Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-01-09
WASHINGTON, Jan. ).

WASHINGTON. Jan. ).
An impression seems to exist that Post
master General Key, and first Assistant
Postmaster General Tyler are, owing
probably to their anamolous relations (the
appointing power being practically divid-
ed between them) somewhat Jealous of
each other; but, am disposed to think,
from observation and inquiry. that such is
not the case. The employees of the de-
partment are of the opinion that the most
friendly feeling exists between the post
master general and the first assistant, who
was so recently a cabinet minister. The
officials of the post office department, re-
publcans ms they are, warmly approve
Judge Keys administration and, on the
other hand, the postmaster general, in his
recent annual report, spoke of the ability,
honesty, fidelity, and excellence charac-
tcrizing the management of postal affairs
by Mr.. Tyler and those associated with
him. The first assistant postmaster gen.
eral, who was years ago clerk in the de.
partment, and has since been chairman of
the postal committee in Congress, and
later postmaster gencral-has had rare
opportunities to become acquainted with
all the minute details rs well as the COM
prehensive relations of the gigantic sys-
tenn. and it is doubtful if any other man
understands the machine rs well us Mr..
Tyler.
1t is little remarkable that two men
of such positive character as Judge Kew
and Mr.. Tyler, and so antithetical in poll
tics, education, and personal traits, should
both pursue the even tenor ofthcir way"
IN the matter of appointments, without
conflict with each other, or confusion in
the postal service. But the huge gud-
geons of the postal machine have been
fabricated with the olive oil of concila-
ton and reform, while these two gentle
men work together as harmoniously as
would Damon and Pythias. Judge Key,
IN Difference perhaps to supposed repub
lican sentiment in the north, delegates
certain powers to Mr.. Tyler in the matter
OF appointments in that section; but he
takes upon his own shoulders the heavy
and complicated work of the department
and with matters of petty detail, or vast
comprehension, seems equally at home.
The post office department is STILL by
default of q few round millions, far short
of the paying institution that was the
ideal of the late Postmaster General jew
ell. The excess of expenditures over
receipts during the last fiscal year were
nearly five millions (S4,S54, 1S0.S2). The
following are the principal causes that
contribute to the defect First the adop-
ton of postal cards that enable messages
to be transmitted through the mails at
one cent, instead of at three, the amount
OF postage formerly charged for all writ
ten communications.
Second, the present mode of compensa-
ting, postmasters at offices Of the fourth
class. Postmasters at offices of this class
(payng less than $1,000 year, are paid
by commissions on their sales of postage
stamps, while postmasters at larger offices
are paid fixed salaries, and the proceeds
from sales of stamps at those offices be-
long exclusively to the department The
result is that postmasters Of offices of the
fonrth class, who are usually retail coun-
try store keepers, instead of limiting their
sale of stamps to persons within the deliv
cry of their respective offices, not unfre-
quently carry on an extensive traffic in
stamps with wholesale merchants in the
larger cities, thereby increasing, to an I'M
due extent, their own compensation, and
greatly diminishing the revenues of the
department. To remedy this defect. Post
master General Key recommends the en-
actment of a law which will require the
compensation of postmasterS ut offices oil
the fourth class to be based upon the
stamps cancelled at their respective Offices
instead of, as at present, giving them a
percentage of the proceeds Of their sales
of stamps.
A third source Of loss to the department
is the dishonest reuse of postage stamps
that have not been effectively cancelled
1t is estimated by competent post office
officials that the government loses II mil
lion of dollars annually from this source
alone, millions of stamps being 50 imper-
iectly cancelled that Il little soap AID Wa
ter will remove the ink from them. A
great many novel devices have been re
sorted to, or have rather, been expert
mented with, to guard against this fraud
but to no successful issue. Judge Key Ia,
the matter now under advisement, aud he
will shortly publish an order changing lh,
appearance of the one, two, and three
cent stamps, with view to the protection
in Il measure at least. of the revenues u
the department. Foreign governments
have but little trouble from this last nam.
ed source; but their postag" stamps ave
far interior to ours in strength OF material
Us well As in hardness and beauty of finish
If we should adapt the light fmsy STAMP
of Denmark or of Prussia, it is safe to say
that not one in ten thousand could bt
washed TO look us good AS new, but they
would be very unpopular with bushes,
men and the public generally, and the
number that would tear or become defaceC
in process of affixing to the envelope
would be rs large perhaps as the number
that are now renovated after they have
been once used.
The tendency of legislation affecting
the post office department has been tt
cheaper the rates of postage, while at the
same time the establishment of new pos
offices in remote places, in many of the
states, especially in Texas, has added enor
nously to the expense of transporting the
mails. These are the principal reason!
why the post Office department which i.
more intimately connected with the want,
of the people than any department of the
government is not self-sustainng insti
tuition.
Humor takes very well with his northern
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