The New York herald., 1878-11-16

cornpen saton of postn,asters is to be computed 1t
is matter of arithmetical calculation
in which the department has latitude discretion
For example. postmaster of the fourth class is cnti
tied 10 his box rents and to commissions on other
postal revenues Of his Office as follows ON Che first
500 OF postage stamps cancelled ut his Office per
quarter. sixty cent? all over 500 and not over
$500 per quarter. fifty per cent, and on oil sums
over $500 per Iusrter, forty pen cent
The postmaster, on report and settlement, retains
his commissions in such and he thus obtaius
and retains his salary whether there be an appropra
ton by Congress for it or not. Therefore, decen-
ces the prevention OF them, far salaries and
compensation of postnasters concerned are not.
and cannot be, controlled by the department. II the
amount appropriated by Congress for the purpose be
not equal to amount OF compensation established by
law there must be deficiency
INApEoUAcY APPROPRIATIONS
After describing the rates of compensation pre-
scrbcd by law for railway mail service the Postmaster
General says
The appropriation made By Congress at its last
sion was sufficient to pay for the existing service
on the rGilroa thus prescribed. In addition to this
fact the weight of the mails carried is constantly in
creasing and railroads and parts of railroads
being continually addcd to our postal routes. 1t be-
came an embarrassing question to the department
duced SO as to correspond with the ap.
preparation whether it should be continued
it then was was gntil |. Congress = should s I'D
Judgment and discussion. 1t was believed by the
Department that ii would not do to withdraw the
service from such number of railroads would
duce the cost of transportation within the amount
appropriated The only other method Of reducing
the expenses Of this service would have been to dis
continue the service as carried and
Quoted by our postal car system entirely, or
to such an extent would bring the
have adopted this course would have led to great
confusion and delay and to great dissatisfaction and
complaint the part OF the public. II would have
carried back to the system in vogue before postal
cars were used Separation Offices would have been
required on the lines of railways at which the mail
nave and instead of
this separation and distribution made with
ont detention or delay on the moving
of continuing such course is that il would neces
sarly lead large increase OF force in such of the
post Offices might be made Offices for the separa-
ton of the mails and appropriation by Congress
had been made considered. go far as an aware,
for srch purpose Hence have delayed making
such radical changes in the service as would bc re-
ouired by reason of the sum appropriated to this
branch of the postal service until Congress could be
consulted upon the subject
should no additional appropriation be made for
this service shall feel 1t my duty under the law
curtail the service as to fall within the appropra-
ton however much might consider the public in
terests injured thereby am satisfied it would lead
Justly to much complaint. Mails would be detained
we,nn !. T, hanr ~ and ceerlIY hours BooIs
papers and packages passing over great distances
crcntous routes would be detained at more than one
such office in very many cases, and there would be
delay in the immense number of transactions which
are initiated, conducted and completed by commnni-
cations through the mails. For this cause business
men would send their messages by telegraph instead
of the mails to great extent, and the delay
in the transmission OF the remittances
Of business men would add largely to the sums they
pay by way Of interest aud exchange In my opinion
it would cause shock to our postal system from
which it would not soon recover Railway com
postal cars might be slow to furnish such con-
veniences second time and there is no law to COM
pei them to do so.
THE nxvESUEs AND EXPENDITURES.
Another interesting portion of the report was as
follows:-
If the revenues of the postal service equal to
its expenditures severe system of economy would
he so necessary for its administration. Many OF my
predecessors have urged the establishment of higher
rates OF postage or exclusion from the mails of
s.lch matter did not pay the expenses
of transmission in order to make the de-
partrnent als-sustaining. Time and again it has
been shown that matter OF the second and third
claxs does not pay its way through the mails, and
Congress has been urged to increase the rates Of
postage thereon. The question has been considered
time and again by the appropriate committees and
discussed by both branches OF Congress and the re-
suits have shown that il not expected that the
department should be self-snstaining. but that the
deficiencies in its revenues should be met by appro-
prations from the general treasury Deneiensies tss
be true and il this policy shall be continued it necss
sariiy follows that the deficiencies must increase in
proportion to the increase Of mail matter of these
cIesaes and IL sums inadequate 10 meet these dcf-
ccnces appropriated by Congress the efficiency OF
the service IL ust be crippled. The amount Of matter
gent through the mails free Is very large. adding
greatly TO expenditures and giving revenue.
fBASKISG PRIVILEGE.
The ranking privilege has been restored to the
members and chief officers of Congress to allow
them 10 send almost veryfhtng which they were
ever allowed transnit through the mails free. ex-
ccpt letters Tons upon tons OF books, documents,
seeds shrubs and the like are PLACED in our mails
free OF charge on this The official letters Of
the executive department of the general govern
ment their documents 90 free through the mails.
Newspapers TO subsc ribers residing in the
county in which the newspapers are printed and pub
lishcd go free through the malls. IL costs the de-
partme just much per pound 10 send this free
matter through the mails it does that which
postage Is paid. a pound OF seeds public docu-
ipopts or OF speeches members of Congress or OF
reports Of departments costs just much pound
OF letters which three cents for every hanounce
has been paid.
Now most respectfully but earnestly suggest that
II would be better policy TO reduce the deficiencies Of
tho revenues the department by curtailing abo
shing the list Of fce matter and by increasing the
rates Of postage inercandisc than by appropriat
ing inadequate to an eftcient, prompt and fast
transmission OF the mails.
CUSTOM DUTIES NEWSPAPERS.
The Postmaster General recommends that suitable
provision he made by law for the delivery addresses
in this country free OF customs uty of all newspaper
and other articles Of printed matter received in
mails from foreign countries when despatched in
cordancc with the conditions prescribed by the Inter
nation Postal Union. In support OF tins recommcn
dation, he says
The fact that laws impose customs duties on
newspapers and printed matter OF every kind re
ceived from foreign countries causes embarrassment
this department In its relations with other posta
aysenis well annoyance aud incony enience Il
cifzens who subscribe 10 foreign publications
csxionay receive them from correspondents abroad
| The duties chargeabe such publications
! even II they could be readily collected NJ,
| too triaing in amount 10 justify tho expcns,
| Of collection. and the placing of u restriction
Of this character their entry circulation
is not only conflict with the stpnlatiors Of the
postal conventions with other countries which pro
vded for the exchange of such articles through ths
mails. subject 10 tho prescribed conditions OF
| closure, weight and prepayment Of postage. but
plsres the United states the anomalous position
b. ing the only country OF the world whose law,
exact custoins duties publications Of this charac
Ter received IN the mails from other nations.
gnE DELIVERY sysTrM
General Key gays. with reference to the free dcliv