The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-12-09

reduction by onehalf of the rate Of newspaper
postage, which, under recent legislation began
with the current year will operate to restrain the
augmentation of receipts which otherwise might
have been expected. to such degree that the
scale OF expense may gain upon the revenue and
cause an increased deficiency to be shown at its
close. Yet. after no long period of reawakened
prosperity. by proper economy, it is confidently
anticipated that even the present low rates. now
as favorable as any country Affords will be
adequate to sustain the cost Of the service.
The operation of the Postoffice Department is
for the convenience and benefit of the people,
and the method by whish they pay the charges
of this useful of their public service so that
it be just and impartial is of less Importance to
them than the economical expenditure of the
means they provide for it's maintenance and the
due improvement of its agencies, that they
NAV enjoy its highest usefulness. Proper atten-
ton has been directed to the prevention of
waste or extravaganza and good results APP
pear from the report to have already been accom-
plished.
/ approve the recommendation of the Post
master general to reduce the charges on domes
tic money-orders of S. and less from eight to
five cents. This change will materially aid those
of our people who most of all, avail themselves
of this fundamentally, but to whom the ele-
ment of cheapness is of the greatest Importance
With this reduction, the system would still re-
main self-supporting.
The free-delivery system has been extended to
nineteen additional cities during the year. and
178 now enjoy its couvenences. Experience has
commended it to those who enjoy its benefits
and further enlargement of its facilities is due
to other communities to which it is adapted
In the cities where it has been established,
taken altogether the local postage exceeds it's
maintenance by nearly 81, 300, COO. The limit to
which this system is now confined by law has
been nearly reached. and the reasons given jus
tify its extension, which is proposed.
1t was decided, with my appreciation, after
sufficient examination, to be exped emit for the
Posroffice Department to contract for carrying
our foreign mails under the additional authotlty
given by the last Congress. The amount limited
was inadequate to pay all within the purview of
the law the full rate of fifty cents per mile,
and it would have been unjust and
unwise to have given it to some and
denied it to others; nor could contracts have
been let. under the law, to ALL at rate to have
brought the aggregate within the appropriation,
without such practical Encouragement of terms
as would have violated it. The rate of sea and
inland postage, which proffered under
another statute, clearly appears to be fair
pensation for the desired service, being three
times the price necessary to secure transporta
ton by other vessels upon any route, and much
beyond the charges made to private persons for
services not less burdensome. Some of
the steamship companies, upon the re-
fusal of the Postmaster general to
attempt, by the means provided,
the distribution of the sum appropriated as an
extra compensation, withdrew the services OF
their vessels, and thereby occasioned slight in
convenience, though no considerable injury
The mails have been dispatched by other means.
Whatever may be thought of the policy of sub
sidizng any line of public conveyance or travel,
am satisfied that it should not be done under
cover of expenditure incident to the administra-
ton of a department., nor should there be any
uncertainty as to the recipients of the subsidy,
or any discretion left to an executive officer as
to its distribution. If such gifts of public money
are to be made for the purpose of aiding any en-
terprlSe in the supposed interest of the public, |
cannot but think that the amount to be paid and
the beneficiary might better be determined by
Congress than in any other way.
The international congress of delegates from
the postal union countries convened at Lisbon
in Portugal, in February last, and, after ses-
sion of some weeks, the delegates signed con-
vention amendatory of the present postal union
convention, in some particulars designed to ad-
vance its purposes. This additional act has had
my approval, and will be laid before you with
the departmental report
| approve the recommendation of the Post
master general, that another assistant be pro-
vided for his department. 1 invite your consid-
Grafton to the several other recommendations
contained in his report