The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1879-12-04
The POst.Omco.


The annual report of POstmaster-Gen eral
Key is made public to-day. Large portions Of
1t are devoted to the presentation Of statistical
information already published in the abstracts
of reports Of his subordinate officers.
RAILWAY SERVICE.
The POstmasterGeneral 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 basis
Of space, speed and frequency, supplemented
by the weight of the mails carried. The rail-
lected to furnish statistics of receipts expendi-
lures, ETC., as requested. The recommends
ton is made that the appropriation to enable
facilities for the PROMPT e Of maiIs
by railroad be increased this year to 100000.
The cost of railway service ON the 30th of
June, 1879, was at the rate Of So 6as, SO per an
mum, an increase over the cost Of the service
during the preceding year of $125, 1896. This in
crease does not, however, represent the actual
rate OF increase in the service, as account
in the rate Of compensation from July 1, 1878,
made under the act of June II, 1875 The
amount Of this deduction is, in round num-
an increase Of s5s5,aa5 for 1873 over ISIS
being little less than SIS per cent. The
general increase of business all over the
present prosperity will continue for some
years, will require the appropriation for the
railway service for the next fiscal year to be
mate is accordnSiy placed at that sum- me- The
estimate for the railway post-ofiice car service
for 1881 is placed at 81, 356,OOo The Postmaster.
General earnestly renews the recommendar
employees of the Railway Mail Service by the
General Superintendent of that service.
THE STAR" ROUTES.
General Key reports that the operation of
COMPENSATION for increased speed and in
cresed frequency of service upon !" star
routes Il. e., all those wherein the mails are
>k<,1
results in great loss to the Government, and
recommends legislation to enable him to re-
trench in this direction.
As nne estimates f3r s service the next
present efficient service in other States, and
largely increased mail facilities in the States of
Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, South Carolina,
Mississippi and Alabama. The total amount
asked for "star" service the next fiscal year is
$7,y5,ooo: The estimates for inland mail serv-
FAST NAIL SERVICE.
The report continues: "The efforts of the
Department to establish fast mail service
with Havana via Cedar Keys and Key w est, in
order to meet the demands Of commerce, have
failed for several years ON account of the in
sufiiciency of the compensation allowed by
law for such service the
between Havana and the United States ports
mentioned at a sufficient rate of pay to secure
the necessary speed and frequency, the
ly benefited. 1 believe that general law
should be passed authorizing contracts for
carrying mails between the United States and
the West Indian and South American ports in
American-built steamers carrying American
flags, at a fixed minimum and maximum price,
the amount to be expended regulated by an.
thrown open to competition, the same as the
STAR service. The adoption of such service
by Congress would enable this country to con-
troll the profitable commerce with South
ANN <ho Tndi vvh oh io
almost moncpolized by Great Britain"
In regard to the use of mails by lottery com.
panies, the POstmaster-Genera suggests that
Sections 3,2s29 and 4,041. Revised Statutes, be
amended by striking out the word "fraudu-
lent" preceding the word LOTTERY in each
harmonious and elective. 1t would aid the
Department in the execution of the intent Of
the law If the provision of Section $3.50 reQuir-
ing the return to the writer's of registered let
tiers addressed to such schemes were in terms
extended to include all letters SO addressed.
The circulars recently issued upon this subject
are given, and reference is made to a case now
pending in the United States Circuit Court at
Louisville, which, when decided, says General
Key, II will avail myself of the decision to
communicate further the views of this Depart
yidual may forfeit his right to use the mails
for legitimate purposes by voluntarily ming
ling such correspondence with prohibited mat
3s5 50 that the
legislation might render the purpose of the
statute altogether unqucstionable. The car
rage by mail Of newspapers containing lottery
advertisements soliciting violations of tho
Postal laws renders the successful enforce
msnt OF the statute now in force still more
General Key reports that the law providing
for new classification of mail matter, and
adjusting the rates Of postage thereon, passed
at the last session of the FOrty-ffth Congress,
satisfaction
PROTECTION TO POSTMAsTERS.
Under the heading of Protection to POST
masters in person and property the report
ton to the fact that there is no United States
statute imposing a penalty on any one for as
saulting or molesting postmaster in the dis
revenue officers, and earnestly request that
Congress be urged to pass such statute"
In connection with suit recently decided
alleged Of a in tSe
use of canceling stamps, General Key says an
accounting in the case is now being taken; but
as other postmasters are liable to he subjected
to expense in the same manner, because these
stamps have been in use at all the principal
post-ofices of the country for the last ten
years, he desires to call attention to
a THAT to NO Of
probable cause to United States officials
other than officials in cases of adverse
M
as postmaster, uses the canceling stamps fur.
nished by the Department. The Court adj
judges him to have infringed patent by such
use. The judgment for damages is against
him personally. In like cases the property Of
the Treasury officials is protected by law from
levy. submit that similar protection is due
to all Government employees when acting in
the line of their duty"
DUTIABLE MATTER, ETC.
The report recommends that the provision
of Section II Of the act of March g. 1873, author
q nv nf nd
master-General to adopt regulations for de-
livery to addresses in the United States of
dutfable books, with the collection of customs
duties thereon, he extended to embrace all