The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1879-11-27

Eostnnnstef 6oneraHs Report.
WASHINGTON, November 1s.-The annual
report Of Postmaster General Key is maids
public. Large portions Of itare devoted TO the
presentation Of statistical information already
published in the abstracts of reports of his
subordinate officers.
The Postmaster General renews the recon-
mendation contained in his last report for the
enactment of q law readjusting the compensa-
ton of railroads for carrying mail upon the
basis of space, speed and frequency, supple
mented by the weight of mail carried. The
railroad companies have, as o general thing,
neglected to furnish statistics of receipts, ex-
penditures, etc., as requested. A recommen.
dation is made that an appropriation to enable
the Postmaster General to obtain the proper
facilities for the prompt transmission of the
mails by railroad be increased this year to
S400 600. The cost of railway service on the
30th Of june, 1879, was at the rate of $685.
$50 per mum an increase over the cost of the
service during the preceding fiscal year ofSl2S,-
e95. The Increase does not, however, repre-
sent the actual rate Of increase in the service,
as account must be taken of a reduction Of i've
per sent. in the rate of compensation from July
j, 1878, made under the act of June II, 1878.
The amount of this deduction is in round mum
bers $500 900, making, with the SIPS, 1896, an
AuCItdeC 1 GOLOyJUO " OtS OfCA lOtOy OSAA6
q little less than SIS per cent. The general
increase of business all over the country, and a
reasonable certainty that the present pros
perity will continue for fome years, will require
appropriation for railway service for the next
fiscal year to be increased to at least $40 ,0O0,-
900, and the estimate is accordingly placed at
that sum. The estimate for railway Post-ofice
car service for 1881 is placed at 81 1850, 900.
The Postmaster General earnestly renews the
recommendation of last year for the reclassif-
cation of the employees Of railway mail service,
ss advised by the General Superintendent of
that service. General Key reports that the
operation of the present laws regulating the
increase of compensation for increased speed
and increased frequency of service upon "Star
Routes :" q. g., all those whereon mails are
transported by horses aad ordinary vehicles
results in great loss to the Government, and
recommend legislation to enable hin to retrench
in this direction. The estimates for the Star
Service for the next fiscal year contemplate the
continuance of the present efficient service in
other States, and largely increased mail facili-
ties in the States Of Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky,
South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee,
Georgia, Florida, Mississippi and Alabama.
The total mount asked for the Star
Service for the next fiscal year is
81, 375, 900. The estimates for the INLAND
mail service by steamboats, is 5000, 900.
The report continues: "The efforts of the
Department to establish q fast mail service
with Havana, via Cedar Keys and Key West,
in order to meet the demands Of commerce,
have failed for several years, on account. of the
insuficieacy Of compensation allowed by law
for such ~fervice. If the Postmaster General
were authorized to contract for service between
Havana and the United States ports mentioned
at sufficient rate Of pay to secure the necessary
speed and frequency, the commerce of the eoun
try would be greatly benefited. I believe that
q general law should be passed authorizing con-
tracts for carrying mails between the United
States and West India and South American
ports in American built steamers carrying
American Gags, at fixed minimum and maxi
mum price, the amount to be expended being
regulated by annual appropriations. Or the
service might be thrown open to competition in
the same manner as star service. The adop-
ton of such service by Congress would enable
this country to control profitable commerce
with South America and the West Indies,
which il now almost nonopolised by Great
Britain"
companies, the Postmaster General suggests
that Sections 1929 and 4,041, Revised Stat
utes, be amended by striking out the word
" fraudulent +" preceding the word " lottery, " in
each Section, which will make the mail legisla-
ton moro harmonious and effective. It will aid
the Department in the execution of the intent
Of the law if provision Of Section 1889, re.
curing the return to writer's, of regis
tered letters addressed to such scheme,
were in terms SO extended as to include
all letters 50 addressed. The circulars re.
Gently issued upon the subject are given, and
reference is made to the case now pending il
tho United States Circuit Court ut Lo isville
which, when decided, says General Key, !"
will avail myself of the decision to ~communicat,
the further views of this Department upon tn,
question: Whether al individual may for.
felt his right to use mail for legitimate pur.
poses by voluntarily mingling such correspond
ence with prohibited matter, SO. that the De.
partment must carry both or neither, is O ques.
ton upon which additional legislation nigh
render the purpose of the statute altogethel
unquestionable.
The carriage by mail Of newspapers contain.
ing lottery advertisements soliciting violation,
Of the laws, renders the successful enforcement
of the statute now in force still more difficult
General Key reports that the law providing
for q new classification of mail matter and re
adjusting of postage thereon, passed at the las
session of the Forty-ffth Congress, has givel
universal satisfaction.
Under the heading of "Protection to Post
masters in Person and Property" the repor
says: al desire respectfully to cali your atten
ton to the fact that there is no United State
statute imposing penalty upon any one for as
saulting or maltreating o Postmaster in tn
discharge of his official duties, as in the case @
Revenue officers, and I earnestly request tina
Congress DO urged to pass such Q statute"
In connection with the suits recently decide
against Postmaster James, Of New York, 70
alleged infringement of letters patent in use
canceling stamps, General Key says an &C
counting of the cases are now being taken, bu
as other postmasters are liable to be subjecte
to expense in the same manner because thes
stamps have been in use at all the princips
postofices of the country for the last past te
years, he desires to call attention to the fac
that there is no provision of Federal law I
secure Certificates of the probable cause" I
United States officials other than Treasur
officials in cases of adverse judgments for &C,
done in their official capacity. In the preser
instance Mr.. james, as postmaster, uses can
ceiling stamps furnished by this department
The Court adjudged him to have infringe
. patent by suck use. The judgmer
for damages is against him PERSONAL!
In like cases the property Of Treas
ury officials is protected by law frol
levy. I submit that similar protection
due to all Government employees when actin
in the line of their duty"
The report recommends that the provision
Section II of the act of March 3, 1879, author
iziI g the Secretary of the Treasury and tt
Postmaster General to adopt the regulation
for the delivery to addresses in the Unite
States of dutiable books, with the collections
customs duties thereon, be extended to embra'
all articles of dutiable matter received in II
mails from foreign countries. The Postmast'
General recommends legislation TO enable Il
department Of the Postal Union relative to Il
payment Of the limited indemnity for regi
tered articles lost or destroyed in the post
service. The report goes on to ssy that Il
increasing demands of the postal service ca
for a large increase in the appropriation for II
payment of clerks in postofices. The estima
Isl. 650,000) for this item is greatly below Il
actual needs for the service. 1 have SO est
mated, however, because 1 did not desire to il
crease the growing disparity between the rev
nue. and expenditures of the department. ]
provide q less sum for the employment of clerI
than I have estimated for will cripple the wol
of the postofices, and in many instances del,
the transmission of the mails. The free deli
cry service is mentioned as having attained
great success, but the Postmaster General r
marks that with larger appropriations mo
frequent deliveries could be secured, and SUI
improvement, he believes, would meet with IN
vsrsal commentator in the large cities.
A deficiency of about $24, 900 is reported
funds available to pay letter carriers increas
salaries authorized by act oflast February, al