The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-09-17
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspor dent.l


WASHINGTON. D. c., Sept. IL, 1881.
1t is understood to be the ambition
of the present Postmaster General to
make his Department pay its own
way, and in his efforts to this end
we hear of expenses, or possible ex-
travagances, being Topped off here
and there from time to time. The
Patent Office has heretofore enjoyed
the distinction of being the emily self
sustaining Government bureau, but
if Mr.. James shall succeed in placing
the Postal service along of it
the achievement will be creditable
one, the more so because of the great
extent and enormous expense of the
ramifications of that service. The
Department has heretofore expended
quite a large sum in excess. of its
earnings. For the current year near
ly 100000 were appropriated by
Congress to be drawn upon over and
above the estimated revenue of the
service. Last year the total expen-
ditures were something over $50, 000,-
600 and the earnings about S33, 000,-
900. According to the present esti-
mates of the Postmaster General the
earnings this year will be consider.
ably in excess of any previous year,
| nh l,, &c Iol low
ent management the expenses will
not be prOportiOnately increased. 1t
is even hoped that by stoppage of
all the leaks the total expenditure
may be kept very nearly down to
that of last year, Notwithstanding
the Increased service to be performed.
Pdhic opinion has always deman-
ded liberal policy in the Postal
service, and has not scrutinized very
closely the bills of costs until the star
route exposures came. 1t is largely
through this constant and general
demand for enlarged facilities that
the eXtravagances now complained
of have been able 10 thrive, and the
chief defense pleaded by Brady for
the course he has pursued is the
urgent demands of Congressman and
their constituents for "expedited"
service. Many of the so called petit
tons are doubtless fictitious, or such
as were worked up for this very pur-
pose, yet undoubtedly good deal of
genuine pressure has always existed.
1t is claimed by some opponents of
Mr.. James policy that it was never
intended the Post Office Department
should be selfsustaining. The theory
of this class is that managed upon a
basis to bring it within that limit its
usefulness will be impaired that the
main idea of this service is to pro-
vide mail carriers to keep step with
the settler even to the farthest habi-
tation, while in the more thickly
populated localities the service must
keep peace with the demands of in
creased population, commercial inter.
ests and growth of intelligence, all
with no purpose Of having the ex-
penses kept within the receipts.
The proposition that we should
have mail service to afford all parts
OF the country facilities in such fire.
quency, sreed, and manner as their
relative importance demands, will
not be disputed. But that there
might be some difference of opinion
as to lust what the real Importance
or expediency is, taken in connection
with the outlay required, is also De-
yond controversy. Practically there
has heretofore been no controi OUT
side the Department over its expen-
SEES The only judgment upon all
ouestions of expediency has been ex-
ercisod by the officials in charge of
the service. If any Congressman OF
an economical turn of mind yentured
to suggest that a little cur.alling
might prop >rly be done he has al
WAYS been silenced with grandilo- !