Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1885-12-18
THE POSTAL SERVICE,

The affairs OF the postal service are exhibited
by the report Of the postmaster general, which
will be laid before you. The postal revenue
whose rates OF gain upon the rising prosperity
OF 1882 and 1888 outstripped the increasing
expenses Of our growing service. was checked
by the reduction IN the rate OF letter postage
which took effect with the beginning OF Octo-
Der In tho latter year, and it diminished during
the two past fiscal years 49, 100 OOO IN the pro-
portion OF $2.27O,OOO in 1884, to $500, 900 in
1885. Tho natural growth and development
have meantime Increased expenditure, resulting
in deficiency in the revenue TO meet the ex-
penses Of the department. OF IS, $50, 900 for the
year 1884, and S. 49, 600 in the last fiscal year
revenue has been oppressed and retarded by
the unfavorable business condition Of the conn
try. OF WHICH the postal service is a faithful
ever by the report, that our returning PROS
perity Is marked by q gain OF $500, 900 in the
revenue Of the latter half Of the last year over
The change in the weight Of frs5-class matter
which may be carried for single rate OF post
age. from half-ouuce to an ounce, and the re-
ductlon by one-halr OF the rate of newspaper
postage, which. under recent legislation, begun
With the current year, will operate to restrain
Inc augmentation OF receipts which otherwise
have been expected to such degree that tho
scale OF expense may gain upon the revenue and
cause an increased deficiency to he shown at Its
close. Yet, after no long period OF reawakened
prosperity, by proper economy, i. is confidence
" anticipated that even the present low
! rates, now as favorable as any country affords.
will be adequate to sustain the cost Of the serv-
1ce.' The operation and the uSe Il the posto1ace
department. Is for tho convenience and
BENEFIT OF THE PEOPLE
and the method by which they nav the charces
OF this useful arm Of their public service SO that
1t be just and impartial, is of less Importance I'd
them than the economical expenditures, than
the means they provide for its maintenance and
may enjoy tho highest usefulness, A Droper
attention has been directed TO the prevention Of
waste or extravaganza and good results appear
from the report to have already been accom-
4 approve tbs Recommendation Of the post
master general to reduce the charges on domes-
! Ito money orders OF IS aud less from eight to
nve cents. This ch211ge will materially aid
those OF our beople Wllo most Of ali avail Shem
selves OF this instrunnentality. but to whom the
element Ct cheapness IS Of the Greatest inapor-
lance. With this reduction the system would
still remain self supporting. The free delivery
system has been extended to nineteen additional
cities during the year. and ITS now enjoy It's
conventences. Experience has commended it to
those who enjoy it's benefits and further enlarge
ment OF Its facilities is due to other communities
tobWhich IT IS added In this cities where 1t has
been established, taken together with the local
postage. IT exceeds its maintenance by nearly
81 ,3o0,OOo The limit to which this system Is
now confined by law has been nearly reached,
and thsreasons given justify its extension, which
Is propOSed $sg $50 f5 ss.s ~ : @z,E,sIf
OCEAN MAIL TRANSPORTATION. -
II was vas decided With my approbatton. after 8
contract for carrying our foreign mails under the
additional authority given bv the Hast con press
The amount limited was Inadequate to nav all
within the purvieW Of the law, the full rate
of so cents per mile audit would have been un-
just aud unwtse to have given some and denied
It to others, nor could contracts have been let
under tho law to all at q rase to have brought
the agRrega within the appropriation without
such practical arrangement OF Terms as would
have violated 1t. The rate Of sea and inland
postage which was proffered under another stat
ute clearly appears TO be fair compensation for
the desired service being three times the price
necessary to secure transportation by other yes
seis upon any route, and much beyond the
charges made to private persons for services not
ess burdensOnae Some of the steamship COM
panies, npon the refusal Of the postmaster gen
eral to attempt by the means provided the dis
trtbution OF the sum appropriated as extra COM
pensation, withdrew the services OF their
vessels, and thereby occasionel slight incor,-
venience, though no considerable injury, The
mails have been dispatched by other means
Whatever may be thought 81 the policy OF n, b.
sides ct lines OF public conyeyance or travel I
am satisfied that 1t should be done under cover Of
an expenditure incident to the administration
OF = department. nor should there be any uncer-
tainty as to the recipients OF the Subsidy or any
discretion left to an executive ofIioer Is to It's
distribution II such gifts OF public 1nouev are
to be made Tor the purpose Of aidine any enter
prise in the supposed interest OF tho 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 inter-
national congress- Of delegates from the postal
union countries convened Ct Lisbon, In Portugal,