Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1883-12-07
GEN. GREsHAM's REPORT.

naaoce after dednetine estimated outstanding IL
abilities, Sl.oD1.2Si Receipts for the scar were
$3,632.2S= over thosegot 1882. which is about 3
per cant than the averages increass FOR last
three years Posrlnasters have hear paid 81, $50
M. or ! S per cent more than was expended in
1882. OF this Increase $500. 600 was due to the
10 fourtt.-ctass Offices The expenditure was ST.
575. 1874 46 in excess of tine appropriation. Tbs d.
fciency Was unavoidable, since the law fixes the
compensation of postmasters, and orders them to
retasn it in accounting fox this proceeds of their
Offices. The Increase 10 the expenditure for clerks
ir pustofices was S45s,6s2.sl. or about IL per
carriers it $500. o43. II, or 20 per cent. The
estimated total expenditures and liabilities for rail-
road transportation for 1853 was $ll .SO4, 172;
the aIoonns credited to Pacific railroad companies
was SO 10, ~. making an estimated total cost Of
railroad transportation for 1888 $l2.7l9,ss2.
As compared with the previous year. there was
decrease Ia the expenditure for star service of
Tl.O42939 g. or Is per cent, The aggregate
approximations for the service Of the year were
$44.5766uo. IS, or $l,2s4, s99. 81 more than
the total expenditures and estimated liabilities for
the same exclusive Of the amounts credited to the
Pacific railroad companies.
The s.ce,pts for next year are estimated at s47.-
1O4,UZS, and the expenditures, exclusive of
amounts TO he credited to Pacific railroad COM
panies, at $50, 0G2 80. leaving deficiency to be
suupel on! Of the general treasury Of ~ 95s, Ill
The increase OK revenue GA account of the reduc-
ton Of letter postage to two ceusis roughly at
s25eoooo: the af EgESy FL! be s1o'ssa'3So'
The number OF employees 10 the Dostottice de-
partner. at Washington is 55S. The whau PUN
Der of postmas:ers aud other employees IN the
contractors, 1914; clerks in postotfices, e,u4y;
letter carriers, $3.50; railway postofice cterEs
1886; post Office INSPECTORS and railway superin-
ten!ents, 90. Total, bS,O20.
STAR ROUTE SUITS
It has become my duty slnce 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 deberation | am
convinced thas excessive and uniustihabe allow
anCes ha, been ruate for the expedited service.
The papers and reports in these cases are Of sucL
that have felt constrained to submit tne
facts and statement Of account in each case TO tn.
deEaItmfIt II Jus'lce Wltn ri guest That suit:
be brought for the recovery Of the moneys fraudu-
en'ly Obtained.
NORTHERN PACIFIC THROUGH MAILS
Through ,na,ts for aud from Oregon, Washington
Territory, Alaska and BRUSH Columbia ara 20"
dispatched by way Of 81. Paul and the Northern
Pacific instead of over the Union Pacific and III
Utah Northern to B.ackloor junction, and thence
over the ~ = bern Ptriflc> as heretofore The fol-
mer line is 26 m'!es shorter than the latter. ant,
on the assumption that the debt due from t. e
Union Pacific company t. the United States vii
ultimately be paid it is $3l per ton cheaper III
addition to the argument of economy, the convex
fence of the p ople living the northera PAc1ut
coas. gee med TO d~nan this change. I hs amount
pc d the Northern P .tc for this service. Oh til.
basis Of the present weight OF !naiis, Will % SOM
thing less than s25,uuo per year.
WEIGHT FOR FIRST CLASS MATTER.
After caretui consideration. says Gen. Gresham,
aul Of the opinion that the unit OF weight 1oI
rating fr,i-cass matter should De changed from
oue-haf ounce TO one ounce This change. IN
connection With the recent reduction OF letter pest
ago from lrrea 20 Two cents, would place his couu-
try tuuan,y with any other IN respect OF
cheap postage Great Britain maintains more
ages ,han We do The following statement shows
the rates on different classes OF matter IN III
United States compared with the Loading couu-
tries of Europe, the foreign standards OF value
nd rhb hi 70
Unteu a'es-Letters, two cents Der one-halt
ounce fraction: postal cards. one cent Newsi'a-
pers for publishers, Two cents per pound; private
rates. Ons cont per TWO ounces; samples, ono cent
Der ounce.
Great Britain--Letters two cents per ounce:
three cents per two ounces: postal cards. one cent
Newspapers, cent per copy; samples not car
red by mail.
Germany-Letters Two cents per one-half ounce:
25 per cent OF subscription price. Other printed
matter, three his of cent per one and two
third ounces: samples. two cents per eight ana a
Franoe--Letters 3cents per = ounce postal cards,
2 cents; newspapers for publishers, 20 cent peg
copy or DIR So ounce: other printed ma'1eF, 10
cent per 80 ounce samples, cent per 3 ounces.
1t is believed That loss than per cent Of all the
letters Conveyt d IN the mails exceed half an ounce
thus requiring double postage: IN tnese taer Re
would be mall loss by INCREASING the standard OF
single postag, weight to one ounce; but the reve-
nue. on the mAlnder. say "a per cent OF all. wou
not be dmiulshei, while The loss on the small uun-
Der in excess of half an ounce would doubtless be
moro than compensated by the Increased postage
on snail packages of merchandise which would be
sealed and sent q frst-c'ass matter. BY adopting
the ounce standard thc people would be still fur.
the: accommodated. and it is believed that large
proportion Of iourth-cass matter would DC sen
under seal. paying hrst-class postage. The reve
nue Of the department. would thus be increased
without materially Increasing the bulk OF the weigh
OF tue mails,
NEWSPAPER POSTAGE
Newspaper postage Tor persons not publishers
cent for OUNCES. Some papers weigh more thai
ounces M ny persons mail n wspapsrs weigh
ing over uuuces and bearing l-cent stamp
Such papers are not sent. This creates dlssat!sac
lion and complaint. In order to obviate this
recommend that the rate Of postage on newspaper
and periodical publications., sent by others than tn
publishers OK news agents. be made cent per
ounces
STAMPS ISSUED.
Stamps were issued during the year as follows
Ordinary postage stamps. ,2O2, 143,sDO: news
paper and peril dscat lam! 6, 2,2UI,9o9; stamp
envelopes, plain, ll4,251,35O; STAMPED env'.
opes. r. quest, l0o,57s,23o; newspaper wrapner>
44.i36.25O; prsta*e-dne STAMPS, l2,6u9'9oo
postal cards, 379, 5lG, TAO: making an aggregate
With official 1epar' ment ct amps. Of 1861 ,6S9. 6os
and representing a total value OF &42,o7o,3l9.
RAILWAY MAIL SERVICE.
At the close of i~cal year Shere were 80
railway postoffice lines, an increase OF IA: 1871
crews, an increase of l3: and los. 933. 10 mile
by clerks from postofce to postoface, as again:
982S7.2 miles The previous vear The mhes
route for which the companies were PAID wei
1923 an increase of 0.264 miles. During IN
year 1hore were Ii casualties. in which one cler
was killed, 80 seriously injured, and AZ slightly III
jured The report ranews the recommendation I
other postmasters general, that the postna:1
general be authorized to pay the widow or euard'
Of the minor children of q railway postal clerk
is killed ip The service. a sum equal to one veal
salary OF tho grade which he hsid az the time OF
death.
GOVERNMENT TELEGRAPH.
The report discusses government telegraph /
extenso three plans receiving attention, viz: Fir*
The acquisition and operation OF the ex1s'lo
lines by the goyernment s,econd-The consruc
ton by the government of lines which IL VIII on
crate 10 competition with existing companies
Third-The creation of company by when ~ {
of telegraph are to be supplied to the capital {
each state, and other places having given numt
Of Inhabitants, OF where Stations are no" maln
aimed. tho business Of the country may hereatte
require them.
From the best consideration which have bee
enabled to bestow upon the subject says del
Gresham, have reached the conclusion That con
gress has thu constitutional power i'll provldlnT Ie
the postal service of the country to avail ltfeit
all the Facilities devised by the inventive genius
ligence, and that 1t has full authority to adoI
either Of the first two plans which have met
toned. Concedine that congress mas au.nori ~
70 incorporate company and c'othe It with IL
power necessary for the efectual accomplishment
the purpose in view, such measure will inaugural
new policy, tho adoption OF which do not te
at liberty to recommend If congress can crea
such company. it may Incorporate railway a.,
other companies and contract with them Tor II
carriage OF the mails: ana II th'S may 10 oene
viii not be- denrd mat the government may bu
NJ railways and other roads, and construct and equ
vessels for postal purposes Congress by such les
isiatlop would thus enter upon new sphere o1 a.
u ton, which there is reason to fear would Do II
trs5 step 10 dangerous direction. The patronat
of the general government would be enormous
incressei and is jurisdiction extended to matte
heretofore confined Is State legislation or pTiva
enterprise. The Injurious tendency OF such iegl
latior cannot we'll be oserestlmated.. tns:
CONTROL WITHIN THE STATES.
+o}uUra ,9hic service wholly within the Sc
eray States unless the power to establish posrofHc
he sSfnliY invoked. the eXtstil