The Dickinson press., 1883-12-08
GEN. GnEsHAM.s REponT.

GEN. GREsHAM's REPORT.
PosToFFIcE BOOKKEEPING.
Thirty-ssven pages are devoted to Postmaster
General Gresham's report, and q large portion of il
Is statistics. The financial statement shows: Rev
enues, $45 ,3Ue. 692; expenditures, 2.sl6 700;
balance after deductinR estimated outstanding Ii
abilities, $l,OO1.281. Receipts for the year were
$3.632.2s2 over those of 1882. which is about 3
per cent less than the average increase for the last
three years. Postmasters have been paid 81 $780,
717. or 10 per cent more than was expended In
1882. OF this increase 500, 900 was duo to the
eQualizing act Of March 8. which was made to apply
to fo1r.h-class Offices. The expenditure Was 81
51o.394.46 in excess OF the appropriation. The de-
f1ciency was unavoidable, since the law axes the
compensation of postmasters, and orders them to
retaln it In accounting for the proceeds of their
iG postoflces was $458,6s2. 81. or about IL per
cent over that Of the previous year; and for letter.
estimated total expenditures and liabilities for rail-
road transportation for 1888 was $l1, 8O4, 172;
tho AMOUNT credited to Pacific railroad companies
was s9lo,7lO. making All estimated total cost of
railroad transportation for 1883 $l2.7l9,8S2.
As compared with the previous year, there was q
decrease IN the expenditure for star service of
appropriations for the service Of the year were
S44.s7G GOO. 10. or $l,2S4,s 800. 81 more than
the total expenditures aud estimated Liabilities for
the same. exclusive of the amounts credited to the
Pacific railroad companies.
The receipts, for next year are estimated at $47.-
lO4,Ols. and the expenditures. exclusive Of
panies. at 500, OG2, lS9, leaving a deficiency to be
supplied out of the general treasury of So, 95s, Ill.
The increase of revenue on account of the reduce
ton Of letter postage to two centsyis roughly put at
s~2.5eo.ooo: the ds ESfFHey yiIl be sl0.ss3.3so.
partment ut Washington is sos. The whole num-
Der of postmas:ers, aud other employees in the
country are az follows; Postmasters, 47.sG3;
letter carriers, $3.50; railway p%ostotace clerks
$500; p%ostoeice INSPECTORS and railway superin-
tendenta. 30. Total. 69,O2O.
STAR ROUTE SUITS.
1t has become my duty since assuming the direc-
ton Of business in this department to consider the
cases upon which payments have been made for
expedition In the transportation of the mails on
star routes. and after mature deliberation I am
convinced that excessive and uniustiiable allow
ances have been maize for the expedited service.
The papers and reports in these cases are of such
9 mature that l have felt constrained to submit the
facts and a statement OF account in each case to the
department, Ct justice. with a request that suits
pc brought for the recovery of the moneys fraudu-
lently obtained.
PACIFIC THROUGH MAILS.
Through mails for aud from Oregon. Washington
Territory, Alaska and British Columbia are now
dispatched by way Of 81; Paul and the Northern
Utah Northern to Blackfoot Junction, and thence
over the Northern Pacific. as heretofore. The for
mer line is 265 miles shorter than the latter. and.
III luo uS8uulpklOu tuAL lu6 U6UL uu0 from CQS
Union Pacific company to the United States will
ultimately be paid, it is 1871 per ton cheaper. In
addition to the argument of economy. the conven-
coast seemed to demand this change. The amount
paid the Northern Pacific for this service. on the
basis Of the present weight of mails. will be some
WEIGHT FOR FIRST MATTER.
After careful consideration. says Gen. Gresham,
am Of the opinion that the unit Of weight for
rating frst-class matter should be changed from
oue.haif an ounce to one ounce. This change. in
CONNECTION with the recent reduction of letter post
age from three to two cents. would place this coun-
cheap postage. Great Britain maintains a more
liberal unit of weight for rating letters and pack
ages than we do: The following statement shows
United States as compared with the leading coun-
tries Of Europe. the foreign standards of value
and weight being reduced to ours:
United States-Letters, two cents per one-half
ounce or fraction: postal cards, one cent. Newspa-
pers for publishers. two cents per pound; private
rates. one cent per TWO ounces; samples, one cent
Great Britain-Letters, two cents per ounce;
three cents per two ounces: postal cards. one cent.
Nsvspapers' one cent per copy; samples not car
Germany-Letters, two cents per one-half ounce;
postal cards. one cent: Newspapera for publishers;
matter. three ffths Of a cent per one and two
third ounces; samples. two cents per eight and q
third ounces
Franoe-Letters 3 cents per l. ounce postal cards,
. " 80 SOug o
copy or per SO ounce: other printed matter, is
cent per 5.6 ounce: samples, 1 cent per 123 ounces.
It is believed that less than 6 per cent of all the
letters conveyed in the mails exceed half an ounce,
thus requiring double postage. On these there
would be q small loss by increasing the standard Of
single postage weight to one ounce; but the reve;
nue. on the remainder. cay "a per cent of all, would
GOT be diminished. while the loss on the small num-
Der in excess of half an ounce would doubtless be
on SINAI packages Of merchandise which would be
sealed and sent as frst-ciass matter. BY adopting
the ounce standard the people would be still fur
Their accommodated, and it is believed that q large
proportion of fourth-class matter would be sent
under seal. paying irst-class postage. The reve-
nue of the department. would thus be increased
without materially Increasing the bulk orthe weight
Of the mails.
NEWSPAPER POSTAGE
Newspaper postage for persons not publishers il
1cent for 2 ounces. Some papers weigh more than
2 ounceA Mdhy persons mail newspapers weigh-
Ing over 2 ounces, and bearing arms I a l-cent stamp.
ton and complaint. In order to obviate this ]
recommend that the rate of postage on newspapers
and periodical publications, sent by others than the
publishers Or news agents, be made 1 cent per 3
STAMPS ISSUED.
Stamps we're issued during the year as follows
U psps1 a1d p psrioaic s1a stamps, s Ssi5a 1857 81 :ta nepsi
Aenvelopes. plain, 114.251 $50; stamped envel.
pes: request. Q o,57s,2 5o; newspaper wsappers
g.stal CARDS. 379,516,75 o making an aggregate
I with Official department stamps. of 1861 s9. 6G9
and representing q total value of $40, 97O,319.
Is RAILWAY MAIL SERVICE.
At the close of the fscal year there were 993
railway %postofdce lines, an increase of 22i: 1877
crews. an increase Of ID: and los, 1888. 10 miles
run by clerks from postoflce to postottice,a as againsi
9e.287.2 miles the previous year. The miles oil
route for which the companies were paid were
1O9,e27, an increase Of 1924 miles. During the
year, there we're ia casualties; in which one clerI
was killed, So seriously injured, and AZ slightly in.
jured. The report renews the recommendation o.
other postmasters general. that the postmaster
general be authorized to pay the widow or guardian
is killed in tho service, q sum equal to one year,
death.
- GOVERNMENT TELEGRAPH.
The report discusses government telegraph IL
ienso, three plans receiving attention, viz: First
.lss by the government. Second-The %construc-
lion by the government of lines which 1t will op-
: crate in competition with existing companies
khird-The creation of a company by which lire.
Photograph are to be supplied to the capital OF
Ieacl State, aud other places having a given numt 81
/ of iuhabitapts, or where stations are now main
J aimed. or the business Of the country may hereafter
~Srequire them.
From the best consideration which I have beer
enabled to bestow upon the subject. says Gen
Gresham, / have reached the conclusion that con
has the constitutional power in providing TO
postal service of the country to avail itself o
Ithe facilities devised by the inventive genius O
mis1hrn times for nsmit MESSAGES and intel