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

The ordinary reve-
nues are estimated
The revenue from
money order bus-
ness Is estimated
at.................. 10000 90
Total estimated revenue for the
fiscal year ending June 80,
1903. .-.......-...-......,.... .$4S,f4l,'SS 10
Estimated excess of expenditures
to be appropriated out of the
Treasury to supply deficiency in
the total revenue. 9SO,U77 70
The value of the postage stamps of all kinds
issued for the fiscal year 1881 was S34, 453,-
500 o. IS against $31, ,9S2, ,5IS 9S an increase for
1881 OF $2,650,94 II.
DEAD LETTERS.
The whole number of letters mailed In this
country in the last fiscal year 1,046. 10Y 34S
The number reaching the dead letter office
during the same period was 3, 1923, ,62l, or one In
every SIS. The total number Of letters and OF
packages that were of sufficient value to be re-
corded and filed received during the year
ended June &c. 1881, was 1874, ,205, an increase
OF 1854, ,623 over the number received during the
preceding year. OF the letters and packages
opened 1857 were found to contain money
amounting to $40 587 80; 22 el2 contained drafts,
money orders, checks notes, ETC., the aggre-
gate face value Of which was $1,S9s, O62 81;
81 ,y7S contained receipts, paid notes and can
celled obligations of all sorts; 33,731 contained
photographs, 61,5 $50 contained small remit
tances Of postage stamps, and In rs, ,2l3 there
we're found valuable articles of third and fourth
class matter in endless variety. The amount
of money separated from dead letters for which
no claimant could be found was 1854 40,
which was deposited in the Treasury.
The report speaks of the registry system as
being now in excellent condition, with steady
increase in the total number of registers and
parcels, also in third and fourth class regis
tered matter.
THE POSTAL MONEY ORDER SYSTEM.
The operations of the money order system
are said to be multiplying. The total amount
aggregate value Of $l05.O75, ,765 S5. an increase
over the previous year of S4,722, $50 50. The
remittances alleged to have been lost amount
ed only to S'0,753, and money orders improp-
erly paid to $167 o. The international money
order business is explained. and an account
given of the exchange of money orders with
the countries connected with the system. The
financial results show that the department re.
ceived from this source S119, 544 SS in excess OF
all expenditures. The Postmaster General re-
news the recommendation made by one of his
predecessors for system of postal savings
repositories.
THE POSTAL SERVICE TO BE SELF SUPPORTING,
The report discusses the question of support
ing the service from it's current receipts,
quotes the law of 1892 to show that the system
was based on this pont, and after brief his
torical review points out that down to 1888 an
excess of expenditures over receipts rarely oc-
CURED. Subsequently the service was expand
ed too rapidly, and we reach
THE BEGINNING OF DEFICIENCIES.
The rates of letter postage were reducd by
the act of March 3, 1851, from five TO three
cents. There were also reductions made for
second and third-cass matter. The effect Of
these reductions were very much greater
diminution of the revenues than was expected;
at the same time it was found necessary to re-
adjust the commissions of postmasters, which
sensibly increased the cost OF collecting the
revenues of the department. But there was at
this date
RADICAL DEPARTURE
from the theory which the founders of our
government adopted, and which had UP to
that time been tenaciously adhered to. Section
OF the act Of March 8, 1851, provided that no
post office now in existence shall be discon-
tinued, nor shall the mail service on any mail
route in any of the States or Territories be dis
continued or diminished in consequence of any
diminution Of the revenues that may result
from this act; and it shall be the duty of the
Postmaster General to establish new post
offices, and place the mail service on any new
mail routes established, or that may hereafter
be esta blished, in the same manner as though
this act had not passed
THE SCOPE OF THE POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT.
The opportunity which was then offered for
increased expenditures Of money in extending
the mail service was a very favor able one. The
recently acquired territory on the Pacific coast
had. by the discovery of gold, assumed the
utmost importance. The tide of emigration
westward received a new impetus. Private
enterprise, always alert to seize opportunities
which promise large returns upon small in
vestments, v as equal to this occasion, and the
express mails OF California were the result
This was the origin of what was known as
Wells, Fargo & Co.'s postal service In Califor-
mia. Then followed the other mail routes by
way OF Tehuantepec and across Mexico
ADVENTURES AND soHEMERs
swarmed about the corridors of the capitol
and labored session after session of Congress
routes were established, and vast sums were
annually drawn from the Treasury for this
costly branch OF the service. After passing
under review the postal operations of subse.
Quent years down to the close of the war, the
report points out that in 1865, after many fluc-
tuations, the receipts were 1851 430 az In excess
of the expenditures 1t was then
THE POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT ATTRACTED THE
SPOILERS,
who had found occupation elsewhere during
the war. The prosperity of the loyal States was
q food tide. ahe million of brave men who re-
turned to peaceful vocations carried into civil
life the same couragS and persistence which
enabled them to crush the rebellion Southern
society was demoralized, Southern industry
was paralyzed by the transition from an old to
a new system. The South languished for a
time, but the contagion Of prosperity was re-
sistless. Her cotton fields, as il quickened to
ViSOI Dy Inc DlOOQ BQ6O IN ClelF heroic
defense, blossomed with an increased yield of
a staple for which the markets Of the world
were eager. The war taxation, continued in
peace. filed the Treasury to overhowing.
The people, flushed with victory, radiant
with joy at the return OF peace and the preser-
vation of the Union, prosperous and contented
were not disposed to question the motives Of
their servants, or to grumble il expenditures
were not reduced.
The time was auspicious and the onportunitv
favorable for extravagant expenditures by the
Post Office Department. The
FALSE AND VICIOUS THEORY
that the postal fund could be properly charged
with subsidies for the DEVELOPMENT of com
merce on the high seas, or the encouragement
or private enterprise on land, had zeGlous ad-
vocates in the department aud In Congress.
The men who profited by the ill-judged liberaIi-
ty, the criminal waste Of public money, swarm
ed about the halls of legislation, and in the
midst Of the political excitement and CONFUSION
incident to the administration of Andrew John
son were enabled to lobby through many
which the sober judgment Of the
evils 1t was during this period that the prac-
tice Of
STRAW BIDDING
unblushingly prevailed, and increased largely
the cost of the star mail service in the Western
States and Territories The combination of
who then dominated the depart
ment and defied the law, not only robbed tha
government but their evil influence is felt to
this day. The extension Of the mail service
was unquestionahly far in advance Of the ac-
tual needs OF the country. The enormous pay
for fast daily service over many long star
routes was In reality a subsidy or bounty to
the proprietors OF stage lines. The excuse for
these excessive expenditures was that the de-
Velopment OF the country was accelerated and
civilization advanced thereby. Admitting this
70 be true, tor the sake OF argument, it is cues
tionahle whether the good accomplished in the
remote regions Of the West compensated for
The positive evil which resulted here from the
DEGRADATION OF OFFICIAL MORALS.
1t is a fact which cannot be denied that the
scandals attending the administration of the
Post ONCE Department during the past Quarter
Of century have been very serious ID their
The responsibility for this evil
rests largely upon the legislative branch of The
government, because the power to remedy it
could have been exertei at any time.
The large receipts during the past two years.
and the decline in the annual deficit, warrant
The Postmaster-Gen in saying
rHE POST OFFICE SHOULD NOW BE sELF-sUs-
TANNING.
The country has reached that stage In the
progress Of its material development where, it
bring the credit and debit sides of the depart
ments balance sheet nearer together All, or
nearly all, the long and expensive star routes
have been superseded by railroad service. The
cost OF the star service ought therefore to rap
tories. A careful and impartial examination
Of the star service made during the past sum.
mer satisfied the department that large reduc-
tons could be made without causing any incon-
yenience to the sections Of country supplied
thereby. A reduction in the star route and
steamboat service was consequently made to
the extent OF 81, l,l47, ,757. minute investiga-
ton into alleged
ABUSES IN TIE STAR ROUTE aKRvroE