The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-12-04


Number Of post offices established during the A&l
Number discon tnued s63
- on.,.,,or lime 40 is;a 90 49,
Number IN operation June 80 1871. 373t5
Number Oiled by appointments OF the President. 1917
Number filed by appointments Of the POstmas-
MONEY ORDER SERVICE.
Tho number OF domestic money order offices in op.
GRAFTON at the commencement OF the last fiscal year
was 697 ON account oil the insu cieDcy Of the ap-
preparation tor clerks the office OF the Auditor Of
The Treasury Tor the Post Once Department no new do
uestic olces established, with the exception OF
three at stations Of the Post ONCE at San Francesca
Cali while fourteen were discontinued, leaving 1856
In operation June 80, 1877. Since then 45S new
Offices have been established, making tho whole
number oil money order Offices ALA in operation at
the date of this report. The number OF domestic
money orders issued during the year was l. OPS o3I
amounting to $72 s205C9 TO- and the number paid was
476o673. amounting 10 s52. 1865 SO. The domestic
repaid amounted IN value TO xI603IS re- which
Is TO be added TO the OF tho orders paid
making the total pay mens ,475 % and tho
OF the pay over The issues $S7.96 55 Fees
amounting 10 1929 74S 95 were received by postmas-
tcrs Tor the issue ei domestic orders decrease Is
shown by tho foregoing statement OF the years trans
actions, when compared with that OF the previous
year. amounting TO S42l5,463 0S or IS per cent in
The orders issued; 49, ls4.4l4 o., $40 per cent in
the orders paid; and sci $50 g. 8 40 per cent in
the lees received. The domestic money orders issued
during the year averaged $l4 IS, the average being
SO smaller than that Of the previous year, and
tho average fec upon each order was 1895 cents.
being o26 cent loss Than tho average Of the previous
year.
SALARIES OF posi- MASTERS
desire especially 10 CAL attention TO matter which
has been earnestly dwet upon by my two immediate
predecessors, and to insist, they did. upon the
urgent necessity for change IN the method of adj
ing the salaries Of postmasers at fourth class ocez
III this class are embraced all Offices to which
appointment is not Presidential, or moro than 90
per cent Of the whole number, that It
must be evident that any evil and mis-
chievous influences affecting the management
OF fourth class offices must be potent aud farrcaching
In their effects. Under existing law postmas in
almost entirely from very large percentage
salcs OF postage stamps while the salaries OF Prcsl-
aentai onces having once oeen ADJUSTED according TO
law remain UNCHANGED until new adjust
ment is ordered. Postmasters OF tae. first
three classes s, appointed by the President can
$4,000 except the Postmaster at New York, whose
salary $S0o0) must account for all stamps sold by
them at their lace value, and their salaries would not
be increased by the sale OF All immense number OF
stamps nor diminished by the failure 10 sell any.
10 e 81 q mp o a.,
cclvos the entire amount But with offices Of the
fourth class the opposite IS the case post.
the amount OF stamps sold by him In each quarie
up to 800; ooail over 500 and not $500 per
quarter so per cent and all $500 per quarter
40 per cent, unlIl the amount reaches 81, 600 or
over, when the Office becomes Presidential aud las q
fixed SALARY under the method Of adjustment pre-
scribed by law. II postmaster the fourth sells
quarterly 500 worth Of stamps or $500 annually, he
receives Of the proceeds $24O and tho govern msnt
$500 II he sells $500 worth quarterly or ST. 200 worth
a year. the postmaster would receive S6l0 and the
government $3.50. He may go further, and IN
stamps 10 the value Of 1896, OF which his share viii
be $3.50, and that Of the government $685. That Is
under existing law twenty five out OF every twenty
six posmasers may sell annually, in quarterly install
ments postage stamps TO the amount 81 095 OF which
each viii receive 1898 and the government 81, 097,
while in only office out OF every twent
entire proceeds the stamps accrue 10 tho
benefit Of the government. THIS, however, is but q
single instance Of the proportions TO which the specu-
portunties afforded by this law have esca ped the
attention that class Of persons VINO ready
TO honest penny ut the OF the govern-
ment, and they have spared no efforts to demoralize
those who were not disposed to take that
advantage OF the government which the law allows.
HINT TO RAILROAD MASAGERs .t +&iF
The rnilroads OF the country constitute the main
lines the arteries 80 70 speak, oil our postal SYSTEM
mail service be perfect in It's organization and
reliable in It's operation possible. The relations
between the railroad officers and the department have
been and arc now OF a most friendly character.
The managers OF the railroads all over the country
manifest disposition, TO aid tho goyernment
ission Of the nails and very few
have arson between the officers Of tho department.
and those Of the railroads regard to the postal
vice Indeed, during the late unfortunate labor
strikes and the disorders following them railroad
companies therein involved made every reasoaable
period, ana resumed the service promptly
wnen tho turbulence subsidized and those
roads not DISTURBED immediately notified tho de-
partment that they ready TO assist it by for.
warding tho Delayed mails over their Iincs 1t Is
but II may pc well to provide Remedies against their
disturbance Should dispute between any rail-
road company and the government IN regard to carry
ing tho mail the company has IL in It's power to
oppose or resist the demands OF the govern
ment by. refusing longer TO carry the mails,
leaving this department 10 make such 9TH
arrangements for their transportation may be
within its ability. IL easy that serious utter
ruptions postal SERVICE
to the business OF tho country. may result
from such condition OF affairs. To prevent pro.
vide against such evil consequences suggest Tint
oAt
10 carry the mails on forms TO De prescribed by
II might DO well TO leave matter compensation
to the discretion of tho Postmaster General,
within such narrowly circumscrIbed boundaries
may be prescribed by Congress. II this officer and
the railroad companies should, for any cause fail to
agree the terms Of the service, the compensa.
ton therefor, that there be q commission board or
arbitration other tribunal established by law, to
which such disputes may be referred upon tho appl-
cation Of the POSTMASTER General or Of the railroad
authorities IL would not be conso nance with the
spirit free Institutions and popular liberty Tor the
government 10 require railroads to do certain
work and to nx the price at which the work should
be done. To do SO would deprive the railroad COM
panies of any voice discretion In tho
OF part of their business IL appears that the
interests OF the pubic demand that railroads shou
lcrty safety and regularity but that they should be
allowed TO have some voice IN negotiations terms
and In the settlement and adjustment OF disputes
growing out OF tho service
CHINA JAPAN MAILS.
Congress- by act OF February II, 1865, authorized
tor carry the mails between San Francisco
ana Hong Kong years. at the rate OF $500 600
per annun. According to the provisions OF TINS ACT.
tho Postmaster General, 10Th Oetober, 1896,
MADE contract WIN the Pacific Mali
Steamship Company for Carrying said mails. Tho
company, unacr the terms OF he contract.
were to receive $500 600 Tor the performance OF
twelve round TRIPS per annum tor contract term
OF ten years. 10 begin or before the Isl day OF Jan
nary 1867, and The day the nrst steamship Of the
llue shall depart from the port Of San Francisco
with the mails tor China.o Five millions OF dollars
were appropriated Tor thus service Il required little
more than Two months to make one rouna trip Ten
years from The beginning the contract expired, De-
ccmber 81, 1876, but tho trips commenced LIST
Of November and tue LAT OF December 1876 were not
completed unlil after January |. 1871 The company
has never received any compensation for carrying the
mails ON these two round trips, ana money has
any time been specifically appropriated Tor that pur-
pose. Tnis matter mentioned that the attention OF
Congress may be called 1t for such action as in its
judgment tho law and equity OF the contract may de-
mand. .WM #4t#M
LOSSES TO GOVERNMENT.
The revenues OF this department. have fallen of 10
the extent oil $427 5s5 20 aurng tho last nsca year.
compared with those OF the previous year. THIS
Is not the result OF dmi aishcd business. Ii arises
| apprehend, mainly from two causes:--rne large
sales OF postage stamps made by the post.
masters OF small Offices have supplied the market
TO such extent that postage stamps have accumu.
.A-I.-