Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-12-17

ITnauas tionably II we are content with the main
tenance Of a navy department simply as shabby
ornament 70 the government a constant watch
fugess may prevent some or the scandal ana
abuse which have found tfsir way into our pres
ent organization, and its incurabe waste may
be- reduced 70 the minimum. But If we desire 70
build ships for present usefulness iustead or naval
reminders of The days that are past, We must
have department organized for the work. cup
piled with AL that the talent and ingenuity
Of our country affords prepared u late
advantage OF the experience Of other nations
sy,t-minzed that one effort shan unite ana leaa
In ore direction and fully emhued with the con
vctiOu that war vessels, though now are useless,
they combine that Ingenuity OF which man mas up
10 this day brought sorth re ating 10 thelr con,
striciipn earnestly recommend that portion or
tie secretary's report devoted to this subject 10
the action OF congress in the hope that bis sug-
gssuons touching the reorganization OF his De-
parEment may be adopted as the frst step toward
the construction OF eur navy.
THE POSTAL szRxFcE.
The affairs Of the postal service are exhibited
BY the report Of the postmaster general when
viii be laid before you The postal revenue ~I9ss
rate OF gain upon the rising prosperity OF 1882
and 1888 outstripped the increasing expenses or
our growing service, was checked by the reduc
ton ia the rate Of letter postage, which took
effect with the beginning OF october 10 the
latter case, and it diminished during the Two
past fiscal years 100000 in the proportion
Of $aH00O0 in 1854, 20 S22OcOO m 1879.
Natural growth and Developments have mean'
time increased expenditures, resulting IN a dc.
ficieucy in the revenue 70 meet the expenses OF
the department Of five and one bourth millions dol
lars for the year 1884, and eight and one-thlrd
million ia the last fiscal year. The anticipated
agd natural revival OF the revenue has been
oppressed and retarded by the unlaYoraolo busl,
neSs condition of the country OF which the postal
service is a useful calendar. The gratifying fact
is shown however, by the report, that our return
ing prosperity is marked by a gain Of SjsOOO in
the reyenue OF the latter hah OF last year over
the corres ponding period OF thc preceding year.
The change In the weight OF first class matter,
which may becarried for single rate Of postage,
from half ounce TO an ounce and the reduction
by one half OF the rate Of newspaper postage
which under recent legislation, began with the
current year, viii operate % restrain the aug
mentation Of the receipts, which otherwise might
have been expected 10 such degree that the
scale Of expense may gain upon the revenue ana
cause an increased deficiency to be shown at It's
close Yet after 10 long period OF reawakened
prosperity and by proper eCOnOiny u IS c0nndent-
iy anticipated that even the present low rates
now as favorable AZ any country Affords Will be
adequate 70 sustain the cost OF the service.
Tue operation OF the use OK the post obce de-
plrtment is for the convenience and benefit OF
lhe people, and the method by which they pay
ths charges of this useful arm Of their public
service that II may be Just and impartial - OF
less Importance to them than the economical ex-
peudtures that the means they provide for its
maiutunauce and the due improvement OF its
agency, SO that they may enjoy its highest use
fulRrss a proper attention has been directed 10
the prevention of waste or eEtragae ance, and
good results appear from the report to have al
ready been accomplished
approve the Recommendation OF the post
master general TO reduce the charges on dcmes-
nc money orders of five dollars and less from
eight TO five cents. This change viii materially
aid those Of our people who most OF all ayan
themselves Of this fundamentally, but TO whom
th6 element of eheapness IS OF greatest import
aNce. With this regulation the system would
still remain selfsupportng. The free delivery sys-
tenn has been extended to seventy nine additional
cities durlHg the year, and rs now enjoy It's con-
veniences Experience has commended 1t TO
those who enjoy its benefits, and further enlarge
Inents of its facilities is due to other communi-
ties.
In tho cities where it has been established,
taken together the local postage exceeds its
maintenance by nearly one million three hundred
thousand dollars The limits to which this system
is now confined by law has been nearly reached
aud the reasons given justify its extension which
IS proposed. 1t decided with my approba-
ton after a sufficient examiu ton, 10 be inexpe-
dent for the postottiee department. to contract
for carrying
OUR FOREIGN MAILS
under the additional authority given by the last
congress. The amount limited was Inadequate TO
pay all within the purvieu Of the law the full
rate Of fifty cents per mile. IL would have been
unjust and unwise to have given to some and
denied it to otkers Nor could contracts
have been let under the law to all at
rate to have brought the aggregate with
Teal arrangement of terms as would have
violated the rate Of sea and inland postage
which was proheTed under another statute
clearly appears 70 be a fair compensation for the
desired service, being three times the price nee
essary to secure the transportation by other yes
sells upon any route, and much beyond the
charges made to private persons for service not
less burdensome.
Some Of the steamship companies upon the
refusal of the postmaster general 10 attempt by
the means provided the distribution OF the sum
appropriated as extra compensation, withdrew
the services Of their vessels and thereby occa-
stoned slight inconvenience, though no consider
able injury. The mails have been dispatched by
other means Whatever may be thought Of the
policy OF subsidies Of the line of public convey
ance or travel, l am satisfied should be doue IN
der cover Of an expenditure incident to the adj
ministration Of a department nor should there be
any uncertainty as to the recipients of subsidy or
any discretion left to an executive officer as to
the distribution,
II such gifts Of public money are to be made
for the purpose of aiding any enterprise in the
supposed interests of the public, cannot but
think that the amount TO be paid and the beneti-
carries might better be determined by congress
than ia any other way The international con
gress Of delegates from
THE POSTAGE UNION CONFINES,
convened at Lisbon, in Portugal, in February
last, and after a session Of some weeks the dele
gates signed a condition amendatory Of the
present postal union. The convention. in some
particular, designed TO advance itspurposes. This
additional act has had my approval and viii be
laid before you with the department reports.
I approve the recommendation Of the post
master general that
ANOTHER ASSISTANT
be provided for his department l invite your
consideration to the several other recommends
tons contained in his report.