Daily Kennebec journal., 1882-12-05
Presidents Message.
CONTINUED from frs. page. ,

in4 unoer Iorelgu uaRs. w ltn DO Inlted
States steamer. ON the principal ocean lines.
onr facilities for exnnfin9 0nr commerce are
sreatly restricted. while the nations which
SaiId and sail tho chips and carry the mail
md passengers obtain thereby conspicuous
advantages in increasing their trade.
PosrxAsrER GENEKAL's REPoRr.
The report Of the Postmaster General gives
evidence OF the satisfactory condition Of that
department and contains many valu-
abie data and accompanying suggestions
which cannot fail to be of interest
The information winch it affords that the
receipts for the fscal year have exceeded the
expenditures must be very gratifying to Con-
eress and to the people Of the country. As
matters which may fairly claim particular
reference to the advisabiiity Of changing the
personal basis for fixing salaries and allow
ances, of extending the money order system.
and of enlarging the function of the postal
establishment so a. to put under its control
the telegraph system OF the country, though
from this last and most important recommen-
dation | must withhold my concurrence
AT the last session Of Congress several bills
were introduced into the House of Repres-
entatives for the reduction Of letter postage
10 the rate of two cents per half an ounce.
have given much study and reflection to this
subject, and am thoroughly persuaded that
such reduction would be for the best inter-
ests of the public. 1t has been the policy OF
the government from its foundation to defray
as far as possible the expenses of carrying
the mails by direct tax in the form of
postage II has never been claimed, how
ever, that this service ought to be productive
Of net revenue.
II. a.
Postmaster General shows that there IS now
a very considerable surplus in his department.
and that henceforth the receipts are likely to
increase at a much greater ratio than the
necessary expenditures. Unless some change
is made in the existing laws, the profits of
the postal service will in q very few years
swell the revenues OF the government manv
millions of dollars. The time seems auspic-
ious therefore for some reduction in the rates
of postage. In what shall that reduction
consist! A review of the legislation
which has been had upon this subject
during the last thirty years, discloses that
domestic letters constitute the only class of
mail matter which has never been favored by
a substantial reduction of rates. am con-
vinced that the burden Of maintaining the
service falls most unequally upon that class.
and that more than any other it is entitled to
relief That such relief may be experienced
without detriment to other public interests
will be discovered upon reviewing the results
of former reductions. Immediately prior to
the act Of 1845, the postage upon letters com
posed Of single sheet was rs follows ::
if conveyed 80 miles or less, 8 cents; betwe~
30 and so miles, 10 cents; between so and
$50 miles. l2A between $50 and 400 miles.
lsa; over 400 miles, 25. BY the act Of 1910
the postage upon a single letter conveyed for
any distance uuder 800 miles was fixed at
cents, and for any greater distance at 10
cents.
BY the act of 1851 it was provided that
single letter if prepaid should be carried any
distance not exceeding 1000 miles, for three
cents, and any greater distance, for six cents.
II will be noticed that both of these reduc
tons were Of a radical character, and rela-
lively quite as important that which is now
proposed. In each case there ensued a
temporary loss of revenue, but sudden and
large influx of business which substantially
repaired that loss within three years. Unless
the experience of past legislation in
this country and elsewhere goes
predicted that the stimulus Of
30 per centnm reduction in the tax for coin
age would at once increase the number of
letters consigned to the mails. The advan-
tages Of secrecy would lead to a very general
substitution of sealed packets for postal cards
and open circulars, and in divers other ways
the volume of first class matter would be
enormously augmented. Such increase
amounted in England in the first year afts
the adoption OF penny postage to more than
l25 per cent. As a result of careful estimates
the details Of which cannot be here set
ont, I have become convinced that the
deficiency tor the first year, after
the proposed reduction, would not e1-
coed per cent Of the expenditures or So ,OoO.-
600, while the deficiency after the reduction
of ls45 was more than IA per cent and after
that of 1851 was q per cent. Another
interesting comparison is afforded by statistics
furnished me by the Post Office department
The act of Is45 was passed in spite of the
fact that there existed a deficiency of more
than csc, 900 That of 1851 was encouraged
by the slght surplus of Sl32, 900. The exces,
of rev enue in the next fscsl year Is likely to
be $500, 900.
IT Congress should approve these sugges-
tions, it might be deemed desirable to supply
to some extent the deficiency which for a
time must result by increasing the charge
for carrying merchandise which is now only
sixteen cents per pound; but even without
such an increase l am confident that the
receipts under the diminished rates would
equal the expenditures after the lapse OF
three or four wears. The report OF the de-
partment of justice brings anew to notice the
necessity OF enlarging the system OF federal
jurisprudence SO efiectualiy as to answer the
requirements of the hour and the increasing
litigation With which it is callei upon to deal.
THE STAR ROUTE PRosEcurIoS.
The Attorney General reviews the suegss-
tons of his predecessor that in the interests
of Justice better provision than the existing
laws afford should be made in certain judicial
districts for fixing the fees of witnesses and
jurors. In my message of December last
referred to pending criminal proceedings
growing out Of alleged frauds in what Is
known as the Star Route Service OF the post
Office department, and advised you that had
enjonsd upon the Attorney General and
associates to whom the interests of the gov
ernment were in,rusted the duty of Pr'secut.
ing with the utmost rigor OF the Law ali
persons who might be found charge
able with those offenses. One OF these
cases has since occurred. 1t occupied tor
many weeks the attention of the Supreme
Court Of this district and was conducted with
great zeal and ability. II resulted in dis
agreement OF the jury; but the cause has
been again placed upon the calendar and viii
shortly be retired II any guilty persons
.hall 6n~llv ascSno DainiShment for their