Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-11-01
THE POSTAL SERYICE.

THE TOSIAL SEhTxCEs
The report of the auditor of the treasury
for the postofice department, published in
yesterdays GLOBE, presents gratifying ar
ray of figures, though they suggest the pos
sibillty of still greater improvements in the
conduct of affairs in that department. The
statistics show that there has been deere ase
in the net expenses of the department for
the year ending on the Both of June last
amounting to over million of dollars, and
that the receipts of the department come
within about three million dollars of meet
lug all expenses. The decrease is attributed
ia the main to two changes in the law, which
we're bitterly opposed by the Republican
party, but finally carried. One IL the p,ac-
tice of allowing postmasters commissions
only on the number of stamps cancelled at
their respective Offices, instead of on the
stamps sold as heretofore, and the other is
the reduction of the allowance paid to rail-
roads. The practice had grown up
among the postmasters of selling
stamps to business men for CONNER
oial purposes SO that they could collect the
commissions, and whenever circumstances
would permit remittances by mail were made
in postage stamps. The saving effected in
one year by the change has amounted to
nearly two hundred thousand dollars.
1t was urged by the opponents of the law
reducing the compensation of the railroads
for carrying the mails that the service would
be seriously embarrassed by the refusal of
the railroad companies to furnish transpor-
| tation. No such Inconvenience has been
felt, but the companies are just as
anxious to procure the contracts for mail
transportation as they ever we're. Indeed,
we are by no means certain that a further re-
duotion of their compensation would be
| fully warranted. The results of both meas
ures, at any rate, have fully vindicated the
policy of the Democratic party in changing
the law in the respects named. ..
| Now that the department has so nearly
reached the point where it will become self
supporting, measures ought to be devised to
make it wholly so. There are number of
means that will, no doubt, be suggested and
some tried. Some will, no doubt, urge the
reduction of letter postage to two cents, but
we question if tho rate is not already as low
as it can be fixed and rendered profitable.
Probably Encouragement of the postage on
different classes of mail matter may result in
an increase lin the receipts. There are a
great many, however, who, in view of the
success that has attended the workings of
the money-order system, will insist upon
the postofice department establishing saw
ings banks after the plan now in vogue in
England. But such an experiment. in this
country would be hazardous. While no one
doubts that money entrusted to the govern
ment would be safe, the system is open to
many grave objections that cannot be too care
fully considered. In the first place it would
largely increase the army of Office holders in
the employ of the government, thus rein
forcing class that is already too strong and
Yields too powerful an influence upon the
politics of the country. It would give to
them opportunities for peculation create,
than that which they now enjoy, and though
the depositors would not be likely to SUITE.
from the thefts of dishonest officials, the
government might be subjected to heavy
losses. Then, such system places too much
power in the hands of the central govern.
ment and the party that happens to be in
control at Washington. When man OF a
party controls ones purse, he is very apt to
control his vote also, else he can cause him
great annoyance. We should hesitate LONG
before entrusting our money to those wao
control our government, for it would be a
powerful agent in the struggle that is i'm
pending between monarchism and dem
ocracy.
1t seems to Us that still further reduc-
ton of the expenses Of the postal eervice can
be made without detriment to tho public
convenience. Many of the postmasters re-
oeive compensation altogether ont of propor-
ton to the duties they perform. Salaries
might be reduced, especially at the larger
offices, and in some cases the number of
clerks could be materially reduced. Greater
economy should be practiced in every branch
OF the service, and by this means the depart
rpent could soon be made self-sustainila.