The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-11-28
From the National Republican,
Annual Report Of the Postmaster General

to the public. In relation to the reduction in the
compensation to railways fpr carrying the mails
the Postmaster-General says "This reduction
has been the occasion Of much dissatisfaction
and complaints. Most of the leading companies
have entered formal protest against this reduc-
ton, and some have stated that they only contin-
ued to perform the service temporarily lest their
refusal to CO so might occasion serious inconven-
fence to the public
He also calls attention to the complaints of the
roads of insufficient compensation for carrying
mails from depots to post-ofices The delivery
OF mails from stations to post-ofiices should eth
er be made an element of the basis of compsn-
sation, to be paid for according to the work done
on each route. or the railway companies should
be relieved from this duty. An unpaid service is
always source of dissatisfaction.
He calls attention to certain statements in the
report of the railway commission, which, unex-
planned, might leave an impression that there
had been unjust discrimination against South
eln roads in the adjustment of pay for carrying
the mails, but such is not The case The rates of
pay are the same on all roads on which the
amount and character of the service are similar.
1t is true that greater rates OF pay are allowed
elsewhere than in the South, because the service
is greater. On one route from New York city the
average daily weight of mails is thrty-six tons,
while no road south of Maryland carries more
than SIX tons of mail day, and the same dispro-
portion exists between nearly all Northern and
Southern railroads.
By statement appended to the report it is
showc that notwithstanding the great increase i'll
the weight Of mails and the additional facilities
furnished for their care and distribution in tran
sit. the rate per mile OF annual transportation i'll
| 1871 was but nine mills greater than in 1854.
~ iJ,i1;
matter lost he says:
AS the principle of limited responsibility in
case of the loss of registered articles is acknowl
edged by fare majority of the countries
| prising the Universal Postal Union, and is also
adopted with restricted application in the con-
Yention OF Paris it is desirable. for the sake If
uniformity, apply it to all registered articles
| exchanged i'll the Union mails. and therefore
recommend that the necessary authority be Civ
| ell by law to enable this Department to accept
| the general rules of the Union respecting the
| payment of indemnities for registered articles
lost or destroyed in the United States postal
| vice. The number of registered articles annually
| lost or destroyed is so small that the payments to
| be made on this head would be very trifing in
amount
| He also renews the accommodation in his last
annual report
That suitable provision be made by law for the
delivery to addresses i'll this country free of
| customs duty of newspapers and other articles OF
printed matter received in the mails from foreign
countries when dispatched in accordance with
the conditions prescribed by the Universal Post
al Union convention. The fact that our laws impose
customs duty on newspapers and printed matter
OF every characterization foreign countries caus
es embarrassment to this Department in Its rela-
lions with other postal administrations, as well
annoyance and inconvenience to our citizens
who subscribe to foreign publications
sionally receive them from correspondents
abroad. The duties chargeable on such publica-
tions, even if they could be readily collected,
too trifling in amount to Justify the expenses of
collection and the placing Of restriction of this
character on their free entry and circulation is
not only in conflict with the stipulations of post
| al conventions with other countries, which pro-
| vded for the exchange of such articles through
the mails subject to prescribed conditions of in
| closure. weight, and pre- payment OF postage but
places the United States i'll the anomalous posi-
| ton of being the only country of the world
whose laws exact customs duties on publications
of this character received in the mails from other
| countries.
REVENUES OF THE DEPARTMENT.
II the revenues Of the postal service were equal
to its expenditures no severe system OF economy
would be SO necessary for Its administration
Many ofmypredecessoTs have urg ed the establish
ment of higher rates OF postage OF the exclusion
| from the mails of such matteras did not pay the
expenses of its transportation ngorder to make
the Departm ent self sustaining. Time and again
| it has been shown that matter of the second and
third class does not pay its way through the mails.
and Congress has been urged to increase the rate
of postage thereon. The question has been con-
sidered time and again by the appropriate COM
mittees and discussed 10y both houses OF Con-
greSs, ard the results have shown that it was not
tanning. but that the deficiencies in it's revenues
should be met i'll appropriations from the gener-
al Treasury.
DEFICIENCIES MUST INCREASE WITH BUSINESS.
III this be true and if this policy shall be con-
tnued, it necessarily follows that the deficiencies
must increase in proportion to the increase OF
mail matter of these classes, ami il sums made
quate to meet these deficiencies be appropriated
by Congress the efficiency of the service must be
| crippled. The amount of matter sent through
the mails free is very adding greatly to our
expenditures and giving us no revenue.
THE FRANKING PRIVILEGE.
has been restored to the members and chief Off
almost everything which they ever allowed
to transmit through the mails free except letters.
Tons upon tons of books, documents, seeds,
shrubs, and the like are placed in mails, free
OF cost. on this score.
The oficialletters OF the executive departments
OF the General Government, their documents, &C.
go free through the mails. Newspapers
sent to subscribers residing in the county in
which the newspapers are printed and published
go free through the mails. 1t cost the Depart
ment Just as mach per pound to send this free
matter through the mails as it does that on which
uments or OF speeches of members of Congress,
or OF reports Of DEPARTMENTS costs just as much
as pound OF letters on which three cents for
every half ounce has been paid.
HOW TO PREVENT DEFICIENCIES.
-, Now most respectfully but earnestly suggest
that it would be better policy to reduce the de-
fciencies of the revenues of the Department by
curta1ling or abolishing the list of free matter
aha e an ne n s Of on
70 an ethclent, prompt and fast transmission of
the mails.
New post-olHce buildings at San Francisco and
Washington recommended. OF the latter
he says the office now occupies SO large portion
of the Departmental building as to leave insuf@
fcient room for the clerks of the Department,
and renders the space available for files and rec
ords entirely inadequate. For want OF other suit
able room many tons of valuable records are now
stored in the attic OF the building adding greatly
to the danger from fire, in the event of which
tn cir destruction would be inevitable.
In an article on the power to res ume, the |
Boston Herald says: