River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1883-12-06
GEN. gREsHANrs REPORT.

isnnesi $Ao, sos, 692; expenditures $40 GIG -O0.
osiaaee atter deduetlns estimated outstanding IL
'soilues, SI'oO1'2sl- Receipts for the year were
+s3.632,2S2 over those of 1882. which ia abont :,
per cent less han the average increase for the last
antee yeats Postmasters have been paid 81. $780,
Il, or y per cent more than was expended in
1857 Of this increase 500, 600 was due 10 the
ee9alizing act Of March 3 which was made to appy
~ tosfta-class Offices. The expenditure was ST.
e4o,oS+4 40 an excess OF the appropriation. The de-
-uciency Fss unavoidable. since the Jaw FIXES the
compensation of postmasters and orders them 10
lat Z ID accounting for the proceeds of their
1ulces, be Increase 10 the expenditure for clerks
y eestotilces was S45S,6s2.sl. or about IL Der
-oot oyer That OF the previous yearl and for letter.
SefL<ers it was SJJO.taI3 ~, or 90 peY cent The
estimated total expenditures and Liabilities for RAFT
road transportation Tor 1883 was Sil ,sO4, l72:
the amount credited 10 Pacific railroad companies
was sol 5,sIn making estimated total cost Of
railroad transportation for 1888 SI2.7i9,sS
AS compared with he previous year. there was a
decrease ~ the expenditure for star service Of
$l-O42s39 IS, or ] : pei csnt The aggregate
representations for <he service Of the year were
S4I.9fe,6O0. - or Si,2s4, 500. 81 more than
the total expenditures and estimated liabilities for
The same, exclusive Of the amoeats credited 90 the
Pacific railroad companies
The receipts for next year are estimated at S4-.
3O4,OsS, and the expenditures exclusive Of
amounts TO be credited to Pacific railroad COM
panies. at Sste.OG2, $50. leaving GencieEcy to be
supplied o't OF the general treasury CT $2,JJ8llL
The Increase Of revenue On account Of the rrduc-
ton 0f letter postage 10 tEe centIs roughly pni at
S2JcU.0OO: The decrease will be SIO,393,3s0.
EMPLOYEES
The number Of employees in the postot1ce de-
partment at Washington is 55s The whole mum
Der OF Dostmas.ers aud other employees in the
contractors, 4,9ff; clerks in possibilities. 500:
letter carriers, 3.6sOi railway postoifice CLERKS
tendents. 30. Total, G9,o20.
STAR ROUTE SUES.
IL has become my dHty since assuming tks direc-
aOu Of business in this department 20 consider the
cases upon which payments have been made for
expedition ia the transportation of the mails
star routes, aad after mature declaration / am
nd M Sfif sal al
ances have been maie for the expedited service.
Ihe papers and reports in these eases sre Of such
facts and statement of account in each 10 the
depart rnent tf justFce, Win inquest hat suits
lently obtained,
NORTHERN 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
Pacific, instead of over the Union Pacific aud the
Utah Northern to BlGckfoot junction, aud thence
over the Northern Pacific. az heretofore. The for
et tue IS 100 mics saorter than the latter. and,
on the assumption that the debt due from tue
Union Pacific company % the United States will
Intimately De paid, 1t Is S3l per ton cheaper. In
addition 70 the argument Of economy. tue conveu-
fence OF the people living the northern Pacific
coast seemed 70 deman this change. The amount
paid the Northern Pacific FOR TINS service. on the
basis u the present weight Of mails, will DO some
thing less than 80. 600 per year
WEIGHT TOR FIRST CLASS NATTER.
After careful consideration, says Gen Gresham,
I am ct the opinion that the unit Of weight for
rating nrst-class matter should be changed from
one-hait an ounce to one ounce. This change, ia
connection with The reduction Of letter post
age from three 10 two cents, would place This coun-
trS on ah equality with any oiher in respect of
cheap postage. Great Britsu maintains a more
liberal unit Of weight for rating eters and pack
ages than we do. the following statement shows
the rates on different classes Of matter 10 the
United States a. compared with the leading coun-
tries OF Europe. the foreign standards Of value
and weight being reduced to ours;
United STates-Lstters. two cents per half
ounce or fraction; postal cards, one cent Newspa-
pers Tor publishers, two cents per pound; private
rates, one cent per sTO ounces; samples, one ceut
per ounce.
Great Britaiu-Letters, two cents per ounce;
three cents Der two ounces; postal cards. enc cent.
ried by mail.
Germauy-Ietters. two cents Ser one-half ounce;
postal cards, cent Newspaper for publishers.
- pes cent OF subscription price. Other printed
matter three 6fths Of per one and two
third ounces; samples two cents per eight aud
France Letters cents ger l.. ounce: postal cards
= cents, newspapers for publishers. - cent per
copy or pr o-G ounce; other printed matter, >
cent Der 5-b ounce samples cent per q ounces
II Is believed THAI less than per cent alt the
letters conveyed in The mails exceed halt ounce,
thus requiring doHbls postage, Ga these there
would he a small loss by increasing the standard Of
single postage weight 10 ounce but the reve-
nue. on the remainder cay 81 per cent Of all, would
not bH InuIshej, while The loss % the small num-
Der al excess Of half an Ouncs would doubtless be
moro than compensated by the Increased postage
snail package 90 merchandise which would be
sealed and sent a. iFst-e,asS matter. By adopiIug
the ounce standard tue people would be STILL fur
Their aceommo dated, ard II is believed that large
properties Of fouUih-c5ss matter would he sent
under ssal, paying drst-Ciass postage. Tue reye-
nue. q The department would thus be increased
without materially Increasing ne buls oe lie weight
''''' NEWSPAPER POSTAGE
Newspaper postage for persons not publishers is
/ cent for ounces. Some papers weigh more than
ounces MANY persons mail newspapers weigh
ing over ounces and bearing a I-ceut stamp.
Such papers are not sent. This creates dissatisfac
md Amt VT Rrfar rlvf .gn sftT1
recommend that the rate Of hostage newspapers
and periodical publications, sen; by others than the
publishers OF news agents, be made cent per
ounces
STAMPS ISSUED.
Stamps were s.ued during the year as follows
Ordinary postage stamps. l.3O2. 71;, 500: news
paper and periodical stamps. 2.2O7, $50. stamptG
envelopes, plain, llI.25I, $50; STAMPED enve
opeS. quest, 1V0.57s,25 newspaper wrappers
postal cards. 379, 3l6,7Jo making an aggregate
with official deDartmeut stamps, of 1,s6l, $50. Goo
and representing a total value Of S42,9TO,3l9.
RAILWAY MAIL SERVICE.
Al the close OF the fiscal year there 993
railway postoffice lines, increase OF 224; 1877
crews an increase OF / 3: aud los 933. 10 miles
by clerks from posto &c to postotice as against
95.2Sl.2 miles he previous The miles of
route Tor which the companies were paid were
109,S21, All increase Of 9,2Oi miles During the
year there were IA casualties. az which one clerk
was klesl, 30 seriously injured, and A. slightly in
1ured. The report rene%s the recommendation OF
othet postmasters general, that the postmaster
general be authorized TO pay the widow guardian
OF the minor children OF railway postal clerk WI
IS Killed ia the service, equal TO wears
death.
The report discusses government telegraph in
exteuso three paRs receiving attention, viz: First
The ACQUISITION and operation Of ihs existing
tou 10y the government OF lines which il will OPP
crate 10 competition with existing companies
1hiUd-Tbe creation of a company by which lires
Of telegraph to be supplied to the capital OF
each State, and other places having given numi or
OF iDhaoitapts, where stations main
aimed. or the business Of the country may hereafter
require them.
From the best consideration which l have been
enabled TO bestOw UBOn the suhieC', SAYS Gen
Gresham, have reached the conclusion that con-
VTess has the constitutional power ~ providing Tor
the posts5 seTvic5 Of the country 10 avail Itself OF
81 the ssvilites devised by the inventive genius OF
~nottH times for transmitting messages aud intet-
4Gerce, and that It has full authority TO adopt
eftker Of the first two plans which l have men
0ned, Conceding that congress has authority
50 Incorporate a company and cothe it with the
power necessary for the efeCtua accomplishment OF
the purpose in view,such mes sure will lnausurate
At liberty Ia recommend II congress eau create
such company, it may Incorporate railway ara
other companies. anil contract with them for the
carriage OF the mails; AMI if this may be done II
will not be denied that ne government may build
railways and other roa Is and construct and equiD
vessels for postal purg oseS Congress ny such leg
6sation would thus enter upon new sphere OF dc-
lion, which there is reason to fear would he the
IRIS; step 10 dangerous direction. The PATRONAGE
~ he yeneral government would be enormously
Increased, aud is jurisdiction extended to matters
heretofore confined to State legislation or private
enterprise, The injurious tendency OF such legIs-
la:ioE cannot we'll be Overestimated.
CONTROL WITHIN THE STATES.
As TO te,egraphlc service wholly within the sew
ersl States, unless the mower 20 establish postoces
and pos roads be successfully invoked, the existing
rates are beyond government control. he opinion
Rtas been advanced, that }Dasmuch as congress has
authority to take charge OF the telegraph part
OF the postal system It may do nothing in that d.
rection and yet prohibit citizens anil private com
NAMES from engaging the business, unless they
comnly with prescribed terms aud conditions. IL
j.. sad that the greater puwer necessarily includes
the less or in other words. that this absolute power
10 prohibit includes tile limited power 10 regulate
This doctrine mas evidently application. Ii Is
only by exercising its power III some oil the modes
already discussed. or IN some other appropriate
7yav. that the government can prescribe terms hpon
which competition viii be permitted. or pTolipf
altogether When line is neither Owned, con-
lrniled or opera ell by the government, nor IN ITS
behalf, a telegraph company. in the TRANSACTION OF
~ much Of its business j. confined within the
limits Of State, Is beyond the reach Of congress
have endeavoTed to maintain the authority o5
.,ougress to assume coufro, Of the telegraph be-
cause it has beev, and still Is, seriously DISPUTED
Tho existing companies operate tEeir INES soiety
FOR the purpose Of making money, and While II Is
doubtless true that their rates, whole, are un-
reasonable yet in view of what has alrs ady been
said do not thiuS the evils complained Il are so
crievous as 10 call for congressional ir.erventlou
LOTTERIES
The lottery emhrosiio IS dealt with at length,
and the passage CT an act is recommended proYid-
lug that every newspaper which contains an adyer-
tisemeuf Of lottery. or any agency thereof, shall
he excluded from the mails, and rendering the per
son who deposits II for sending by mail Liable to