Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1885-12-10
OUR POSTAL SERVICE.
The Annual Report OF Mr.. Villas ON
the Condition OF His De-
partment.
The Effect of the Reduction of Postage
on the Annual Revenues,
Etc., Etc. 81"


year was $42, $50, ,S43, and the total expendi-
lures $49,602, ,1SS, leaving cash deficiency
of $7,041 ,345, or, with the amount credited
Pacific Railroads, total deficiency of
$8,3el ,571. This difference is due, first, TO
the decrease Of the ereyenyes. which amnnnts
in total only to 81, ,S48; and, secondly,
to an increase of the expenditures to the
extent of $6,466,955, of which $6,042,-
439 have been in the cash disbursements
and $424, SIG in the cost of transportation
upon the Pacific Railroads. Chiefly the
decrease of revenue has resulted from the
diminishment in the rate of letter postage
from to 2 cents upon the half-ounce,
which was the unit of weight dur
ing the period, while the increase
OF expenditures has arisen princi-
pally from the natural increase of mails to
be carried and the natural extension of the
service, although other eaOes nave con-
tributed something to both effects. 1t is
thought that a return of business prosper
ity will secure surplus during the ensuing
year.
The principal results of the increase of
the unit of weight of irst-class matter,
from q half-ounce to an ounce, are a gen.
eral increase in the use of the mails, some
decrease of the proportion of letters weigh
ing less than a half f-ounce, a striking in
crease of those weighing more than half
ounce, and some tendency to mail, more
than formerly, sealed parcels instead of
unsealed. The loss of revenue for the
year from this cause is estimated at $780,
900. The reduction of the rate from
cents to l cent per pound on second
class matter strikes off one half the revenue
from this source, and, so far, there is no in
dication of any marked increase in the
quantity of such matter to compensate the
loss.
The special delivery system has met with
public favor, and, the Postmaster General
says, probably should be extended to all
offices and to all kinds of mail matter. 1t
is suggested that postmasters and their
clerks at small offices be authorized to de-
liver such letters.
The breach between the department and
the American steamship lines is taken up.
After citing the provisions Of the act of
March 3, 1885, which authorize the Post
master General to enter into contracts for
the transportation of foreign mails, after
legal advertisement, with the lowest re-
sponsible bidder, at rate not exceeding so
cents nautical mile on the trip each way
actually travelled between the terminal
points, provided that tire malls 30 contract
ed should be carried on American steam
ships, and that the aggregate of such con-
tracts should not exceed one-half the sum
OF SSOO,OOO appropriated, the report shows
that only the routes between New
York and Havana and between San
Francisco and Japan and China are
navigated by more than one Ameri-
can company; and, therefore, it was
idle to advertise for a competition which
could not be had. The report shows the
difficulty of adopting the many plano sug-
gested for securing legitimate competition
for the carrying of the mails. The Post
master General did not consider the adop-
ton of the mileage contract plan compul-
sorry, and declined to make such contracts
during the recess of Congress. 1t was
thought best to send the mails by the swift
est ships covering the desired routes
using sometimes the vessels of one line and
sometimes of another, as they were avail
able. 1t was held by the department, after
thorough investigation, that the rate of sea
postage, AZ cents per pound for papers and
434 cents per pound for letters, was proper
remuneration for the service of carrying the
mails, but the desirability of showing the
friendliness of the Government to Ameri-
can lines was deemed sufficient warrant for
extending to them the full inland and sea
rate. The Postmaster General says that, in
declining to make yearly contracts, he does
not render decision as to the policy of
subsidizing American steamship companies.
He says:
Much has been said about EMPLOYING the
postal appropriation to aid American commerce.
When Congress shall desire to invest the Post
Office Department with care for that object It
can not be doubted it will easily choose Ian
guage which will plainly convey the purpose
and impose the duty. Until then, that depart
ment can not rghtfully employ the moneys ap-
propriated for the postal service to secure OBJ
jects not intrusted to its care, however meri-
torious in themselves.
II may be properly further observed Of this
that during many years the practice Of granting
pecuniary aid TO American lines was pursued
at 80 great cost and to so little advantage that
It was long since wholly abandoned; that when
followed, Congress had directed It, and IL that
body designed its renewal, presumably It would
again have declared the purpose.
The steamship companies running to the
south and to Asia rejected the offer of sea and
inland postage, and after Aug. refused to carry
they had contracts. This caused much annoy
ance to the department, but very little incon-
venience TO the public.
Between New York and Havana the service Is
stated now to be three times q week instead of
two as formerly, and within short time il is
expected to be lessened in time TO about Sow
enty-four hours, a gain Of day and a half over
the time OF steamers.
The Australian mail has not been specially
interrupted, and new company has undertaken
the service under contract with New Zealand
Some delays and Inconvenience have arisen
between New York and Colon, San Francisco
and Japan and China, and to the west coast of
Mexico, by the refusal of the Pacific Mail Com
pany, and some between New York and Vene-
zuela by the like action Of the Red ID Company
Except these, all the foreign mails are trans-
ported either in the same manner or a better
than during the last year.
Early action by Congress is very desirable TO
provide such means as it shall deem appropri-
ate to relieve the Inconvenience sustained ON
the routes indicated. The department recog-
nizes its obligation to the business men Of the
country, who have forborne complaint, with but
ness to see the Government compelled to a
course which, upon careful consideration, had
been decided inexpedent and unwise TO be pur-
sued. They are entitled to tho earliest practf-
cable relief which can be given.
Whatever measure Of compensation or peCtln-
iary aid shall be deemed appropriate, IL is
worthy Of serious consideration whether the
Government should be suffered TO refuse their
service II the compensation provided shall be
esteemed unsatisfactory. That should be con-
clusively determined by Congress or by the de-
partment.
The report is accompanied by the COM
plete correspondence between the depart
ment and the steamship companies.
The revenue for the next fiscal year is es-
timated at $47, 500, 900, and the expendi-
lures are estimated at 500, 100000.
OF the 176 cities where the carrier system
is in operation, only seventeen realized
more local postage than the expense of the
service. The surplus at New York was
1,13l 500, at Chicago $l54, 200, at Phila-
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