The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1881-06-24
THE POST OFFICE DEPART
HEKT

The whole people of the country
have direct interest in the Post Office
Department. Through the facilities it
affords, almost every person receives
intelligence of Importance at a very
little cost. Our position has always
been, that the best of facilities should
be provided for the transmission of the
mails, without special regard as to
whether the Department shall be self
sustaining or not; that portion Of the
expense should be paid from the gen.
eral fund, rather than that the facili-
ties should be crippled; but it is an i'm
portant matter that true economy
should be exercised in the management
of affairs, so far as it can be done.
Postmaster-G General James seems de-
termined to do his full share in grant
ing facilities to the people, and in saving
useless expenses, SO as to make the De-
partment self-sustaining at the same
time. If he succeeds in this, he will
give the people great satisfaction in
the administration of his department.
From the best information we can
obtain from Washington, there is evil
dence that Mr.. James has already been
able, without in any degree impairing
the efficiency of the star route service,
to make deductions which will amount
to about $1,O00,000 a year in the ex-
penses Of that class Of service. 1t is
stated at the Post Office Department
that not one single complaint has been
received from any quarter affected by
these reductions that any necessary
postal service or convenience has been
taken away. The Congressman who
have been charged with besieging the
former authorities with opportunities
for the increase" and expedition"
of postal service in their respective
districts and States have not troubled
their successors in the same manner;
and it is declared at the department
that no complaints have been received
that the postal authorities are unmind-
full of the pressing wants Of a rapidly
growing empire" In a word, the peo-
pie everywhere are apparently satisfied
with their postal facilities, and the
government is saving at the rate of
million dollars year.
Another gratifying feature of the
present administration of the postal
service is the very considerable and
unexpected increase in the postal reve-
nues. When the yearly estimates for
the next fiscal year were made, last
November, it was thought that the
postal revenues for the year ending
June 80, 1882, would be $3S,S45, ia.
1t is found, however, that this amount
will probably be greatly exceeded
From a statement just compiled by
the Auditor of the Post Office Depart
ment, it appears that the receipts for
the six months ended December 81, 1880,
were $17,522,362, an increase Of more
than 10 per cent, and indicating rev.
enue of $36,647 OPP for the current fis-
cal year. Estimating the increase for
next year at s per cent, the revenues
will amount to $39,57S,7S9, or about
$733,0O0 more than the estimate he
realized, the deficit in the postal service
for the next year-without taking into
account any savings to be effected
would be only $1,376,742; but as has
been explained, the saving in the Star
Service alone will amount to at least
81 100000, and that with the increase
of revenue will leave deficit of only
$376,642. The appropriation of next
year, including estimated postal reve-
nues, is $685. 32.
The postal revenues of New York
city for the month of April and May
showed an increase of IS per cent. A
considerable share of this increase is
attributed to a reversal of q former
ruling of the department, which per-
mitted the sending through the mails
as third-class matter of documents
partly written which were in the
nature of personal correspondence 1t
is said that advantage Was taken of
this regulation to send large quantities
of matter upon which postage should
have been paid at letter rates; and it
is estimated by an officer of the depart
ment that altogether the regulation
cost the department 81, 100000. .Anoth.
er officer of the department estimates
the saving effected in the New York
city post Office alone by the reversal of
the ruling at f. 900 q day State Jour
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