The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1885-11-27
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 the latter year, and it diminished during
the two past fiscal years 81, 700. 900. In the pro-
portion of 80, 270,O 900 in 1884, to $500 o in
lSS5. The natural growth and development
have meantime increased expenditure, resulting
in a deficiency in the revenue 10 meet the OK
penscs of the department of 81 .25O,OO0 for the
year lSSf, and So, 333, 900 in the last fiscal year.
The anticipated and natural revival of the
revenue has been oppressed and retarded by
the unfavorable business condition OF the coun-
try, OF which the postal service is n faithful
calendar. The gratifying fact Is shown, how
ever, by the report, that our returning pros
perity is marked by Il gain of $3.50, 900 in the
revenue OF the latter half Of the last year over
the corresponding period of the preceding year.
The change III the weight of first-class matter
which may be carried for a single rate OF post
age, from n half-ounce to an ounce, and the re-
ducti0n by One-half OF the rate OF newspaper
postage. which, under recent legislation, begun
with the current year, will operate to restrain
the augmentation OF receipts which otherwise
have been expected to such n 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 rcawakened
prosperity, by proper economy. II Is confident
~ anticipated that even the present low
rates, now as favorable as any country affords.
will be adequate TO sustain the cost OF the sery-
ice. The operation and tho Use q the postofiice
department IL for the convenience and
BENEFIr OF THE PEOPLE
and the method by which they pay the charges
OF this useful arm OF their public service, so that
il be just and impartial, is of less importance to
them than the economical expenditures, than
the means they provide for its maintenance and
the due Improvement OF its agency, so that they
may enjoy the highest usefulness. A proper
attention has been directed To the prevention OF
| waste or extravaganza and good results appear
from the report TO have already been accom-
pllshcd.
I approve the recommendation of the post
master general to reduce the charges on domes-
tic money orders OF 50 and less from eight to
five cents. This change will materially aid
those of our people who most of all avail them
selves OF this instrumentality. but to whom tho
element of cheapness Is OF the greatest impor-
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 us now enjoy its
cOnvcniences. Experience has commended it to
those who enjoy its benefits and further enlarge
ment of its facilities Is due To other communities
to which IL IL added. In the cities where 1t has
been established, taken together with the local
postage, IL exceeds its maintenance by nearly
81, 300, 900. The limit to which this system is
| now confined by law has been nearly reached,
and the reasons given justify its extension. which
OCEAN MAIL TRANSPORTATION.
II was decided with my appreciation. after q
sufficient examination. to be ineXpedient to
contract for carrying our foreign mails under the
additional authority given bv the last congress.
The amount limited was Inadequate to pay all
within the purview of the law, the full rate
OF SO cents per mile, and It would have been I'M
Just and unwise to have given some and denied
II to Others, nor could contracts have been let
under the law TO all ut a rate to have brought
the aggregate within the appropriation without
such practical arrangement OF terms as would
have violated IL. The rate Of sea and inland
| postage which was proffered under another stat
ute clearly appears TO he a fair compensation for
the desired service, being three times the price
necessary To secure transportation by other ves-
sells upon any route, and much beyond the
charges made to private persons for services not
ess burdensome. Some of the steamship COM
panies, upon the refusal Of the postmaster gen.
eral to attempt by the means provided the dis
tribution of the sum appropriated rs extra COM
pensation, withdrew the services OF their
vessels, and thereby occasioned slight incOn-
venience, though no considerable injury. The
mails have been dispatched by other means.
Whatever may be thought Of the policy OF sub
sides of lines OF public conveyance or travel, /
am satisfied that it should be done under cover of
an expenditure incident to the administration
of a department, nor should there be any uncer-
tainty as to the recipients OF the subsidy, or any
discretion left to an executive officer as to its
distribution. II such gifts OF public money are
to be made for the purpose OF aiding any enter
prise in the supposed interest of the public, 1
cannot but think that the amount to be paid
aud the beneficiary might better be determined
by congress than In any other way. The inter-
union countries convened at Lisbon, In Portugal,