Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-11-24

taking. the mass OF record evidence examined.
the difficulties OF a personal investigation In
sparsely settled territories, and the results at
tanned by the patient and intelligent labors of
the inspectors OF this department There can
| be no doubt, from the facts already ascer-
tained, thatthe existing statutes leave the way
| open to great abuses, and there q M&andant
| ground for asking q judicial inv - of
the transactions of the last few yen
The one serious difficulty in the way or y
idg back the department to self-sustafning
| basis is the
CONSTANTLY INCREASING COST OF TaK RAILWAY
| NAIL SERVICE.
This increase during the past fiscal year was
| S4S7, ,446. regret to say that there is q defc-
| ency OF $47S, ,155 for this branch of the service
/ for the fiscal year ended June so. 1881 which
must be provided for, and also that there must
be an increased appropriation for the same
service of log, ,319 for the fiscal year ending
June 30, 1882. The estimate for the fiscal year
ending June 30. 1888, for the railway service is
$1O,655OOO. There has recently been an un-
precedented growth of railroads, and this &C
| counts largely for the enormous increase of
the cost OF the railway service. The actual
| payment for the railway mail service during
the fiscal year 1881 was therefore S11 All, 120 3d.
The cost for the current fiscal year will be
$12 0O6 6O1. and the estimates for 1888 are S13,-
| lol. oOl. The enormous growth Of railroads in
1880 and 1881, and their anticipated increase of
mileage in the near future will account for a
great proportion Of the augmented cost Of the
service. But there are other causes which
must also be taken into consideration. The
increase in the weight of the mail transported
by the trunk lines has been unparalleled, and
the maximum does not appear to nave been
reached.
SECOND, THIRD AND FOURTH CLASS MAIL MATTER.
The Postmaster General complains that the
compensation received by the government for
mail matter other than letters is unremunera-
tive The revenue derived from letter postage
and other sources is more than consumed by
the losses sustained on second, third and fourth
class matter. The transportation on trunk
lines or the mail thus increased In bulk and
weight is not the only problem the department
for dispatching these classes of mail matter,
their transportation to the railroad depots the
loading into postal cars, and their distribution
In the cars all seriously interfere with the dis
patch, distribution and delivery OF the letter
mail en- route. The transportation of second
class matter, which is composed of newspapers
and periodicals, is of course legitimate postal
business. They disseminate intelligence among
the people, and Congress has accordingly pro-
vided by law for their distribution by mail at
low rate, without regard to the cost of trans
portation- Third and fourth class matter
being transient printed matter and merchan-
diSe come under a different category. The
more this matter grows in bulk, the greater
Will be the loss to the government The rates
Tor third and fourth class matter are not only
unremunerative but the wisdom OF requiring
the government to become a carrier of mer-
chandise is very questionable.
am satisfied that public sentiment and JUS
REDUCTION OF THE COST OF THE RAILWAY MAIL
SERVICE.
1t is undoubtedly true that while some rail
roads may not be fully paid for the service
they render, the great majority are overpaid
There is and always has been disposition on
the part OF railroad corporations in dealing
with the department to exact their own terms.
The subject is q complex one and while it de-
mands immediate attention, it should have a
most careful consideration. There can be no
hat thear for 10 Al
postal service Is adjusted upon a basis alike
equitable and just to the department and the
railroad companies, the result will be a very
large saving. l am so strongly impressed with
the necessity for this, and so confident that
Congress will lose no time in giving the subject
Intelligent and prompt consideration, that
have thought it my duty to recommend less
appropriation for railway transportation than
the superintendent of that branch of the ser
vice and the Second Assistant Postmaster Gen.
eral have urged in their reports.
1t is proposed that the salaries Of postmasters
IN towns or ten thousand inhabitants and less
shall be reduced. If Congress carries this sug-
gestion out, the
REDUCTION OF LETTER POSTAGE
from three to two cents will be possible within
three years. believe this reduction could be
accomplished without the proportionate dimi-
mutton OF receipts which followed the adoption
OF three-cent postage in 1851 1he people have
shown their appreciation OF cheap postage
Inc introduction of the postal card, instead of
largely increased them Two-cent postage
would, believe, after one or two years trial
produce the same result. 1t Is my deliberate
judgment that two-cent postage is feasible in
the near future
THIRD AND FOURTH CLASS MATTER
would favor it even if the rates of postage
on third and fourth class matter had to be in
creased. The great mass of the people are in
terested IN cheap letter postage. The proper
tion of those benefited bv the unremunerative
fourth n loQ ms 10
parat1vely small Moreover the people who are
benefited could afford to pay more literally for
the advantages extended to them. The bulk
and weight OF third and fourth class matter
adds SO largely to the cost OF Transporting the
mails that all the profit realized from letter
postage is thereby absorbed. II these classes
or matter contributed proportionately, two
cent postage would at once be assured
ADDITIONAL POSTAL FACILITIES BETWEEN TIE
EAST AND THE WEST.
desire to call attention to the fact that M
merous petitions have been received from the
Pacific coast, from the city Of New York, and
from the Eastern States, asking for more
speedy and frequent service between the two
sections In my opinion, the service should be
extended so as to accord better with the volume
of business transacted. The time between New
York and San Francisco has receDtlv heen re-
duced twenty y-four hours by the action Of the
Pennsylvania Railway Company in establishing
tne Chlcago limited express, which leaves New
YORK at a. M, and arrives at Chicago the fol-
lowing day at 10 a. m, in time to make the
overland connection. An effort will be made
to have the mail arrive in San Francisco at s
a. m. instead Of :30p. M, as at present. and to
depart at p. m. instead of 4 o. m Additional
1acLltleS Will also be asked from Mr. Wander
bilt, President of the northern line to CHICAGO.
SO as TO give the same facilities to the Eastern
states In general as are now possessed bV fke
city OF New York and the State Of Pennsylyania
west f0
The report next treats of an allowance TO
chlef head clerks Of railway mail service for
travelling expenses, of pensions to persons in
Jured In the service, of foreign mails and other
matters not OF general interest. The total
number OF employees in the postal service. in
ciudlhg contractors, is put at 81, ,444.
TIE FREE DELIVERY SYSTEM
is spoken Of with high commendstion and its
extension recommended. The Postmaster
General also recommends the raising Of the
salaries or Assistant Postmasters General to
So,UOO each per annum, and that the compensa-
uon OF the postmasSers at Chicago, PhiIadel.
pnla, Boston and st. Louis be Increased to
$1,000, and that of the postmasters at Cincin.
nau san Francisco, New Orleans and Balti-
more to x6 900 per annum
Inc report closes with = reference to civil
service reform and the benefit to be derived
from conducting the public business on bust
ness principles. O''-
heavy Failure In Ghe Liquor Trade.
MEMPHIs, November 23.-E. w. Lansing
9 Co., OF st. Louis, and Lansing, Haines &