Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-11-19
THE MAILS.
Annual Report of the POstmas-
ter General.


WASHINGTON, November 1S.-The an
nual report of Postmaster General Key
is made public to-day. Large portions
of it are devoted to the presentation OF
statistical information already published
in the abstracts of the reports OF his sub
ordinate officers. The Postmaster Gen
eral renews the recommendation con-
tained in the last report for the enact
ment of a law readjusting the
compensation of the railroads for carry
ing mails, on the basis OF space, speed
and frequency, supplemented by the
weight of the mails carried. The rail
road companies have, as a general
thing. neglected to furnish statistics
OF the receipts, expenditures, &c, as
requested. Recommendation is made
that the appropriation to enable the
Postmaster General to obtain proper IA
cilites for the prompt transmission OF
the mails by railroad be increased this
year to 100000. The cost Of the rail
road service on June 80, 1879, was ct the
rate of -, ,692, $50 per annum, an increase
over the cost Of the service during the
preceding fiscal year OF Sl25,995. This
increase does not, however, represent
the actual rate OF the increase IN the ser
vice. as account must be taken of the re-
duction of ) per cent. in the rate of
compensation from July l, 1873,
made under the act of June
Il, 1873. The amount of this deduction
is i'm round numbers 100000, making,
with the Sl25, ,995, an increase OF 500
995 for 1879 over 1873, being little less
than 5I per cent. The general increase
of business all over the country, and the
reasonable certainty that the present
prosperity will continue for some years,
will require the appropriation for the
railroad service for the next fiscal year
10 be increased 10 at least SlO,OOO,OOO,
and the estimate is accordingly placed
nj that sum. The estimate for railroad
postoflice car service for 1881 is placed
at 81 100000 The Postmaster-General
earnestly renews the recommendation
of last wear for the reClassitcatlOn OF
EMPLOYEES OF the railroad mail service,
as advised by the General Superlntend-
ent of that service. General Key re-
ports that the operation of the present
laws regulating the increase OF compen'
satiOn for the increase Of speed and in
creased frequency OF the service on the
"star routes" Il. e., all those wherein
mails are transported by horses and or
dinary vehicles results in a
great loss to the Government,
and recommends legislation to enable
him to retrench in this direction. The es-
Inmates for star service for the next fiscal
year contemplate the continuance OF the
present efficient service in other States,
and largely increase the mail facilities
i'm the States of Indiana, OHIO, Ken
tuckv, South Carolina, North Carolina,
Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, MisSis-
sippi and Alabama. The total amount
asked for the star service for the next
fiscal year is s., ,375, 900. The estimates
ior the inland mail service, by steam
boats, is 100000,
Under the healing OF Protection TO
PostmaSters in Person and Property '
the report saws: 81 desire respectfully
10 call your attention to the fact that
there is no United States statute imp0s-
sing a penalty upon any one for assault
ing or mOleSting postmaster in the dis
charge Of his official duties, as in the
case of revenue officer, and
earnestly request that Congress be
urred 10 pass SuCh a statute.