The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1882-12-08
annual Report OF the Postmaster
General.

Wuou tleIc was M cNcesS Oh reCelptS
amounting TO 81 100000 IN 1860 the
deficiency was Sl0,0O0,0O0. The post
master general says some part of this
improvement is due TO the wonderful
growth and prosperity of the country,
but tie larger part is due 10 the improv-
ed methods in the administration ofthe
service. Happily the expenditures
have not kept pace with the earn
Jugs. Referring TO the difficulty of
adjusting Il G salaries of postmasters, ne
says it would be easy TO frame a law
more unjust than that under which the
salaries are now settled; but the exist
ing law is sufficiently unjust. A more
cumbrous or complex method of adj
justing the salaries could not be invent
ed. The partnership now existing
between the government and post
master in the use of lcitrr-boxes should
be dissolved. The whole system of the
regulation of the compensation of post
masters should, in fact, be radically
changed. Referring to the star serv-
ice, the postmaster. general says the
report of the second assistant postmast.
er.general gives comprehensive ex-
hibit of the management OF the star
services for the last fiscal yepr. The
broad purpose of providing adequate
postal facilities for ali communities,
without regard TO geographical location.
is made the first and leading considera.
ton, and TO secure that result will
improvident expenditure of means, B
beyond consideration. The depar,-
ment is clothed with the widest di-
erection in regard TO the amount bf
service TO be performed on the STIR
routes. To provide all needed potal
facilities, and at the same time guard
against unnecessary expenditures, is
most difficult duty, and one that CALI
for the exercise of unusal care ant
patient inquiry. The result given il
the report affords gratifying evidence
than during the last fiscal year thai
delicate duty has been very sati,fac-
tUrily discharged. The expansion of
the railroad system has been crater
the past year than ever before in any
one year. Important connections
have been made with california; and
Mexico. The aggregate cost of the
services is largely increased each rear.
Such must continue to be the cse 80
long as the rapid expansion of the
service continues.
The steady growth of the exrendi-
tue has provoked much discussion tho
rates OF pay for carrying mails or rail
roads.
The subject is most importan; and
the suggestions OF the second assistant
postmaster general that add tonal
safeguards be thrown around the hrge
annual disbursement for railroad serv-
ices, and that any change in the laws
governing the rate of pay should be
made upon ascertained facts, rathe,
than upon opinion, are recommended
to the especial notice of congress.
The entire transportation service
Notwithstanding its rapid growth, will
DO conducted the next fiscal year 1872,
600 less than the current year. The
postmaster general has been unable, al
yet, to make arrangements for fas
service out of the existing appropriat
ing on terms which seemed reason
able.
The recommendation with reference
to q modified scale of fees for none,
orders, diminishing the cost thereof
and of the desirability of comforting up
on the department authority to ISSUE
postal notes for sums under 50 at q fcl
of three cents, is renewed. The post
master general remains of the opinion
that the postage on second class matter
ought to be abolished. 1t does not seen
lust to charge for carrying some news
papers and to carry others free, or t
charge for carrying newspaper Il
, some subscribers and to carry the sam,
to others without charge. The rate o
iasis an taaarso alsss ANXIETY has beef
manifested to reduce first class postage
/ 10 two cents per half ounce. If i
should be thoug ht that such reduction
would cause too great shrinkage o
revenues, he suggests that correspond
ence NAV be cheapened almost as mucl
by another measure, mnch less costly
to the treasury. If congress will au
tborize the sale of stamped envelopes
at the same price at which adhesive
: stamps are sold it would lessen thu
, cost of correspondence. The post
, master general points out the advan
, tages of such a plan. The attention o
, congress is called to the use now mad,
of The postoffice as medium for the
e collection of bills of small amount il
r Relgium. Switzerland and Germany
3 and the suggestion is offered that thi
NAV properly become another field fl
G the department. He invokes congress
h to make one more effort to engraft upol
8 the postal service a system for deposi
n for small sums. After the fullest con
;, sideration the postmaster general
forced to the conclusion that In
s time has fully arrived when tn
f telegraph and postal service should
=. embraced under one management
= Congress has alreapy provided mod
of adjusting terms upon which tn
+ United States may purchase all In
n telegraph lines, for postal or othe
;. purposes e II. s., sec. $500. ii
gives summary If the argument
l. which have been made at difiorer
A times in favor of that system: TIL
II Telegraph was not known when Ii
% constitution was adopted, neither WI
"a the railway. He cannot doubt thi
y the power to employ one as means
Il transmitting messages is as clear as
N emnloy the other. If union of Il
ID two services did not improve that
the telegraph at all, 1t wonld impro,
the postal service in some importa
10 RESPECTS. But IA union of the tv
J. services would, he believes, impro'
0. the telegraph more than the post
m service. The only protection Il
public can have against the multiple
- exaction of telegraph corporations
&c for the government to assume exclusi'
lie control over the transmission
a. domestic messages, Like the COVER
:, ment itself, the telegraph is too territ
~ to DO welded by other than represe
IN ttiyes of the whole people.