Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-01-09
Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 5.

!
Postmaster General Tyler are, owing
probably to their anamolous relations Qhe
appointing power being practically divid-
ed between them) somewhat jealous of
each other; but, am disposed to think,
from observation and inquiry that such is
not the case. The employees OF the de-
partment are of the opinion that the most
friendly feeling exists between the post
master general and the first assistant, who
was so recently cabinet minister. The
officials of the post Office department, re-
pubicans as they are, warmly approve
Judge Keys administration and, on the
other hand, the postmaster general, in his
recent annual report, spoke of the ability,
honesty, fidelity, and excellence charac-
terizing the management Of postal affairs
by Mr. Tyler and those associated with
him. The first assistant postmaster gen.
eral, who was years ago clerk in the de-
partment, and has since been chairman of
the postal committee in Congress, and
later postmaster general-has had rare
opportunities to become acquainted with
all the minute details rs well as the COM
prehensive relations Of the gigantic sys-
tenn, and it is doubtful if any other man
understands the machine rs well us Mr..
Tyler.
1t is n little remarkable that two men
of such positive character as Judge Key
and Mr.. Tyler, and so antilhetical in poll.
tics, education, and personal traits, should
both pursue the even tenor ofthcir way"
in the matter of appointments, without
conflict with each other, or confusion in
the postal service. But the huge gud
geons of the postal machine have been
fabricated with the olive oil of conclia-
ton and reform, while these two gentle
men work together rs tremendously rs
would Damon and Pythias Judge Key
in Difference perhaps to II supposed rrpnb-
lican sentiment in the north, delegates
certain powers to Mr. Tyler in the matter
of appointments in that section; but he
takes upon his own shoulders the heavy
and complicated work of the department
and with matters of petty detail, or vast
comprehension seems equally ut home.
The p st office department is still, by
default Of few round millions, far shorJ
of the paying institution that was the
ideal of the late Pos cr General jew.
ell The excess OF expenditures over
receipts DURING the last fiscal wear were
nearly five millions (S4,Sj4, l80S2). The
following are the principal causes thlt
contribute to the defect First. the adop-
lion of postal cards that enable messages
to be transmitted through the mails at
one cent, instead of ut three, the amount
OF postage formerly charged for all writ
ten communications.
Second, the present mode of compensa-
tinr. postmasters at Offices of the fourth
class. Postmasters at offices of this class
(paying less than $1,000 Il year,) are paid
by commissions on their sales of posface
stamps, while postnastcrs ut larger offices
are paid fixed salaries. and tine proceed,
from sales of stamps at those offices be-
lono exclusively to the Jepartment. The
result is that postmasters Of offices of tbe
fourth class. who are usually retail coun-
try store keepers, instead of limiting their
f sale of stamps to persons within the deliv-
ery of their respcclive offices. not unGe.
ouently carry on an extensive traffic in
stamps with wholesale merchants in fine
larger cities, thereby increasing. to an un.
due extent, their own COMPENSATION. and
greatly diminishing the revenues of the
department. TO remedy this defect Post.
master General Key recommends the en-.
actment of a law which will require the
compensation of postmasters at Offices Of
the fourth class to be based upon the
, stamps cancelled Mt their respective offices
, instead of, rs at present. Giying them ,
percentage of the proceeds of their sales
of stamps.
A third source of loss TO the department
is the dishonest reuse of postage stamp,
that have not been effectively cancelled
1t is estimated by competent post office
= officials that the Government loses Il mil
n lion of dollars annually from this source
e alone, millions of stamps being so imper.
:, iectly cancelled that little soap aud wa
J ter will remove the ink from them. A
:, great many novel devices have been re
}, sorted to, or have rather, been expert
mented with, to guard against this fraud
but to no successful issue. judge Kew ha,
: the matter now under adyisement. and h,
: will shortly publish an order changing The
;, appearance of the one. two. and hire,
cent stamps. with view to the protection
in a measure at least. of the revenues O
j. the department Foreion Government,