Ashtabula weekly telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1880-1886, 1880-12-03
The Post.Omoo Department.

Mr.. Maynard says he has carefully reviewed
the estimates submitted by Assistant Post
masterGeneral Brady for the next fiscal
years mail transportation In all its branches,
and approves all Of them, as being IN accord
Rnce with the probable requirements of the
service. An appropriation lie RECOMMENDED
for thecontinuRnoe Of the qpeoiai mail facili-
ties on railtoads, such as extra trains with
mails only, and nooeleration Of regular trains
carrying mails, ETC., which the people have en-
1oyed for several years past.
The report further says; at is not doubted
that regular and frequent means of mail
steamship communication with Mexican, Cen
tral American, South American and trans
Pacific ports would prove important auxilia-
ries to American commerce, and 1 think IL
would be a wise measure Of public policy 70
encourage by appropriate legislation the estab-
lishment by our citizens OF American Lines Of
steamers to such Of said ports a. will IA the
judgment OF Congress promote our CONNER
cial interests. 1 think It would be wise
measure to so amend the general law on the
subject as to authorize tho payment by the
Postmaster-Ge eneral OF Just and reasonable
compensation, within the prescribed maxi
mum limit, and commensurate with the i'm
portance OF the services performed, to such
lines Of American steamers as may be em-
ployed under contract by this Department IN
transporting mails Of the United States to
Mexican, Central American, South American
and trans-Pacifo ports.
1.-THE money-order system continues to grow
In popular favor. The Superintendent Of the
system suggests plan for the reduction of
fees which seems to mo entirely feasible, and
which is commended 70 the attention OF Con-
gress. Briefly stated, his plan IS 70 reduce the
fee for money-orders not exceeding s. to five
cents, and to extend the maximum limit Of an
order from $50 to 500, so that the increased
commissions received for large orders may
Offset the loss resulting from the reduced fee
for small orders" r
The foreign money-order business and oper-
ations Of the lettef-carrier system are reported
in highly satisfactory condition.
Mr.. Maynard renews the recommendation
Of his predecessor for legislative authority TO
accept and to carry into effect the provisions
Of an article Of the Universal Postal Union
Convention, concluded at Paris June /, 1876,
respecting the payment Of limited indemnity
for registered articles of the Postal
Union, the origin and address OF
which may be lost or stolen during the trans
mission through the mails; and also for such
modification of the provisions Of the act Of
March 3, 1879, as win authorize the adoption
by the Secretary Of the Treasury and Post
master-General Of regulations providing for
delivery by mail to addresses at offices of des-
tinntion IN the United States, subject to pay
ment Of customs duties thereon, of any packet
Of dutiable mail matter received In the mails
from foreign countries. Heis Of the opinion
alRo that authority to transmit aud deliver du.
table articles Of mail matter to addresses
through the mail, subject to the payment of
customs duties thereon, should not be re-
stricted to such mail matter as is now ex-
OH tv, ~
mails, but should embrace all articles Of du-
table matter received In the mails from other
countries. u 4 d 2 n
The Postmaster-General suggests the estab-
ishment of q "postal-savinGs" system, and
also ofpostal telegraphs, in this country in the
following terms: "0ne of my predecessors
some years since recommended the incorpo-
ration into the Department Of a system of
postal savings. The subject has from time to
time occupied the attention Of Congress. For
several years the system has been in opera
tion In the United Kingdom Of Great Britain
and Ireland and in Canada. When in London,
recently, her Majesty's Postmaster-G eneral
kindly gave me facilities for observing the
management OF his Department. learned
that the postal-savings system had been re-
markably successful, and had constantly
grown I'm popular favor. As managed in that
country, IL is the 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 saw
ings repositories, and are not likely to be. To
the people of those parts the use of the post
office for this purpose would be great boon
1t would be an additional advantage that de-
posits would be available at any depository
L., ths
sideration with apeople so migratory as ours.
II is believed the system would interfere little
with the business Of savings-banks, but would
absorb funds not now deposited in them Nor
would the patronage Of the Government be
sensibly increased, since the system would be
operated by persons already in thepublics serv-
ice, with no considerable addition to the num-
ber. Your attention and the attention OF Con-
gress is respectfully invited to It.
"During my visit TO the British Post-OHice 1
examined with much interest the system Of
telegraphy for several years past connected
with the postal service. This method Of cor
respondence is thought 10 have made great
advance since Il was changed from the mau-
ngement Of private corporations, responsible
TO nobody-hardly to public opinion-and
placed under the control OF the Government.
The business has increased many fold, the
cost Of sendiug messages has been largely re-
duoed, and the service is performed IN locali-
ties II would never have reached under the
pecuniary stimulus of private enterprise. At
the same time II yields a margin of profit TO
the Royal Treasury. Is 1t not time for us to
renew the inquiry whether II is wise to leave
this important instrument Of correspondence
I'm charge OF corporations whose primary OBJ
ject is gain 10 the managers and stockholders,
and tho convenience OF the public secondary
oply9"
Mr.. Maynard rcnews for the consideration
Of Congress the suggestion made by his prede-
oessor that the word fraudulent" as It oc-
ours in Sections 3,929 and 4Oll, REVISED Stat
utes, preceding tho word "lottery," should be
stricken out, He says; "That Congress,
while expressly forbidding the use OF the ordi-
nary mail 70 all lottery companies, whether
fraudulent or not, should intend to AFFORD the
special security OF the registry system and
and safety OF the money-order
system 70 persons engaged In emplOyments
declared by the Supreme Court OF the United
States to be 'demoralizinR In their effects, no
matter how carefully regulated unless ex-
press proof OF fraud can be made against such
is not to be assumed. Congress
will not Intentionally aid in demoralIzing the
public BY atordlng extraordinary postal faoil-
tiles 70 persons or companies whose business
this result"
He further says that the legal positions
taken by his predecessor concerning the pow