The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-06-02
THE MEN OF LETTERs.
ARRIVAL In Richmond of the Postal
Commission.

ARRIVAL In Richmond of the Postal
Commission.
MEETING IN THE HALL OF THE HOUSE OF
DELEGATES LAST NIGHT-MAYoR CAR
RINGTON IN THE CHAIR-sPEECHEs BY
MR. HUBBARD, POSTMASTER GENERAL
KEY, AND MR. MARsHALL-THE WANTS
OF THE SOUTH AND HOW WE NAY GET
wuATwE RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED
The United States Postal Commissioners
Messrs. Gardiner G. Hubbard, of Massa-
chusetts; Daniel M. Fox, OF Pennsylvania; !;
and George A. Bassett, Of New York, and
their secretary, G.. w. Dease, Of Washing
ton, accompanied ~ PQstmaster-General
D. NJ. Key, Of Tennessee; j. W. Mar
shall, Superintendent of Railway Mail Ser
vice; Mrs. d. N. Key, Mrs. D. NJ. Fox. Miss
Kate Key, Miss Emma Key, Miss Gertrude
HpbkaSd, and Miss Fannie Bassett-arrived
in fhfS;city yesterday evening. The party
left Washington on Thursday, May oath,
at S O'Clock T. NJ. on special train of
the Virginia Midland railroad. They
visited Lynchburg, Danville, Greensboro.
Salisbury, Charlotte, and Atlanta. They
left Atlanta on Monday at O'Clock p. NJ.
for Chattanooga, making the run Of one
hundred and thirty-eight miles in three
hours and thirty-nine minutes. Tues
day and Wednesday were spent in
Chattanooga. Tuesday they visited Look
out Mountain, and at night made an eXcur-
sion down the Tennessee river. Wednes-
day they were present at the decoration OF
the Federal soldiers graves, in which cere-
monies the Confederate soldiers partlcl-
pated. On Thursday morning at O'Clock
they left for Knoxville, and spent most OF
the day in that place. where public meet
ing was held, rs in the other cities visited,
and addressed by the Postmaster-General
and commissioners. AZ 10 p. NJ. Thursday
they left Knoxville for Lynchburg, and
from Lynchburg came on to Burkeville,
where they were met by committee repre-
senting the commercial and trade organiza-
tions OF Richmond, and escorted to this city
and to their quarters at the Exchange Ho-
tel.
THE SOUTHERN TOUR.
The trip from Washington to Atlanta was
q continued ovation. At nearly every sta
ton kilograms were received or committees
met inviting them to visit points not laid
down In the programme; and at many
towns and villages where the train stopped
for few minutes only calls were made
upon the Postmaster-Generala and the others
for speeches, which were generally given.
The railroad officials provided them with
their best coaches, and made their travelling
rs pleasant and agreeable as possible; and
everywhere the citizens showed to the ut
most their goodwill and hospitality.
CALL UPON THE GOVERNOR.
Last night the distinguished visitors, in
company with number OF prominent busi-
ness-men and railroad officials, called upon
the Governor at the Executive Mansion.
About fifteen minutes were spent there IN
pleasant conversation, and at 8 O'Clock the
visitors, escorted by the Governor and COM
mitteemen, entered the ball OF the House,
where it was arranged that public meeting
should be held, and were assigned seats
around the Speakers chair.
The hall was filled with merchants, man
uiacturers, and other citizens, including
most of the officials OF the railroads center
ing here. A small number OF ladies' were
also present
The meeting was called to order by Cen
eral T. NJ. Logan, who. on behalf OF the
three commercial bodies OF the city,
called the Mayor to the chair, and requested
the members Of the press present to act as
secretaries.
Address Of Mr. Hubbard.
Mayor Darlington introduced as the first
speaker Hon. Mr.. Hubbard, chairman OF the
commission, who said:
Ladies and Gentlemen,-T Postal COM
mission as appointed by act OF Congress
July 10, 1876, and by an amendment to the
act, was required to ascertain what should
be the proper compensation to be paid by
the United States Government for the trans
mission of the mails, whether by railroad,
stage coach, or on the water. The commits
sion during the past summer and winter
travelled over all the other sections OF the
country, contenting themselves with a bare
visit for day or so to one OF the cities OF
the South (Atlanta), supposing that thereby
they had done their duty so far as the South
was concerned.
am ashamed and sorry to make. such a
confession as that gentlemen, but SO little
did we know at that time OF the wants OF
the South and to what an extent the South
had been neglected in the distribution OF the
patronage OF the Government.
So little did we then appreciate tue
rights and obligations of the North and the
General Government to the South that l
trust we may be pardoned for our omission
in this respect. But, thanks to the kindness
OF an acquaintance we met at Atlanta Mr..
r. R. Bridges, OF Wilmington-We were
invited by him to travel through the South,
and have since the 1st of April last tray
elled along the coast line as far as New Or
leans; and then again starting, going over
the airline to Atlanta; returning thence by
the Chattanooga and Kennesaw route, stop
ping at this as the last Of the stations on
our journey through the South.
RICHMOND THE LEADING CITY OF THE SOUTH.
We stopped here last because we knew
that Richmond was the leading city OF the
South, and whatever views Richmond may
take upon the matters which we have the
honor to present will receive great con-
sideration throughout the entire southern
States. [Applause.]
I stated that the duties Of the commission
were to ascertain and report to Congress
what was the proper compensation for the
transmission OF the mails. In order to know
what compensation should be paid it is ne
cessary in the first place that some principles
be established upon which the Department
should be regulated in its dealings with the
public; or, in other words, what appropria-
tions should be made by the Government
for the support Of the postal service. The
expenses Of the Department may be linn
tied by the receipts OF the Department;
while, on the other hand, they may be based
upon the wants OF the public for postal
service and postal accommodation; that is,
Congress may say, Mr.. Postmaster-General,
tell US what are the wants OF the public for
postal service, what, in your opinion, this
service will require, and then we will make
the necessary appropriations without re-
gard to the receipts OF the Department.