New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1885-12-16

the two past fiscal years 50. 100 600 IN the mo
portion na q $4,000 IN 1884. e $500, 600 IN
nave meantime increased expenditure, resulting
In q deficiency in the revenue TO meet the ex-
penses Of the department Of $5.25O.OOO for the
year 1881 and $8333. coo in the last fiscal year.
The anticipated and natural revival Of til e
revenue has been oppressed and retarded by
the unfayorable business condition Of the conn.
Try, Of which the postal service is faithful
Calendar The gratifying fact, Is shown, how
ever. by the report. that our returning PROS
perlty Is marked by 9 gain Of $38O,OOO in the
revenue OF the latter half Of the last year over
The change in the weight Of frst-class matter
which may be carried for single rate of post
age, from q half-ounce to an ounce, and the re-
dnctton 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
scale Of expense may gain upon the revenue and
cause an increased deficiency to be shown at it's
close. Yet after no long period Of reawakened
ex 9BBa b is n mt
rates, now as favorable as any country affords.
will be adequate to sustain the cost Of the serv-
ice. The operation and the use Of the postoface
departments for the convenience and
BENEFIT OF THE PEOPLE
ana he method by which they pay the charges
Of this useful arm of their public service so that
1t be just and Impartial is of less Importance to
them than the economical expenditures, than
the means they provide for It's maintenance and
the due improvement Of it's agency, so that they
may enjoy the highest usefulness proner
attention has been directed to the prevention of
waste or extravaganza and good results appear
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 IS and less from eight to
five cents. This change will materially aid
those OF our beople who most of all avail Them
selves Of this instrumentality. but to whom the
element Of cheapness is Of the greatest tmpor-
lance. With this reduction the system would
still remain self supporting. The free delivery
svstem has been extended to nineteen additional
cities during the war, and l78 now enjoy it's
conveniences. Experience has commended it to
those who enjoy its benefits and further enlarge
to which it is added. In the cities where it has
been established, taken together with the local
postage, it exceeds its maintenance by nearly
now confined by law has been nearly reached,
and the reasons given justify its extension which
is proposed.
OCEAN MAIL TRANSPORTATION.
1t 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 nav all
within the purview of the law, the full rate
OF 50 cents per mile, and 1t would have been I'M
just and unwise to have given some and denied
1t to others. nor could contracts haye been let
under the law to all at a rate to have brought
the aggregate within the appropriation without
such practical ARRANGEMENT Of terms as would
have violated it, The rate Of sea and inland
postage which was proffered under another stat
ute clearly appears 10 be q fair compensation for
the desired service. being three times the price
necessary to secure transportation bv other yes
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 as extra COM
pensatlon, withdrew the services OF their
vessels, and thereby oceasioned slieht incon-
venlence: though no considerable injury The
nails have been dispatched by other means.
Whatever may be thought of the policy Of sub
sides Of lines OF public conveyance or travel, I
am satisfied that it 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 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,
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 at Lisbon, in Portugal,
in February last, and, after session OF some
weeks, the delegates signed convention amend
atOry of the present postal union convention, in
some particulars designed to advance It's pur-
poses. This additional act has had my approval,
and will be laid before you with department. re-
ports. I approve the recommendation Of the
postmaster general that another assistant be
provided for his department.. invite your con-
slderat1On to the several other recommendations
contained in his report