The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1884-01-02
Nntinnnl NOtns.

WARRINGTON, Jan. l.-New Years tny
opened dark and gloomy, with occasional
showers, which finally settled into a steady
rain. The presidents reception began at II
O'Clock and the Official programme thus izr
has been carried out without hitch or IN.
usual incident. The families oi cabine.
officers receive this afternoon.
The epostmaster-general has vent to con-
gress a report OF the committee appointed
to prepare and improved plan of carryin
tho mai on roairoad routes. The com
mitire was composed OF General Richard
A. Elmer. Indiana, assistant postmaster;
Gen. w. b. Thompson, general su.
perintendsnt OF the railway mail
service, and Isaac Z. Slater,
superintendent OF railway adjustment
The committee finds that encn decade
witnessed doubling OF service. and II the
present rates Of increase and pay are MAIN
aimed the year 1900 will see service by
m all of at least 209. 900 miles with an annual
cost of S25, ,o00, 600. When the system oi
weighing mails was erst established In 1867
most astonishing Inconsistencies were dis
covered in the matter of compensa'ion j.
AT that time mails were generally carried
| In baggage cars. 1t was found on fiftee
| lines receiving pay of. 500 per mile daily
that the service ranged from an syeriee OF
more than 10 600 pounds on one line TO less
than 400 pounds on another; that ls, ons
received the same rate for carrying u
lesser amount than the other
did FOR IA greater. On n road receiving
$3.50 per mile the service ranged from T.
600 mounds to less than 800, while on roads
where n $50 rate was paid the greatest aver
az q daily service wss 6 AS pounds and the
least twelve pounds. The act Of 1873
brought a degree OF order out OF this
In hat IL nTaSrFlhpd even
rate of pay for transporting. but Of
speed and room in which
10 distribute the mails it was but little IN
advance OF she previous law. The practical
objections 10 the present law are,
First, No Discrimination is made between
a service performed in apartment cars
acoomp panied by clerks and clfs ID
mails carried In bulk in baggage cars;
Serond-Metter frequently is covered by
indefnite expressions due to haste. No
Discrimination N nude where the me
weipht mail is carried between lines
running six seven, twelve or
fourteen round trips per week the less
frequent securing fhe same rate as the
most frequent. 49,, ,,,
of with the expression of due frequency
md ,need" and does not enter Into the
rate of compensation.
Fourth-S.ze of cars or apart
ment. 10 be used are not
provided in a manner sufficiently
definite TO be continued as the expression
of the requirements OF the post.ofilce de,
psrtment with regard to ll5,OOO miles oi
postal service.
Fiith-Specifc allowance for raj way post
offices In unreasonable method OF compen'
sations for the service required.
Slxth-The regulation requiring railroad
companies to deliver mails into terminal
offices and also to all other oincss
not eighty rods from the line oi the road
has become serious hinurahce 10 as eih
cient postal service.
seysnth-The present method is defect
i've becau.e of the great inequality existir
in many cases between the weights carried
s1d the apartments provided.
The ceremonial OF the observance OF the
first day OF the new year
was interfered with to some
extent by raw northeast wind ADD
a d,ixslinr rain. The presidents reception
was largely attended, and more
than usually pleasant and successful
OnIv about half the member:
Of congress are in sf,is city, but most oi
the e present, together with mem
bers Of The cabinet, diplo'
matte corps, iussices OF the supreme
and di strict courts and officers OF the army
occurred to M ar ihe pleasure OF the partic-
ipants. The decorations OF the executive
mansion were simple but tasteful. Ferns,
and cut fiowesfrom the white house con
servaiory were placed in tn,
parlors. The gr n east room ard
The main corridor and mirrors aud large
glass chandeliers which were lighted and
hung with graceful festoons O
smilax. There were lev
potted plants such ss bemonias and rrim-
roses biooming In the east room. A hugs
bououet of cot 4 n,wers was placed IN the REQ
parlor and another still |. rger, orr amentec
me central divsn Of the blue room.
Promptly ht IL O'Clock the Marine band
which was stationed in the vestibule
. ayed "Hsil TO the Chiei " As the hrs
notes sounded President Arthu
accompanied by Mrs. Carlisle an'
and Marshal McMichael en- -ere'
The corridor. They were followed by tn
member. of the cabinet, their wives ant
n number of ladies without escort VIII
were to assist in the reception
The party passed into the red parl.
and thence into the blue room. Presi
| dent Arthur stood midway between to
east ard west doors. On bl
right and behind him were the ladies' a,
sisting. and on his LETT dorm
The recep.io ION stood the Diplomatic corp
the secretary OF state. Bo,h the president
- and dsughter were
IA. ,,,.,,r ard were general
regarded. Toe costume Of the ladis
we're richer than have been seen st
white House reception for man
years. Mn. csrlisls wore