New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-12-07
THE POSTAL CARS TO BE TAKEN OFF.

THE POSTAL CARS TO BE TAKEN OFF.
THAT is TO SAY. THEY WILL BE UNLESS CONGRESS
DOES SOMETHING TO KEEP THEM RUNNING
GENERAL KEYS MIND MADE UP To IT.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l
WAsHINGToN, Dec. 6,-Neither Congress nor the
Appropriation Committee of the House has, up to
this time, evinced any disposition to heed an i'm
pOrtant hint embodied in the report of the Post
master-General. That was in regard to the de-
fciency in the appropriation for the railway
mail service, aud the calamity which is plainly fore
shadowedin the report, namely an extensive re-
duction or entire stOppage of an important branch
of the railway mail service on the LIST Of January,
The cost of this service for the last fiscal year was
about SO, 800, OOO OF 100000 in excess of the APP
propriatiOn. 1t was shown that in the usual aud
regular course of business it is mpracticable under
existing law, to restrict the expenditure for trans
portation by railway. Notwithstanding this fact
Congress appropriated only $9.100000 for this ser
vice for the current fiscal year, and directed that
the compensation allowed to railway companies be
reduced per cent This reduction has been en-
forced by the Department. against the vigorous pro-
tests of the railroads; but owing to the natural
and rapid increase of work required of this impor
tant branch of the service the monthly reports to
the present time show that additional apprOpria-
ton of not less than $500 900 will be required to
cover the cost of the service for the current year.
The Postmaster-General says in regard TO this
matter in his last report "As the facts are def
nItely ascertaned there will be no deficiency
created during the current fiscal year. as the service
may be discontinued from January l, 1879, on
sufficient number of the least important roads, OF
the railway postal service may be reduced dscOn
tinued to bring the cost within the $780, 600 APP
propriated if such be the will Of Congress-"
The attention of members of the Appropriation
Committee and other Congressman has been called
TO the importance of this service They have mani
tested 50 little interest in the matter however, and
are so absorbed in rushing through an unprece-
denied number of the regular appropriation bills,
aud IN getting away for the holidays that il seems
improbable that any action will be taken. The
PostmasteT-General and his assistants have been i'll
consultation tins week about this matter. They
have decided that in of failure of Congress to
make an appropriation to cover the expenses for the
rcmainder of the year all railway post Office cars
will be withdrawn, and the postal system of the
country be made to depend upon the old
system of " distributing post offices" in
large cities. The result Of that would be
felt at once by every commercial interest in the
land. BY the present system almost the whole work
Of distribution Is performed upon the cars. Mail
matter can be received for any particular route al
most up TO the time Of starting the train. At con-
Meeting points no delay is necessary in making the
transfers. and letters go TO their destination by
the very FIRST train in every instance. BY the other
plan all mail for distant state must go to some
central distributing Office, and there be reassOred,
losing tram each time 1t is subjected to this pro-
cess while mails at the point of origin must be
closed earlier than woGd otherwise be necessary in
order TO allow partial assortment before the train
starts.
There is ample time yet to avert this blow to one
Of the most perfectly working systems of mail ser
vce in the world If Congress can be brought to see
the importance of immediate action. Postmaster
General Key directed a letter 10 be prepared to-day,
for transmission TO the Speaker OF the House. fore
suadOwing the discOntnuance above referred to, on
the LIST day OF January unless Congress shall IN the
meantime make an appropriation TO continue II.