The Evening critic., 1882-11-13
" 1T is STAMPS,u
And Not tho " Economy of Thomas
Il. James which Leaves n Surplus
james Guilty of Prncticing ''GrOss
DecenfiOn,, ON President Gnrlielh


Il. James which Leaves N Surplus
james Guilty Of Practicing ''Gross
Deception on President Garfield.
A recent dispatch from Washington about
tho annual report OF tho Postmastor-Gencral
showed that receipts for the past year had boon
$1,000,00O over expenditures. It further
showed that $1,000,000 Of this amount had
been passed to the credit Of the PaciS i5 r9ads ads
appear under expenditures OF the Department.,
for reasons that Will bo explained further on,
but II was an expense all tho same, and dc.
creases tho revenue and the surplus by Just
that figure.
Tho method OF dealing with those delln.
quent Pacific roads has been changed within
the pnst few years. AT first n warrant was
drawn, payable to tho Secretary OF the Treas
ury, who indorsed the warrant and passed the
amount earned for mall service TO tho credit
OF the Pacific roads. This method, however,
was looked upon rs
Too Full of CircumIOcutiOn,
and tho change made was In the shape Of n
simple notification from the Postonlco Depart
ment 10 the Register of the Treasury, stating
that tho Pacific roads had earned 80 much
money during tho fiscal year, and this amount
was then placed TO their credit on account with
tho Government. This will explain tho ono
million In the recent report.
Tho report of the Postmaster-General shows
another popularity and most astonishing
Increase OF business. ono year ago Mr.. Thomas
l.. James, then the ostmaster.General, wont
to the President and made some
Remarkable Statements,
which were duly tclegraphod over tho coun-
try. He took with him to tho White House n
statement showing tho expenditures and re-
ceipts for tho third quarter OF 1880 as com.
pared with tho third quarter of 1881. This
quarter ends September 80. IL showed that in
the third quarter of 1880 tho deficit or excess
OF expenditures over receipts was Sl,2OO,OOO,
whilo the deficit for the quarter ending Sep
tember 80, 1881, was only 100000. Mt.
James claimed thatho had made saving OF
this immense difference, and the President
could not well do anything but credit tho
figures.
Tho report OF tho postmGsterGene for
that period conveys very different story. 1t
now turns out that this claim OF Mr.. Jamos
was
"A Gross Deception.
The difference was caused entirely by the In
crease In the sale of stamps, 81 1,000,000 worth
more having boon sold III tho third quar-
OF tho previous year. Tho report besides
showing this fact also shows that there was
no reduction whatever in the expenditures.
Before giving too much credit to the present
management OF the PostofIlce Department for
alleged reductions In expense, IL may DO as
well to take n side glance at tho
| Marvellous Increase in the Sale OF
Stamps for the Past Year.
| IL is absolutely unprecedented. In the past
year the increase Is eight millions over the
year preceding 1t, and this sum is moro than
enough to account for tho cheerful attitude OF
the P0stmaster-GeneraIS report. An Increase
| OF Ia per cent. In ono year has mover becn
| equaled yet in our history. II merely shows
| an immense business boom all over tho United
States, For some time past tho Postonlce Do
partment has called on Congress for n def
| cheney OF but four or nvo millions each year
| Now 1t has surplus. 1t is stamps. The
| figures provo it.-CiRciHndN Commercial No