The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1878-12-06


railroads, and should no additional aunro.
Priation DO made for this service he shall
feel II his duty under the law 80 NJ e,,r,s,i
the service as TO fall within the appronris'
tion, however much he might consider
the public Interests injured thereby. Hal.
satisfied II would lead Justly To much com q
paint, mails would be detained al offices AZ
separation hardly ever less than II hours
ana generally = hours. Books, papers and
packages passing over great distances ar
circuitous routes would be detained NJ mora
than one such Office In very many eases. ana
there would be delay In the immense nrm-
Der OF transactions which are Initiated. con.
Quoted and completed BY communications
through the mails. In his opinion II would
cause = shock 70 our postal system from
which II would not soon recover RAILWAY
companies which have been AZ the exuenss
OF furnishing postal ears might be slow "a
Iurnisn us such cOnveniences a second time
and there IL no law 10 compel them 10.
In relation TO the revenues OF the service
the report saws:
Time and again II has been shown ,na.
matter OF second and third class does NOT
pay its way through the mails and Congress
has been urged 70 increase the rates of post
age thereon The question has been consid
cred time and again by appropriate commit
tees. and discussed by both branches al Con
gress, ana the results have shown that II was
not expected that the Department. should ~
self-sustaintng. but the deficiencies in ~
revenues should be met BY appropriations
from the General Treasury. The ainonnt IN
matter sent through the mails free Il very
large. adding greatly 10 our expenditure
and giving us no revenue. The franking
privilege has been restored to members ana
chiei oihccrs OF Congress. so a. 20 allowthem
70 SEND free almost every thing they were
allowed 20 transmit through the mails free
except letters Tons upon tons Of hooks doc
nments, seeds, shrubs. and the like arc placed
IN our mails free Of charge. ON this score
now. ! most respectfully, but earnestly. sno.
gest that II would be better policy 70 iesinca
the deficiencies OF the revenues 81 tile De-
81 free matter. and by increasing the rates IN
postage on merchandise, than bv approprf
ating sums Inadequate 10 an cfficient.promnt
ana last transmission OF mails.
The Postmaster General recommends that
suitable provision be made by law for The
delivery 70 addresses In this country free
from customs duty OF all newspapers and
other articles OF printed matter received In
the mails from foreign countries, when dis
patchsd in accordance with the conditions
prescribed by the International Postal
Union.
The following reference i. made 10 the
free-deliyery system:
There is an urgent need OF greater freanen.
cy in deliveries and collections In several of
the larger cities. and In view of the large ex-
cess 81 postage on local matter over the cost
Of service. due mainly 20 carriers deliverv
a wise policy would seem to Justify more M
cral appropriations for the purpose suggested
above. ard also for the extensiono of the serv-
ice 20 other cities having population OF
5000, emitting them 90 Il under the law
In regard to the pay OF carriers, the Post
General, without repeating the
argument, renews his recommendation OF
last Year for material increase in their COM
pensation.
He again invites attention 10 The subject
or the service rendered BY railway compa-
ufp< In CARRYING hnf
post offices. and says II should either be
made an element OF basis Of compensation.
10 be paid for according TO work done on
each route, ar railway companies should be
relieved from this duty. Attention j. again
called TO the insuillciency Of compensation
allowed under the law for service on many
short routes. During the last session OF
Congress bills were presented to amend the
law regulating compensation 10 railway
for carry ing mails, so as 10 have
rates pay upon items OF space, speed and
frequency. II II suggested that the spac to-
BE- paid for on each route should be limited
p a specified amount or certain weight OF
mails. Otherwise the compensation of All
and consequently an expenditure
y mo Tim >9,Oo0.UoO annually, would be
eft :. ~ discretion Of the Postmaster Cen
raj, and he thinks II j. clear this should not
be done.
The other recommendation 81 general IN
crest made are In belief that Congress
hould authorize temporary contracts for
tar mail service to be made Tor one year, In
ase q need, without advertisement, in
tead Of the six months period, TO which,
" the amended law, the Department Il lin
ted, and that he be authorized 20 prescribe
unit ,rm 10 be worn by all employees OF
he postal service, with view 10 preventing
heir personation by unauthorized indiyid-
Ials. He also recommends the erection Of a
Few Post-oiiice building for San Francisco,
nd urges that accommodations he provid-
d for the Washington City Post office out
ide OF the Department building, where all
pace Il greatly needed for general pur-
oscs, including storage OF valuable rec
rds, which are now exposed "a danger from
re.