The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1883-12-14
posroFFIcE AFFAIRS.


The report Of the postmaster general con-
tains gratifying exhibit Of tho condition and
prospects of this interesting branch Of tho
public service committed To his care II ap.
pears that on June 80. 1883, the whole nnr-
Der Of po.tpfficss was 47, 1853, Of which 832
were established during the previous fiscal
year. The number Of Offices operating under
the system Of free delivery was l54 At these
latter offices the postage on local matter
By $i,02i. .sS1oi tho entire 1 cost s1''Ss oi The
carriers service in tho country. The
rate Of postage on drop letters passing
through these ofnoeS 70 now fixed BY Law st
two cents per half ounce or fraction thereof.
In offices whore tho carrier system has not
been abolished tho rate 10 only half as large.
It will be remembered that In 1868, when
free delivery was hrst established BY law, The
uniform single rate Of postage upon local let
tiers was one cent, and % It remained until
1872. when 10 those cities whore carrier serv
Ice was established IL was increased TO defrsy
the expense Of such servicA Il seems to
mo that the old rate may now with pro-
at . risk Of diminishing for tine, Of Least, re-
ceipts from postage upon local lettera lean
see no reason why that particular clsss OF mail
matter should be held accountable for the on
tire cost Of not only lts own collection and de-
livery but the collection and delivery Of oil
other Classes, and I am confident, after full
consideration Of tho subject, that the re-
duction of the rate would be followed by such
. growing volume Of business % 70 occasion
but slight and temporary loss to tho revenue
OF the postofica
POSTAL TELKoRAPH NOT DESIRED.
The postmaster general devotes much Of
his report to the consideration in its various
the telegraph. Such reflection - have been
able to give tho subject since my last annual
message has not led me 70 chsnge the view
which then expressed, In dissenting from the
recommendation Of tho postmaster general.
that the government sssune the ssmo control
over the telegraph which u has always sx-
ereised over the mails Admitting that IL au-
been claimed for IL II would not in
my judgment, te wise use
Of that su!hor,sy To- purchsse Or assume tha
control Of existing telegraph lines, or 20 con.
er.l composition 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, do not, however,
apply to some Of the plans which have lately
provoked public comment and discussion. II
has been claimed. for example, that congress-
to contract with some private person or
corporation for the transmlssion Of messages
st specified rates and under government
supervision. Various such schemee, Of the
same general nature out widely differing In
their sDecisl oharacteristics. have been sug-
By which they have been supported and op-
posed have doubtless attracted your attention.
1t is likely thst the whole subjecs will bo con-
sidered by you at the present session. In tbs
nature Of tlings Il involves 20 many questions
Of detail that your dslibsrstions would prob
-1H IT, I'll