River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1885-12-10

4 Gratifying Condition al Affairs
e.nAssa isa Eiais Departmemt.

zee AHatF- OF lii" tN~tHi StENit are tN-
haA.e3 d., the report of tae poatmas-
t.r general. which via hc lgid before you.
Toe postal rtNHaur, HHu~e rates OF gain ON
J.g rising ptrity cI las& and 1858 out
stripped Use Increasing expenses ol our
growing service were checked by the reduc-
tiouiu Sine rate OF letter postage, which took
effect With the beginning OF October in the
latter year, and it diminished during the two
past fiscal Years -, t&B.U.u, in the proportion
81 $50. 900 IN 1854 10 S5El Goa ln 1850. Nat
urat growth and Development have meantime
Increased the expenditure, resulting in Il de-
trit:cV an tn revenue to meet the expenses
Of she department of S5,25O,ob0 for
the year Lass. ANA eight and One-third
millions in the last fiscal year. The
anticipated and auturai revival OF the
rcvenDe has been oppressed AMI retarded by
the HufaEU.abie business condition OF the
country, of which the postal service is a
faiInllJ calendar. The gratifying fact is
shown. however, 10y tie report that our re-
turning prosperity IS marked ny gain or
$3.50 600 in the rex euue of the latter half OF
the last year over the corresponding period
of the preceding year. The change in the
weight of
FIRsT-CLASs MATTER,
which may be carried for Il single rate Of
postage from 81 haif-OunCe TO an ounce, and
the reduction by one-hatf of the rate OF news
paper postage, which under recent legislation
begun with the current year, will operate TO
restrain the augmentation of receipts. which
otherwise m ght have been expected, to such
a degree thai the scale of expense may gain
upon the revenue AMI cause an increased de-
ficieucv to be shown at its close, yet after no
long period OF reawukened prosperity, by
proper economy II is confidently expected
that even ne present low rates, now as favor
able as those of any country affords,
will te adequate to sustain the
system The use of the pOstottice depart
ment Is for the convenience and benefit of
10, nv yHrhi hay
pay the charges OF this useful arm Of their
public service so that it may be just ami inn
partial is of less Importance to them than the
means they provide for its maintenance and
the due Improvement of its agency SO that
they may enjoy its highest usefulness. A
proper attention has been directed to the pre-
yention OF waste or extravaganza, ana good
results appear from the report TO have al
ready been accomplished, l approve the
recommendation OF the postmaster general
to reduce the charges on
DOMESTIC MONEY ORDERS
of SIS aud less from TO ccuts This change
will materially aid those of uur people, who,
most Of all, avail themselves of this instru-
mentality, but to whom the element OF cheap
ness Is of the greatest Importance. With
this requisitiOn the system would remain
self-suppOrtiug The froe-deIivery system
has been established i'm additional cities dur
ing the year. and lis now enjoy its con
Veneuccs. Experience has CONNIE AIDED il 70
those who enjoy lis benefits. and further en-
'lrgemcnt OF its facilities is due 10 other com
Iuunities. In the cities whore il has been
established, taken together. the local postage
exceeds its maintenance. by nearly $1,000, 200.
The limit to which this system IS now confined
bv law has been nearly reached, anu the rea-
sons given Justify the extension which is
proposed II was decided, with my apprODa-
ton. after a sufficient examination, TO be iu-
expedieut for the p0Stotiicc department to
contract for ca 7Ning oar mails under the All
diti1uul authority given by the last congress.
The amount was inadequate 10 pay all, within
the provision of the law, the fun rate of 80
cents per mile and il would have been unjust
and unwise TO have given to some and denied
it to others, nor could contract have been
let under the law to all ut II rate to have
brought the aggregate
wIqHIN THE APPROPRIATION.
without such practical arrangement of terms
as would have violated il. The rate of sea
and inland postage, which was preferred nm
der another statute, clearly appears to be q
fair compensation for the desired service,
being three times the price necessary to
secure transportation by other vessels upon
any route and much beyond the charges made
to private persons for services not less bur
deuSOme. Some of the steamship companies,
upon the refusal of the postmaster general to
attempt by the means provided the dlstribu-
ton of the sum appropriated as extra com
pensatiOn. Withdrew the services OF their
vessels and thereby occasioned slight incon-
vcnieuce. though no considerable in
Jury. The mails have been dispatched
~ other means. Whatever may he
thought of the policy of subsidies
OF lines of public conveyance or travel, | am
satisfied that il should not be done under
cover OF an expenditure incident to the adj
minisrratiun Of department. nor should
there be any uncertainty as to the recipients
of the subsidy or any discretion left TO an
executive oieer as to its distribution. II
such gifts Of public money are to be made
for the purpose of aiding any enterprise in
the supposed interest OF the ptblic, cannot
but think that the amount 10 ue paid. and
the beneficiary. might better be determined
by congress than ~ any other way.
THE INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS
of delegates from the postal union countries
convened at Lisbon in Portugal in February
last. and, after a session of some weeks, the
delegates signed 4 convention ameudatory OF
the present postal union convention. in some
partIculars designed TO advance its purposes.
This additional act has had my approval, aud
will be laid before you with departmental re-
ports. / approve the recommendation OF the
postmaster general that another assistant be
provided for his department ! invite your
consideration 10 the several other recon-
1..s... 400 s,,,.g fy, hi far.r,