Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-12-05
REPORT OF THE POSTMASTER
GENERAL.

The expenditures for the fiscal wear
amounted 10 $50 ,2t3 ,4s7 So and the revenues TO
s29,1s1 ,e5I 80; excess of expenditures over re-
ceipts, S4Gs1.59OOs Included i'm the expendi-
lures - St' -B01.42 paid on Liabilities incurred
IN previous fiscal years. The expenditures
were S523 1851 more than those of the pre-
eedlHg year, and -, I0O,5i6.42 less than the
estimates The ordinary receipts were
<l,1S2 EOS Is more than those of the preceding
year, and S5, 5+l.50 more than the estimates
The value OF postage stamps, newspaper
s26, $40 ,42i-I2 Thedemand for postage stamps,
postal cards, &c, excepting newspaper
wrappers increased largely during the year.
Inc demand Tor postal cards increased over
80 per cent. The amount of postage collected
during the year on newspaper and periodical
publications mailed 10 regular subscribers,
&c, commonly known as second-class mat
ter. was S1,0H.i5iH. The amount collected
during the six months ending June 30 1875
was s4s6 .+4349 The general results OF the
service during the year are satisfactory. The
postage on local matter exceeded the entire
expense by S4,315.22. The increase in the
cost of the service was but per cent, while
was per cent. The net revenue from the
domestic money order system was $50 .5OS4,
which is s'o:t2sI IS greater than the previous
year. The Postmaster General renews the
recommendation of his predecessor, and
urgently recommends that the compensation
of Tostmasters of the fourth class be based
upon the business OF their respective Offices,
as aseertained from sworn returns 10 the
auditor OF stamps Cancelled.
STRAW BIDS.
During the last fiscal year the loss and an
noyanee TO the department occasioned by the
vicious system of "straw bids almost
wholly disappeared. The number of failures
period of time past, and the loss TO the de,
parhnent resulting therefrom was consider
ably decreased.
INDUCTION OF PAY TO RAILROADS.
Some OF the railroad companies raised the
Question as to whether the reduction of 10 per
cent IN their pay for carrying the mails, pro-
Nidtd by the act of July II, 1876, could be
Nod OF their contracts, which question was
referred 10 the Assistant ATTORNEY General
ior The Post Office department, who decided
that they were not affected by il. The Attor-
dered. '
FAST NAIL TRAINS.
Serious embarrassments have resulted
from dlscOntinuance OF these fast lines,
which have been augmented by the refusal
oi me railroad con panies TO re-establish the
incomplete Accommodations they had pre-
Niously furnished. Instead of retrograding
the mail system ought To soon attain such
perfection as To insure the transportation of
letters, and all other matter not too bulky,
rom one important point TO another within
The time required to convey passengers be-
tween the same points over the speediest
lines OF communication.
INTERFERENCE WITH POSTAL EMPLOYEES
The Postmaster General refers TO threat
ehed violence 10 persons employed in the
postal service on account of their political
the case of a mail messenger who was driven
away while in charge OF the u. s.. mails be-
cause OF his political affiliations" He re
fers to this in order to show the necessity for
.:.T wnIcii -i.an provide more severe pun
lshnnent for the offense o. assaulting any
person in charge OF the mails.
POSTAL DEFICIENCIES.
The deficiency of the department during
the last fiscal yearwas reduced TO - ,Os1 I9O.1s,
as against q, 1eS 9Ss.ss of the preceding year.
The difference can he traced To the large in
crease in its ordinary receipts, (which great
ly exceeded the estimates therefor,) and q
slight decrease in its expenditures. The de-
crease in the deficiency since 1853 is 1871 per
cent or nearly per cent. per annum. II a
corresponding ratio of percentage in receipts
and Expenditures shall be steadily maintained
In future years, there is reason to believe the
postal service will cease To be a burden on
the general treasury. But whatever theories
may be advanced To relieve IL of chronic de-
bclencies, they must yield TO the ever-pres-
enf nece ssity of supplying abundant mails
for the whole country by liberal appropria-
tons and reasonable expenditures When
our new states and territories shall become
more pOpulous, and our inexhaustible re-
sources more generally developed, the earn
lngs of the department will be more than
sufficient 10 defray its expenses