McCook weekly tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 188?-1886, 1883-12-13
THE POSTAL SERVICE.

The report of the postmaster general con-
tainS gratifying exhibit of the condition
and prospects of this interesting branch of
the public service committed to his care. 1t
appears that on Juue 30, 1888, the whole
number of postOfices was Il S63, Of which
1 ,632 were established during the last pre-
vious fiscal year. The number of offices
operating under the system of free delivery
was 154. At these latter offices the postage
on local matter amounted to 81 49,. 305. =
90, a sum exceeding by s., 021 1884. 05 the
entire cost of the carriers service of the
country. The rate of postage on drop let
tiers passing through these offices is now fix
ed by law at two cents per half ounce or
fraction thereof. In offices where the car
rier system has not been established the rate
Ii only half as large.
REDUCTION PROPOSED.
1t will be remembered that in 1853, when
free delivery was first established by law,
the uniform single rate postage upon local
letters was one cent, and so it remained I'M
til 1872. when In those cities where carrier
service was established it was increased to
defray the expense Of such service. 1t
seems to me that the old rate may now with
propriety be restored, and that, too, even
at the risk of diminishing for a time at least
the receipts from postage upon local letters.
1 can see no reason why that particular
class of mail matter should be held double
for the entire cost, not only Of its collection
and delivery but the collection and delivery
of all other classes; and l am confident,
after final consideration OF the subject, that
the reduction Of rate would be followed by
such a growing accession of business as to
occasion but slight and temporary loss to
the revenues to the postofice.
THE TELEGRAPH QUESTION.
The postmaster-general devotes much Of
his report to the consideration in It's various
aspects of the government to the telegraph.
Such rejection IS have been able to give
to this subject, since my last annual mes
sage, has not led me to change the view
which 1 then expressed in dissenting from
the Recommendation OF the postmaster
general that the government assumes the
same control over the telegraph which it has
always exercised over the mail. Admitting
that its authority In the premises Us ample
as has ever been claimed for it, 1t would not
In my judgment be wise use OF that au-
thority to purchase or assume the control of
existing telegraph lines, or to construct 9TH
ers with a view OF entering into general
competition with private enterprise. The
objections which may be justly urged
against either Of these projects, and indeed
against any system which would require an
enormous increase In the civil service list,
sdo not, however, apply to some Of the
Jplans which have lately provoked public
comment and discussion. 1t has been
claimed for example, that congress might
wisely authorize the postmaster general to
contract with some private person or cor
pOration for the transmission Of messages
at specified rates and under government
supervision.
GOVERNMENT SUPERVISION.
Various such schemes Of the same general
nature, but widely differing in their special
characteristics, have been suggested in the
public prints, and the arguments by which
they have been suggested and opposed have
doubtless attracted your attention. 1t is
likely that the whole subject will be consid-
SEED by you at the present session. In the
}2Ire Of things it involves SO many gues-
k,sHls of detail that your deliberations would
probably be aided slightly, Il at all. by any
particular suggestions which might now
submit. avow my belief, however, that
the government should be authorized by
law to exercise some sort OF supervision
owe. Interstate telegraph communication,