Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-08-04
CANADIAN SPoNG1NG.
Uncle Sans Mail Sacks and
Pouches Stolen.
What Two Inspectors Discovered in
the Dominion.
Especial to the Boston Globe


WASHINGTON August .. Some time since
Postmaster General James came to the con-
clusion that the expenses incident to supply
ing the department with mail sacks and
pouches was altogether too great for what
seemed to be the actual demands of the SER
vice, and he began to look about for the leak
age 1t had long been known that many of
the United States sacks and pouches used for
the Transportation of mails into Canada,
never returned, and gaining the impression
that this might in a small way account for
the great demand upon the department, he
directed Colonel Parker, chief of the special
agents, to depute couple of inspectors to
visit the Dominion and inquire into the mat
ter. Inspectors William H. Bigelow of
Maine, and William Small of this city were
detailed for the work. and to-day, after three
weeks spent in Canada, they laid before Col
Parker their report, who transmitted it to the
Postmaster General. 1t may be stated that
the suspicious of Mr.. James were more than
realized, and their report shows the proven
bal Yankee shrewdness to have been gently
laid away in the shade by the most gigantic
example of national sponging on record.
The inspectors state that they were cOurte
ously met on every hand and ample facilities
furnished them for prosecuting their search.
They found in every post Office and on every
postal route, United States pouches and
paper sacks, many of them refitted with new
Canadian fastenings, many worn and defaced
with age, but all bearing some token by
which they were easily identified. They
were in constant use for carrying domestic
mail to the almost exclusion of Canadian
made sacks. When questioned as to the
reason for the sacks not being returned to
the United States, the Canadian post author
tiles pleaded inadvertence," and assured
the inspectors that they should be returned
Immediately, at the same time intimating
that it would be considered matter of ac-
commodation if the demand for the return of
the sacks were not to pressingly made. They
then sent heavy orders to their factories to
get sacks and pouches made sufficient carry
on their business and to supply the places
of those which they were compelled surren-
der. 1t was matter of some surprise to
the inspectors that noCanadian pouches found
their way into the U. S. in return for
those sent over, but careful examination
showed that the Canadian authorities had per-
sistently violated the agreement that the
pouches of both countries were to be sent
back to their respective owners empty. BY
sending United States pouches back full they
were enabled to keep their own pouches at
home, and as their mails are much smaller
than those sent from the United States, they
were enabled to reserve thrifty little margin
of United States pouches for domestic use.
Last year the United States government
paid for bags and pouches, $lS5,0O0; for
locks and keys, 49, 900, and for general re-
pairs $4,000, making a total of S2l0,000,
which is a fair yearly average. The total ex-
penses of the Canadian government postal
service in this one direction was but Sl0,0 900.
1t is estimated that with this leakage cut off,
a saving of $4,000 per year in the matter OF
sacks and pouches can be made to this gov
eminent.
In closing their report the inspectors rec
ommend that commission be appointed by
the two governments to decide upon some
form of international mail transportation
sack and pouch that shall be used in that ser
vice alone, to be equitably provided by the
two governments.