The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-11-27
Postmaster aener.l.. report

WASHINGTON, November 18.-The annual
report of Postmaster General Key is made
public. Large portions of it are devoted to the
presentation of statistical information already
published in the abstracts of reports of his
subordinate oficers.
The Postmaster General renews the recon-
mendation contained in his last report for the
enactment of a law readjusting the comPcnsa-
tion 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 a general thing,
neglected to furnish statistics of receipts, ex-
pendtures, 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
$500 200. The cost of railway service on the
3Oth of June, 1879, was at the rate of $9,692,-
$50 per aunum, an increase over the cost of the
service during the preceding fiscal year of $780,
995. The increase does not, however, repre-
sent the actual rate Of increase in the service,
account must be taken of reduction of five
per cent. in the rate of ofcompensation from July
l, 1873, made under the act of June II, 1878.
The amount of this deduction is in round mum
bers $400 900, making, with the $125,995, an
increase of 1926, 1895 for 1879 over 1878, being
little less than 5.5 per cent. The general
increase of business all over the country, and
reasonable certainty that the present pros
perity will continue for fome years, willTequire
appropriation for railway service for the next
fiscal year to be increased to at least 10, ,O00,-
600, and the estimate is accordingly placed at
that sum- The estimate for railway Post office
service for 1881 is placed at 1880 ,O00.
The Postmaster General earnestly renexs the
recommendation of last year for the reclassih-
cation of the employees of railway mail service,
advised by the General Superintendent of
that service. General Key reports that the
sc kha loxu n1afi
increase of compensation for increased speed
and increased frequency Of service upon /" Star
Routes - IL. e., all those whereon mails are
transported by horses and ordinary vehicles)
results in great loss to the Government, and
recommend legislation to enable him 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 amount asked for the Star
Service for the next fiscal year is
$7,375, 900. The estimates for the inland
mail service by steamboats, is 100000
The report continues "The efforts of the
Department to establish a. fast mail service
with Havana, via Cedar Keys and Key West,
in order to meet the demands of commerce,
have failed for several years, account of the
insufficiency of compensation allowed by law
for such fervice. II the Postmaster General
we're 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 coun
try would be greatly benefited. believe that
general law should be passed authorizing con-
tracts for carry; ;ng mails between the United
States and West India and South American
ports in American built steamers carrying
American flags, alta 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.t The adop-
tion ofsuch service by Congress would enable
this country to control profitable commerce
with South America and the West Indies,
Which is now almost monopolized by Great
Britian." ,.ssx -,st
III regard to the use of the mails by lottery
companies, the Postmaster General suggests
that Sections 1929 and 4,041, Revised Stat
utcs, be amended by striking out the word
fraudulent" preceding the word " lottery, in
each Section, which will make the mail legisla-
tion moro harmonious and effective. 1t will aid
the Department in the execution of the intent
of the law if provision of Section $780, ro-
quring the return to writer's, of regis
tered letters addressed to such schemes
were in terms so eatended to include
all letters so addressed. The circulars res
GENTLY issneda upon the subject are given, and
reference is made to the pending in
the United States Circuit Court at Lao isville,
which, whom decided, says General Key, 81
will avail my self of tho decision to communicate
tho further views of this Department upon tho
question - Whethsr m individual may for
felt his right to use mail for legitimate pur-
poses bysvoluntariiy mingling such correspond
encs with prohibilOd matter, 50 TINT the De-
partmeht must carry both neither, is u ques-
ton upon which additional legislation might