yaria .
ton from the average results OF the old law,
though drriug the last year In which this latter
was In operation the amount was increased by
tho payment Of postage on newspapers eirculat
aug within the county of publication, requtre'
uront TINT was discontinued AT the end of one
year While therefore, there has been no increase
III the aggregate receipts there has been large
net gaiu by saving commissions on collefuons nj
,owtt Ivy the old law AS under The present law.
Tho great bulk Of postage Is phd al large offices
whose salaries arr not Affected hy this item Tn
der the old law there was no check 10 insure col
lectinns ~ the Office OF destination, and the conse
ouence was much matter went unpaid, aud IL Is A
satisfaction thnt under theeprcSeni more equitable
mode universal collections have made up for The
reductions IN rates. The new system has worked
80 sdmiyebiy, and has given such general satisfsc-
ton. that no change II deemed necessary.
II is recommended that the pay OF Postmaster'
Of The fourth class be based upon the business al
their respective offices, ~ determined by the can
collation. " stamps, the account Ia be duly sworn
10 ior each quarter, and returned To the sixth
Auditor" There Is great wan, ut equity in ths
compcns alton of PpstmasterS OF the first, second
aud third classes II the salaries at smaller offices
arcnot excessive those of the larger cities GER
tn,nly too low. ind fostmasters as a class tc I've
oficicnt capable and attentive beyond my expecta
ttons, and their salaries should be proporlonatS
"a their duties. Cases are said to exist, however
where Few oy NO duties are actually performed by
the Postmaster A law compelling Postmaster,
whose net income Is, say 81 o0 or more to Civ,
entirr sttcutlon tn the duties Of their Offices, or
failing IN this To employ some person ur per ~on,
totsrform them At their own and not NJ the Gov
crhments expense. would be, most undoubtedly
beneficial ,n the serN lee.
In estimating the expected revenues for the year
cndingJu al, 1871. aud wishing to be ON the SAT,
side, The estimates have been submitted which
ehow an expected deficiency Of a. Isl st, hui IL Il
believed that the deficiency for that year will b,
very much less than the estimates BasinE the esti
mates OF the revenues al the smallest amount anC
or the expenditures at the largest, M increase II
shown in The percentage ot deficiency only O
10 ~ 100 against ~ Is 100 which was the estimate
Of the percentage " the deficiency last year oYc
Shat Of its predecessor,