Daily Kennebec journal., 1883-12-04
Dailp Kenneber Journal.
Department Reports.

The revenues Of the Department for the
fiscal year ended June 80, 1888, amounted to
S45, sos ,692.9l, ~ follows:
Ordinary postal revenue. &45oo7 .0-s "a
Net revenue from money order business. 4n.6ls 81
sls.5oe .6s2 81
The expenditures account Of the
vice Of the year. not including amt
credited to Pacific railroad companies, s00 %
Balance available for outstanding lia-
bilities, 1901 ,9o2 05
Deduct estimated amount of outstand-
ing liabilities for the year, 773,00 %
outstanding liabilities. l.sis.0ss os
Deduct amount credited to the Pacific
Railroad Companies for mail trans
portation for the year, Sl6,slO Y
Estimated surplus of revenue over esti.
mated cost Of the servce for the year. s3
In addition to the expenditures for the aer
vice of the year, S466, ,24S.S7 was paid on
account of liabilities for previous years, max
ing the total amount disbursed during the
year, not including credits to Pacific Rail-
roads, S43, ,2S2, ,944, ,43
The receipts for the year were 90, ,632 ,2S2.-
46, or 81 per cent, more than those of the
previous fiscal year. This ratio Of increase
is about per cent less than the average one
for the preceding three years, and it may be
accounted for 10 large part, if not wholly, by
the fact that the public were induced to limit
their purchases of three cent postage stamps
and stamped envelopes in anticipation Of the
change of letter postage to two cents, fixed to
take effect on the lst of October last.
The increase of postal receipts for the year
ending June 1883 has been considerably less
than for any preceding year since 1879. This
is due to the recent reduction in postsge. II
is estimated that in 1885 there will be q def
cheney in receipts as compared with expendi-
lures, Of 81. .95S, lll.29.
The free delivery system is operating we'll
and it is recommended that it be extended by
Congress as rapidly as public interest and
convenience demand. The postal money
order system has increased steadily. 1t is
not deemed advisable to reduce the postage
on drop letters from two cents to one, as some
desire. 1t is recommended that the unit Of
weight for rating first-class matter should be
changed from one half an ounce to one ounce
also that the rate Of postage on newspapers
and periodicals sent by other than the pnb-
fishers or news agents be made l cent per 3
ounces.
The remarks of the Postmaster General in
regard to postal telegraph will be read with
interest. He says "Several substitutes for
the present system have been suggested: lst.
The acquisition and operation of the existing
lines by the government. I'd. The construc-
ton by the government of lines which it will
operate in competition with existing compan-
les. Sd. The creation of a company by which
lines of telegraph are to be supplied to the
capital of each State, and other places having
given number of inhabitants, or where sta
tions are now maintained. or the business Of
the country may hereafter require them. The
company, in consideration of the special
powers conferred by Congress, is, at certain
reduced rates to be prepaid by stamps, to
transmit messages at a compensation to be
paid by the United States not to exceed ten
per centum upon its authorized capital stock
over and above operating expenses. The Gov
ernment is obliged to furnish at each station
the requisite accommodations for the officers
employed in the transaction of business, and
to assume the duty Of receiving messages, and
delivering by mail or otherwise such as are
transmitted. He then goes on to discuss the
power of Congress under the constitution to
establish q postal telegraph and maintains
that Congress has that power. But when he
comes to the question Of expediency he de.
cides against government undertaking to as
sumo the task of taking control of the tele-
graph. The concluding words of his report
are as follows: 81 have endeavored to main
troll of the telegraph because it has been and
and still is seriously disputed. The existing
companies operate their lines solely for the
purpose of making money, and while it is
doubtless true that their rates, as whole,
are unreasonable, yet IN view of what has
already been said do not think the evils
complained of are SO grievous as to call for
Congressional intervention.
SECRETARY OF Wars REPORT.
The Secretary of War in his annual report
of administration makes the total expendi-
lures Of the department foot up $40, 79l ,055,-
~, which has been laid out as follows: For
salaries, contingent expenses, and postage
%, LAG, ,005. 10; military establishment--Army
and Military Academy S27 $3.50, ,976. Is; public
works, including river and harbor improve
ments SI5 ,659, 1897 81; miscellaneous objects
"a, ,l54, 1856 Sc; and the sum of 81 1868, Isl 80
was credited under the act of March, 1879.
to the subsidized Pacific railroad for trans
portation during the fiscal year 1883 and
years prior.
The appropriation for the fiscal year 1884
amounts to So ,766, 1852. .03, and the Secretary
has made the estimate for the year ending
June 80, 1885, Of The funds that will be re-
quired to carry on the business of the depart
ment which amounts to S44, 1886, ,206.78. The
principal items of increase of the estimates
for salaries over the appropriations for the
present fiscal year are for clerk hire. The
Signal Service appropriations for the fiscal
year ending June 80, 1883 were not sufficient
to meet the requirement of the service and
An amount to supply the deficiency will be
called for.
The history of the army for the past year
has been one of almost unbroken quiet. The
only outbreak of any importance took place
in March last, when . party Of Indians made
Q raid in Arizona. The Indians were from
Mexico and they were pursued by Gen.
Crook, and after fight in the Sierra Msdre
Mountain large number were captur ed by
the United States force. Particular atten-
ton will be paid to Arizona by the Govern
men, ,as that district seems to be the principal
neld for Indian ourages. The school for
officers Zone st Fortress Monroe for higher
instruction in artillery, and one at Fort
Leavenworth for more perfect instruction in
mstters relating to the cavalry and infantry
arms Of the service) are reported BY the
General ~ being in excellent condition. Gen.
Sherman has resumed his former recommen-
dation that new organization be adopted
for the regiment Of infantry 80 that each
shall be composed Of IL companies, making
three battslions Of four companies each. each
company having 100 men. The number of
desertions from the army during the past
year has been about 8 3,6O0, . small number