Morris tribune., 1881-12-15
THE POSTAL SERVICE.
ITS GROWTH AND EFFIcIENc,


The report of the postmaster general is a
gratifying exhibit of the growth and efficiency
of the postal service. The receipts from post
age and other ordinary sources during the past
fiscal wear were $50, 4S9, S165S. The re-
ceipts from the money order business were
1925. 5S1. 80. making q total of $50, 1885,
S97 81 The expenditures for the fiscal year
were S39,251, 1876. As The deficit sup
piled out of the general treasury
was S2,4s1,129S5, or or ,6 6S o, per s 90 cent
Inc recefptS were .h oravSons Hosr and
81, 575, 397. 81 in excess of the estimate made
two wears ago before the present period of
business prosperity had fairly begun The
whole number of letters mailed in this country
in the last fiscal year exceeded ]. O0O, DOC, 900.
THE REGISTRY SYSTEM
is reported to be in an excellent condition, hav-
ing been remodeled during the past four years
with good results. The amount of registrs-
ton fees collected during the last fiscal year
was $712, SS2 20, an increase over the fiscal
year ending Jnne so, 1877, of $345, 443. 40.
The entire number Ct letters and packages
registered during the year was $685., 919, of
which only 2,061 were destroyed or
lost in transit The operations of the
money order, system are multiplying
yearly under the impulse of
immigration, of the rapid development of the
newer States and Territories, and the conse-
ouent demand for additional means Of inter
Communication and exchange. During the
past year 33S additional money order offices
have been established, making total OF
5,499 in operation at the date of this report.
During the year the domestic money orders
aggregated in value $1,000, 596.93
4 modification of the system is
suggested, reducing the fees for money
orders not exceeding So, from 10 cents to 8
ceuts. and, making the MAXIMUM 800 in
place Of $50. Legislation for the disposition
of unclaimed money orders IN the possession
of the postoffice department is recommended
on view of the fact that their total value ex-
iceeds 81 900, 000 The attention of congress is
again pointed to the subject of establishing
a system Of savings deposits in connection with
the postOfjice department. The statistics Of
mail trans uortation show that during the past
year the railroad routes have been increased
in length 6.249 miles, and in cost s l l., 1872.
while the steamboatroutes have been decreased
in length =, 1872 miles, and in cost 1874. 054.
The so-called star routes have been decreased
IN length 3,O49 miles, and i'll cost
$780,, IA Nearly all of them are
expensive routes and have been Suspended
by the star service, The cost of the star route
service therefore, will rapidly decrease in the
WESTERN States and Territories. The postmas-
er general, however, calls attention to the con-
stantly increasing cost of the railway mail ser
vice as q serious difficulty in the way of making
the department self-sustaninS Our pos
tai intercourse with foreign countries has kept
pace with the growth of the domestic service.
Within the past year several countries and COL
onies have declared their adhesion to the postal
union. 1t now includes all those which have
an organized postal service, except Costa RIGA,
New Zealand and the British colonies in Aus
tralia. As has been already stated, great re-
auctions have recently been made in
the expense of the star route
service The investigation of the department
of justice and the postofice department have
resulted in the presentation of indictments
against persons formerly connected with that
service, accusing them of offenses against the
United States. have enjoined upon the Of
fcials who are charged with the conduct of the
government, and upon the eminent counsel
WHO, before my accession to the presidency,
were called to theiy assistance, the duty of
prosecuting, with the utmost vigor of the law,
all persons who may be found chargeable with
fraud upon the postal service.