Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1881-11-25

ing routes and prescribing the pay for
such and such service thereon. II the
department attempted TO hold con-
tractors g strict performance of their
contracts. and to exact penalties for
the non-performance of service, they
reSorted 10 congress for relief, and sell
dom failed 10 obtain it. In the flush
times after the war the men who profit
ed by the ill-judged liberahty, the Grim
mai waste of public money, swarmed
about the halls Of legislation. and, in
the midst of the political excitement
and confusion incident TO the admins
Taton of Andrew johnson. were ena-
Died To lobby through many schemes
which the sober judgment of the couu-
try has since pronounced unmitigated
evils, Il WAS during this peri 1 that
the practice of
STRAW KIDDING
unbluShingly prevailed, and increa ed
largely the cost of the star mail service
IN the western states aud territories.
The combination of contractors. who
then dominated the department. and
detiei the law. not only robbed the
government, hut their evil influence is
ANAN ~ lkl IL NAN. 1Ht extension Ol the
mail service was unquestionahly far in
advance Of the actual needs 81 The
country. The enormous pay for fast
daily service over many long star routes
was IN reality subsidy or bounty to
the proprletorS of stage lines. The
excuse for these excessive expenditures
waS that the development of the coun-
! try was accelerated and civilization al
vanced thereby. Admitting this to bc
true, for the sake of argument. il is
| questionable whether the good accom-
\ pllshed Ill the remote regions Of the
west compensated for the positive evil
which resulted The responsibility for
this evil rests largely on congress. The
aggregate net reduction iii the star ana
steamboat service during 1881, Is ST.
LII. .7757.
The following is the passage in the
eport referring 10 the investigation If
he alleged.
ABUSES IN STAR ROUTE SERVICE
which was instituted bv directions of
the late president, and is still being
prosecuted. The possotlice department
has co-onerated, and viii continue to
cooperate, with the department Of Jus
| tice IN tins investigations No one who
! has not been directly concerned in the
matter can fully appreciate the magni-
tude Of the undertaking, the mass Of
record evidence examined, the difficult
ties of Il personal examination in sparse
ly settled territories, and tho results at
tanned by patient and intelligent lahors
of the inspectors of this department.
There can hc no doubt, from the facts
ALREADY aScertaincd, that the existing
statutes leave the way open 10 great
abuses, and that there is abundant
ground for asking Il judicial investiga-
ton Of the transactions &C the last few
years
The one serious difficulty in the way
of bringing back the department. Ia Il
self-sustaining hasis il the constantly
increasing cost Of The railway mail ser
vice. This increase during the past
fiscal year was $4S7 ,4l6 Mr.. James
thinks great majority of the roads
are overpaid, and that the salaries of
pos,masters in towns of ten thousand
inhabitants or less may hc reduced.
Tia this way Ne thinks il will he pnssi-
bile 10 reduce letter postage from three
TO two cents within three years.
ECoMMENnATIoNS.
Among other recommendations he
suggested that the widows and orphans
Of men Killed III the railway postal ser
vice, be allowed their salaries for il ~.
Rod Of two years. and Ia continue men
! 50 disabled on full pay for :, period not
exceeding orc year. It is recommends
ed further that railway mail service
clerks be divided into iive classes, to bc
paid respectively, $500 $500. 81 900,
81 200, and 81 100 per year, and that
chief head clerks lie allowed their
necessary travelling expenses
The whole number of persons en-
playcd in the postal service. June 30,
1881 pas 81 .lI4, of whom A .5l2 we're
| P0stmastcs.
FREE DELIVERY.
The number IF delivery offices has
increased from - in 1872, to 101 il
1881 The system Is believed 10 he
source Of revenue instead Of an item
of expense The increase Of receipts
in the free delivery Offices for the last
year was l. per cent The report re-
comiuends an increase Of the compcn-
sation of auxiliary letter carriers from
$40O 10 $500 for their first years service
in that grade, and after that To 500;
also 10 authorize the appointment OF
substitute lettrrcarTlers ut post-oilices
where their employment Is necessary,
to be paida nominal salary Of 800 per
annum, ami the pro rata compensation
Of the carriers in whose places they
may be called ON TO serve.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM
The report closes with an expression
in favor of civil revenue reform. APP
pointment by influence, it says, natur-
ally results III making the tenure of
Office not depend upon fidelity and eff
cheney IN the discharge Of official duty,
but upon the a-sidunus cultivation Of
the favor Of patron. Such a tenure il
lncOmp patible with the self-respcct Of
the incumbent, and the service must
necessarily suffer from the decline Of
its morals. Blu. the evil consequences
cannot be limited 20 the public service,
they affect all political action, the pu-
rity and vigor Of the government, and
the national character of itself. The
question, therefore, is one Of far high
! er importance than that Of the com par
alive fitness Of clerks in the employ
ment Of the government, and really
concerns the character and success of
republican institutions.
The Rev. W. Ii. Milburn, 50 long and
fayorably known in the pulpit and on
the platform as "the Blind Preacher"
returned to take up his residence in
New Yo.k after long absence at the
! South
Mr.. Robert Porter, the statistician
and political economist, and Mr.. Hen
~ Gannett, the geographer Of the
tenth census, will, with the January
mum per, take editorial charge OF the
International Rerieic
Miss Ellen Terry, who is so popular
as an actress in England is 33 years of
age. Her recent popularity dates from
her appearance as Portia in 1875. She
married Mr.. Charles Kelly, himself
popular actor.
Mr.. LongfeIlow, who is fond Of the
theater, and always goes TO the "fiIst
nights" at Boston, is quoted as saying
that Signor Rossi's performance Of
'sKing Lear" is the finest Interpretation
Of the part he has ever seen.
President Arthur, it is now reported,
will give no permanent hostess to the
White House, but will, upon occasions
Of formal entertainment, invite the as
sistance Of the wives and daughters of