New-York tribune., 1876-12-06

OF last July. the 1st day July 1876 decreased
In the SUM OF S9s6 90l.
WITHDRAWAL OF FAST NAIL TRAINS.
The reduction thus provided for was met on some Of
tho great trunk lines by the withdrawal OF the fast maj
which had been previously established Over the New
York Central and River the Lase Shore and
Michigan Southern railroads, an exclusive mail train
composed OF finely equipped postal ears, which were pro
vided with all the rapid aud
perfect distribution was for few months. run hetweea
NewY erk and Chicago, schedule time OF 26 hours
between those cities and the Pennsylvania Rail-
road and its connecting lines limited mail train, with
superior accommodations, was run between NeS-YorE,
Cincinnati, Indianapolis and St Louis the time occupied
between New-York and Cincinnati, via philadelphia.
| Harrisburg, and Columbus being "a hours; between
EewYurk and Indianapolis 26 hours and between New
| York and ST. Louis, 80 hours These lines afforded
facilities for the transmission of mails ram the great
Southwest hitherto unknown the hstOry Of rail-
way Transportation In this country, and enabled the
department TO completely meet the demands upon Is
for speedy transportation that the most sngne expe
tatons OF the business communities dependent upon
Itwas claimed By the railroad companies at the or
gaatn Of this expedited distribution 81 stem thst tho
rates or pay then provided by existing law were nsem
eicnt 10 compensate then ros the extraordinary ex
pense Incurred In rinnI trans at saeh speed, ana
uerc IL good reason to beeV that they ohefed thlr
trains TO the department as an experiment, oat or
spirit CT enterprise rather than expectation Of derV
Ing immediate profit there.roIa.
Serious embarrassment have resulted from d'seon;
tnuance of these fast lines, which have been augmented
y tue refusal OF the railroad companies 20 rrestahsh
the incomplete accommodations they had previously f
lane seaboar and points in the West and Southwest
with less dispatch and with smalef facilities fer dstrtbu-
tO0 than were provided before tho Inauguration OF TIE
iasinail system Te be thus compelled TO 20 backward
IN the work OF insrng speedy transDssen ana perfect
delivery or the Important bH5peSs eorrespondece Oh thc
coHnfy s Of modification TO all the officers ot
this department whose duties are connected with mail
tenn Oag 10 attain such perfection 20 E'sure the
transportation OF letters and all other matter not too
bulky from Important point to another within the
uno required to convey passengers between tAe Same
points over the speedest lines OF communication .
pay of railroad companies for carrying the ms5 also
authorized the appointment Of commission or three
subject or mail transportation by rsiiroad, win view
TO making their the basis OF future Legislation
entered their work 0b0u tie ls OF last Augst, since
which tune t:ey have visited nil the barge eitiss and iIa
ferred with che ~ tire eding railroad lnes
aud also with Intelligent men, representing the man
business interests each point They seem 10 nave
boeH patient and impartial IN collecting Information
which will No doubt. throw much light on the difficult
que sti0n OF determining the proper mode OF eon~E-
sang rlFoad companies for carrying the Nails anu tlc
carefully avoided any expression of opinion.
the presentation OF any theory or the fender OF any
advice, which could, in the most remote manner, In
nucnce the Judgment OF this cOmnsiOn but can DOW,
with entire IFopriey, recommend ti9t whatever eSsIa
t0n may result from their Investigations shall definitely
prescribe Ned Of mail pay Of this service leaving
nothing open to the discretion or the Pdsiina u
eraI and that the exeet1a of written contracts by
railroad COMPANIES shall he required condition of
payment for Che service which they perform Less than
cnfh the railroad service of the country has been,
rs a general rule covered by written contracts, anu n-
Vulnerable com ulins niise0astPuctoEs, aud difficulties
have grown out Of this loose way OK uSiHs isiht's
which annually amounts to millions Of dolLars
ISTERI ERENcE WITH POSTAL OFFICERS AND EN-
PLOTFs.
Indefinite Information has occasionally been eemmu-
ncated Department of the threatened volenc' to
pesen employed by it OF the states because OF
their political Opinions airl party associations. few
IA Southern States have expressed great
apprehension Of tr personal safety on account OF their
connection with the postal service, and have specially
requested that their reports Of spprehcnied danger
should Lot be made public lest it should result in the
loss Of their lives Bat positive testimony of aetdal
Interference with sHch Officers or employees Whuc "a Tie
discharge OF tI5ir orclu duties has bocu submitted ex-
ceIt in ne ease mail ucsseniTr at sparianburgh N
of hc f.os of the Department that he Ead been vi0-
lenY driven away while ~ cbafse Gt the lhlis, on &C.
count Of bis political aihiatlops The rf reee
this messenger referred tO aD asStsnt -utfl
tcuarns Of he railway mail service for confirmation oi
their correctness, who respoidca tEl tle nesNigt %
disapv cared from hs post OF dusy leI'nS ~ Work I'd
b- performed by absG;c. WhaE tie affiliations "
~ is emplpyc were does noG aPEeat l,otI hs sta.
mcn that 0i thr Otcef who investigated the case ht
the fuci ~ tis Laying been improperly nerTnptsdin IN
The performance, of Ids Gurs seem, 10 haye Deen cotro
barltrd by his Disappearance Immediately tiefealtts
refer This bcc3us" "a nay judgmeut IL - std-
cioailY suggestive m iasttiy -ae in ch. Iding tS,
moro sever pInis isan"nt -i0ul ui P.ONiSi lor ~
Otf,usr 0f lHtin lny person IN chirye of tLa nI'
or retngny Otherwise oDsretihg them by threats
oi personal INJURY
TRANSIT CUArGYs ON BRFFTsH CLOSED MAILS
A special arrrns,ment has been concluded with the
General Post-Olaea the United Kingdom OF Great
Britain and irani fixing the rates OF territorial ir nst
rhares on tr British clos, mails conveyed across the
American Continent between Boston Nsw-York and
-i Fraqoi,co " r.res ply klogani OF letters aud
fil.cs per klgTam Of newspapers, other printed
matter and pittcrn3, aai inrtrs II mercAandis" The
Bftisa AMI ht.;ri ~ 1Is which are now f9rEaruc'i
ry te ~ ~ lhe Ini'' 0'Hl.' are OF great phA dl'
VIZ. .-h aver. grg fi T.. tn9' PER nonth, Ed ~ tic
c- csaT-os tifr.n1, isroln;,a t"r .tluer ne Pi5-
Visions o. t1e ro'u con. tlion Ol N"'' '--l 80,
were wholly insufficient &" ji'ai iAs acts cS - t'i.s
SeR-YoFk "ni san Fsa"'-.eo, It oecaMe hecrssals h
oldcf 20 the of tli DpaV. .ieHt rem e
hsa,y scS .Eg' 80 "h .1e 81 tr4,t charges 10
the amoln,s agreed upon in this arrangement
POSTAL DEFICIENCIES.
very gratifying result Il presented in the fact that
the deficiency of this D,p r5ment during the last h'csl
year was reduced to slGSl71c u. against S5l69.-
o2s ~ OF the preceding year The difference DO
traced 10 the large in t' Ordinary receipts
(which greatly excretlcd the estimates taersoD ana
al fht decrease in It's X2ea tufes. The growth OF tie
tvire IN all cf s branches, viii be seen by reference
10 theqnbcs in the appendix has substantially kept pace
with fls increase OF former Tho additional miles
f orie. equal or exceed the number aided
lurng any year Tor several years past tD5 ''Fese
in te proportional cost thereof hayins resa!ted hnn m
o rat. 40 which te aFRvlve pnG ng Opelltlod at
t, corn, occarHt Oi the hsCal year was let lac ba
on nearly a tc loafes were lower than they had RANGED
FOR similar service Tor many preceding years ana tS
id enforcement of the law against the few bidders aud
contractors ho failed had the effect 10 ndGce Others 70
vcte their 0blG.ltOs lt viii b. instructive 10 study
e variance IL ae percentage 0I Increase -i "ec
in tho receipts expenditures, and ceccbeies %! tlc
Mesa; eryice for last It's ordinary rev.
rnu1s nave advanced beyond It's EXPENSES, a. VIII more
sot.oc,-ly appear from tho II cures gwen below:
Tho ordinary receipts for the year ended June - - -
For fl,c year cnded June 30, 1863. they 49,. -, -,
amounted l7'of1'iV Z"
., ,o.r.,,e ., sIo ?aaese -
IN iIi thus be seen thst in years the RECIPES
have Increased Ii per cent, IT al average or ever
Ter cent per year - 49, s.,,.
en,ed June 80 1879. riz zo3 ~ %
Fr The yeal ended June 3U leU9. ZJ,OJSI0I OO
showing an increase eG...-.--.------ ID. *91oo5oo Us
The increase IN the expenditures FOR tie entire period