Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1878-11-13
WASHINGTON.
POST OFFICE EMBARRAssMENrs.


Says Washington special of Nov Sth:
The acknowledgements, in his forth
coming report, will make very few
recommendations to congress-, as he
does not expect the short session will
admit of the passage of much new legis
iation. He does not intend to mention
the question of the Pacific mail or
Brazilian steamship subsidies, but will
leave those subjects entirely to CON
gress. Probably the most i'm
Dortant part of the report will
be in regard to the condition and
needs Of the railway mail service, 1t
will be necessary to take action in re-
gard 10 this, or the department will be
obliged at an early day in the coming
session to begin the reduction of this
particular branch of it's work. AT
present the postmaster-general con-
siders this service in as nearly perfect
condition as it can be brought, and it
has been possible, in spite of the reduc-
tons insisted upon by the last congress,
to maintain its efficiency up to the
present time. Unless further appro-
priations, however, can be secured at
the coming session, the postmaster
general fears he will be obliged
10 abandon the system of .distrib-
uting the mails upon trains, and re-
turn to the old system of distributing
post-otfices. which will work an imme-
date delay to the transmission of mails
IN all parts of the country. He thinks
it will take an appropriation of 81 ,OOO,-
600 to maintain the efficiency of this
peculiar service. He will lay this sub
lect before congress at considerable
length, ana furnish every explanation
of the condition and needs of the SER
vice that the records of the department
can give, and he will also attempt to set
forth the great Importance and value
OF the service to the business interests
of the country IN such way as to
make congress see the absolute neces-
sity of enabling the department by lib
eral appropriations to continue the sys-
tenn Of mail distribution on moving
trains.
THE SECOND ASSISTANT POsTMASTERs RE
PORT
Says a Washington dispatch of Nov.
Sth; The annual report Of Gen. Thos.
j. Brady, second assistant postmaster
general for the fiscal year ended June
3Oth, 1873, has been prepared for the
acknowledgement. 1t appears that
the cost of inland transfer for the year
was $16,034 ,O21. The increased number
of railroad, steamboat and stage routes
over the previous year was 6S3, in ag-
gregate length 8, 146 miles, and in an
nual C ost, s649, 126. The appropria-
ton for the railway mail transfer dur
ing the year was $250,000 actual cost
so far as adjustments were completed
was 50, 1865 The amount appropri-
ated for the current fiscal year is 49,
100000. It is definitely ascertained
that 100000 additional will be required
TO cover the cost Of the service for 1879.
If no further funds are supplied by
congress, service to the above amount
must be discontinued. It is estimated
that 81, 900 will be required for
1880. The aggregate estimate for mail
transfer and items incident thereto dur
ing the next fiscal year is $2O,790,000.
Total amount appropriated for the cur
rent year is about 100000 less.
WEIGHT OF THE STANDARD DOLLAR
Says a Washington special Of Nov
9Th At a cabinet session to-day some
routine business was transacted and
there was a general conversation re-
garding the points to be brought to the
attention Of congress in the
presidents message. 1t was unan-
imously agreed that the message
should contain some recommendation
for the enactment of legislation either
20 increase the weight Of the standard
silver dollar, or to diminish its coinage,
or to adopt both these means of pre-
venting further depreciation of It's value.
The subject will be again considered at
4 future meeting.
ASTOUNDING FIGURES ON INTERNAL REV
ENUE.
A Washington dispatch of Nov. 9th
gives the following astounding figures
concerning the internal revenue col
lected during the last fiscal year: The
annual report Of the commissioner Of
internal revenue shows that Sill ,009,-
SO was collected during the fiscal year
ending June 80, 1878; decrease of
SS,367 .231 from the receipts of the
previous year. The receipts were from
the following sources:
Spirits ..-.......... s57, 469, 400 $50, APO, 5a3
Tobacco. :..---.-.-. 41,1O6, SAT 90. 0o4, 529
Banks and bakers 3,S29, 729 3, 1872, OBJ
Stamps penalties, ETC. 7,106, 6S9 7,155, 201
Total. .::sl1s $685. 1874 Sill, oSs, s1s
It will be noticed that the falling off
was almost entirely IN the receipts from
distilled spirits and tobacco. seven