The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1880-12-03
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE POST.
MASTER GENERAL.


al begins with the remark by Mr.. Maynard that
as he took charge Of the department only on
the 25th of August last he speaks of it histori-
cally and as he finds it, with little reference to
his own administration, which did not COM
mence until after the expiration of the fiscal
year with the transactions Of which the present
report is chiefly concerned. The report pre-
sents n large amount OF statistical information
concerning the operations OF the department.
Attention is called to the statement of Assistant
Postmaster General Brady respecting the star
service transportation and last years de-
fciency, as ''worthy careful consideration.
To have restricted the postal service to the
meager appropriation for 1879 would have rem
dered it entirely inadequate to the wants OF
the people," He further says he has carefully
reviewed the estimates submitted by Gen.
Brady for the next fiscal years mail transpor-
tation In all its branches, and approves all OF
them az being in accordance with the probable
requirements of the service. An appropriation
liz recommended for continuance OF special
mail facilities on railroads, such as extra trains
with mails only, and acceleration of regular
trains carrying mails, etc, which the people
have enjoyed for several years past. The re-
port further says at is not doubted
that regular and frequent means Of
mail steamship communication with Mex
lean, Central American, South American,
and trans-Paciic ports would prove important
auxiliaries to American commerce, and think
it would be wise measure Of public policy to
encourage, by appropriate legislation, the es-
Enlistment by our own citizens of American
lines Of steamers to such Of said ports as will,
in the judgment Of Congress, promote our COM
mercial interests. / think it would be a wise
measure to so amend the general law on the
subject as to authorize the payment by the
ST General N at M "a a
pensation, within prescribed maximum limit,
and commensurate with the Importance Of the
services performed, to such lines of American
steamers as may be employed under contract
with this department in transporting mails Of
the United States to Mexican, Central Amer
lean. South American. and trans-Pacifc ports.
"The monev-order system continues to grow
in popular favor. The superintendent Of the
money-order system suggests a plan for reduc-
ton of fees which seems to me entirely feasible,
and which is commended to the attention OF
Congress. Briefly stated, his plan is to reduce
the fee for money-orders not exceeding 50 to
cents, and to extend the maximum limit of an
order from $50 to 800, so that increased COM
missions received from large orders may offset
the loss resulting from the reduced fee for
small ORDERS"
The foreign monev-order business and oper-
atoms of letter-carrier system are reported in
highly-satisfactory condition.
Mr. Maynard renews the recommendations of
his predecessor for legislative authority TO ac-
cept and to carry into effect the provisions Of
an article of the Universal Postal Union Con-
vention concluded at Paris on the LIST of June,
1878, respecting payment OF limited indemnity
for registered articles of the Postal Union. the
origin and address of which may be lost or
stolen during transmission through the mails ;
and also for such modification of the provisions
Of the act of March g. 1879 as will au-
thoriZe the adoption by the Secretary of the
Treasury and Postmaster General Of regu-
latious providing for the delivery by mail
to addresses at offices of destination in the
United States, subject to payment of customs
duties thereon, on any packet of dutiable mail
matter received in mails from foreign countries.
He is Of opinion, also, that authority to trans
NIT and deliver dutiabe articles of mail matter
to addresses through the mails subject to pay
mcnt of customs duties thereon should not be
restricted To such mail matter as il now ex-
changeable in the universal Postal Union mails
but should embrace all articles of dutiable mat
ter received in mails from other countries
The Postmaster General suggests the estab-
lishment of "postal-savings system, and
also OF postal telegraphs in this country. in the
following terms lone of my predecessors
some years since recommended incorporation
into the department OF a system of postal saw
ingS. The subject has from time TO time occu-
pied the attention OF Congress. For several
years the system has boon in operation in the
and Canada When IN London, recently, her
Majesty's Postmaster General kindly gave me
facilities for observing the management of his
department. / learned that the postal-sav-
iugs system had been remarkably successful
and had substantially grown in popular
favor. As managed in that country il is q
source OF some profit TO the Government
In this country / incline to the belief
that the system would have advantages even
greater than in a compact population like that
of Great Britain, In by far the larger portion
of the United States there are no savings de-
positores, and are not likely to be. To people
of these parts the use of the postofiice fer this
purpose would be great boon. 1t would be
an additional advantage that deposits would be
available at any depository Office in the United
'sates-an important consideration with peo-
pie 80 migratory as ours. II is believed the
system would interfere little with the business
of savings banks, but would absorb funds now not
deposited in them. Nor would the patronage
of the Government be sensibly increased since
the system would be operated by persons al
ready in public service with no considerable
addition to the number. Your attention and
the attention of Congress is respectfully in
vited 10 il.