Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1882-12-14
P0sTM ,STER. GENERALS REPORT.

Executive may nedTIlly uulIe.
POSTM ,STER. GENERALS REPORT
For the first time in thirty-one years the
postal service of the United States is not a
burthen upon the treasury. Hon. Timothy
O. Howe. the ostmaster-General, in his re-
port says for the fiscal year ending June 80,
1882, the total disbursements for postal service
by the department were $40, ,4S2,0 ,02l.23. The
ordinary receipts were S41 SIS, ,642.S0. The
receipts from money orders were $3.50, 767 .35.
Total S41, ,S76, ,410.15 Excess of receipts over
expenditures, $l,394 1882. Certain debts
and credits, however modify this result some
what, and place the excess of earnings at
but S330.050 In 1881 the deficiency was
s., ,4GG, ,33S. 40 In 1860 the deficiency was more
than Sl0,0O0,OO0. Some part of this great
improvement is due to the wonderful growth
and prosperity of the country, but larger
part is due to the improved methods in the
administration of the service. The estimates
for the year 1884 promise financial results
much more satisfactory than during even the
last fiscal year. The revenue is estimated at
$50, sc, ,45627 and the expenditures at S4G,-
741, ,111.25. The salaries of postmasters do
not come out of the treasury; the postmaste 8
collect the revenues and deduct from the mon-
eys in their own hands their fixed legal COM
pensation. They account to the treasury for
the excess only. If not dollar is appropri-
ated in the annual bill, postmasters will have
their salaries all the same. 1t seems hardly
practicable, therefore, to effect much in thu
interest of economy by appropriatlng ", OOO,-
600 to pay postmasters, while we place S4O,-
600, 600 in their hands out of which they may
help themselves. The number of pOstottices
in operation June 30, 1881, was ASP; the
number in 1882 was AZ, ,231. The number fill
ed under appointment by the President was
1851, and by the Postmaster General, A ,2SO.
The total employees of the service in 1881 was
81, ,479 and 1882, 65,777. The free delivery
system was in operation in 112 cities employ
ing 3,115 carriers. The increase in postage
on local matter was 49, 50 per cent, while the
increase in the cost of service was 4.93 pei
Cent.
The Postmaster General makes some Sug-
gestions to secure economy in the administra-
tiOn, the details Of which were presented by
the first assistant. On the subject of clerk
hire the report commends notifications OF ex-
sting modes The Postmaster General eX-
presses the conviction that the partnership
existing between thegovernment and the post
masters in the use of letter boxes, should be
dissolved. Whenever the government owns
the boxes or hires them with the building the
whole of the rental paid by patrons, and not
two-thirds of it, belongs to the revenues of
the department as much as the postage does
Where, on the contrary, the postmaster sup
plies the boxes and the government does not,
the latter should no more share in the proceeds
| from their rent than in the rent Of any other
property belonging to the officer. Mr.. Howe
says: "In all cases, therefore, in adjusting the
pay of postmasters, think box rents should
be wholly eliminated from the calculation,
and l am strongly inclined to the opinion
that the whole system of regulating the COM
pensation of pUstmasters should be radically
changed.
Referring to the Star service, the Postmas-
ter General says: "The department is clothed
with the widest discretion in regard to the
amount of service to be performed on star
routes. To provide all needed postal facilities
and at the same time to guard against unne-
cessary expenditure, is most difficult duty,
and one that calls for the exercise OF unusual
care and patient inquiry. The results afford
! gratifying evidence that during the last fiscal
| year that delicate duty has been very satisfac-
torily discharged"
The expansion of the railroad system has
been greater during the past year than ever
before in any one year. The aggregate cost is
largely increased each year, and the growth OF
this expenditure has provoked much discussion.
The Postmaster General thinks that additional
safeguards should be thrown around the large
annual disbursements for railroad services, and
| that any change in the laws governing the rate
of pay should be made upon ascertained facts,
rather than upon opinion, and the matter is
recommended to the especial notice of Con-
gress.
The recommendation is made to allow two
years. pay to the widow and minor children OF
! postal clerks killed on duty, and that clerks
disabled be continued Oh leave and pay during
! the period of disability, not exceeding one
year.
Touching the item of 5000, 900 to be expend-
: ell in expediting mails on railways the Post
master-G General says he has rs yet been unable
to make any arrangements for fast service out
of the existing appropriation upon terms which
seem reasonable. Certain service which he
found in operation is still maintained at the
rate of compensation originally agreed upon.
The service includes among other routes the
fast mail between New York and Charleston,
sc
The report expresses satisfaction with the
practice Of notifying persons addressed, of let
tiers, &c., detained in the post office for want
of prepayment of postage. Since July last 81,
III letters and packages were sent forward by
this means, which heretofore would have gone
to the dead-letter office.
LIE IOSl lCuC"o VIC IOCoAho
mendation for modified scale of fees for mon
ey orders to lessen the cost thereof, and to
give authority for issuing postal notes for
sums under SIS at a fee of three cents. He al
so recommends that the postage on second
class matter flor publishers and news agents.
ought to be abolished. On this subject he
says 1T does not seem just, and if not just
it cannot be wise, to charge for carrying some
newspapers and to carry others free, or to
charge for carrying newspaper to some sub
scribers, and to carry the same newspapers to
others without charge"
He recommends that the rate of postage on
fourth-class matter merchandise and other
matter so prepared for mailing as to be easily
withdrawn from the wrapperl should be in
creased. On this subject the Postmaster-Gen.
eral says: ITO charge cents per half ounce
for carrying message from one postotlice
to another and yet to carry merchandise from
one side of the continent to the other for one
cent an ounce is not approved by good sense,
if it is by good morals.
The Postmaster.General further says: Some
anxiety has been mantle sted to reduce first
class postage (letters and other written mat