The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-12-02

which was the unit of weight during the period
while the increase of expenditures has arisen
principally from the natural increase of mails to
be carried and the natural extension of the
service.
THE REVENUE
for the last year being less than for the preceding
while the expenses continued to grow nearly as
before, it might hastily be inferred that the rate
Of postage has been reduced too greatly to justify
the expectation that the service will again become
selfSuStaning.
A more attentive examination gives reason to
think such deduction to be erroneous. The
reduction of the rate took effect the 1st day of
October, 1888, leaving but nine months of the
fiscal year to its operations and although by anti
cpat0n some effect was practically experienced
during the antecedent three months in diminished
purchases OF stamps, yet the sales for that quar-
ter still remained large, and OF course yielded for
the amount OF three-cent stamps sold sum 80
per cent greater than would have arisen for
tWO-cent price, while to the extent that purchas-
ers bad suspended buying to secure the. cheaper
rate the sales Immediately following its taking
effect were increased in volume. 1t also appears
from the account Of sales that there were large
purchases of stamps and especially of stamped
envelopes, in that quarter, in anticipation of their
use in the next and preparatory to it..
A comparison of the loss of receipts severally
sustained during each Of these years should indi-
cate, in a general way the pecuniary influence
upon the revenue OF the natural increase in the
public employment of the postal service. Such
comparison should be limited to the receipts for
postage alone, to be most instructive. These have
been as follows:
In the year ending June 80,
In the year ending June 80,
In the year ending June 80,
lSSo..-....- 4O,O56, 226 SO
The falling off in this revenue between 1883 and
1884 was therefore 50, 303, ,53425 or 5.3 plus per
cent; While between 1884 and 1885 it was but
$500 5O2.99, or little below 2 per cent, giving
ratio Of improvement which, if otherwise undis-
turbsd, would warrant the expectation of a con-
siderable net increase instead of further loss dur
ing the current year. The showing for the rev.
enue of the past year is entitled to further adj
should be deducted from the revenue of the previ-
GUS year in inStituting comparison, on account of
official stamps and stamped envelopes, then cred
tied to revenue. which, during the past year, dis
appeared by the substitution of the penalty en-
velopes and the entire diScontinuance Of official
stamps on the Both of june 1884.
The other sources of ordinary postal revenue
during the three years in question: mainly box
rents, show a steady gain from year to year.
The postal revenue has been much diminished
by the unsatisfactory condition of general busi-
ness throughout the country, which, more or less
operative during the preceding, has been espec-
ially effective during the past year. Not only has
the volume of commercial communications been
lessened, but many other uses of the mail, which
in prosperous times are freely excepted have
been diminished in extent.
The revenue from the money order service de-
notes the condition and the consequences, having
fallen off from 19,492. 08 in the preceding to
but S4US, 1888 80 in the last year, q smaller sum
than was realized two years before.
Another similar evidence Of the business CON
which reports decrease from the number in the
previous year of registered domestic letters and
parcels amounting to 296 1888, or 32 per
cent, While for seven years before there had been
an increase averaging 1877 per cent. during the
first six, but dropping to 3.3 per cent. in the
seventh.
AS already shown by the results. and as appears
from the reports of the greater number of pieces
handled by postal clerks, the increase in the
number of communications and articles trans
mitted by the mails has, Notwithstanding, been
considerable It is a subject Of congratulation to
dustry and enterprise has now begun to relax as
dition of the postal revenue during the last quar-
ter of the year under review.
EXPENDITURES.
Of the total Increase of expenditures for
postal service made and estimated, as
before given, for the two last years, aside from
that arising from transportation of mails on the
Pacific railroads, the sum of S3,4S1 6S oc-
CURED in the year ending June 80 1884, and but
per cent during the former to 51A during the lat
ter. The difference i'll apparent favor of last year
is due chiefly to the same cause which has dinin-
ished the incOme-the reduction in the rate OF let
ter postage. Its effect has been marked upon the
compensation of postmasters; although possibly
in some small degree contributed to by the act Of
1888 which directed their salaries to be reckoned
upon cancellations instead of sales. In the year
ending June 80, 1883, the increase in this item
alone was $1,35O,717.74, and in the year ending
June 80. 1884, it amountedto $96S 436 Al, while
during the past year there was an actual decrease
OF S39, 9,981.93. There has also been less in
crease in the compensation of clerks in post-oti-
cesbut S13S 1884, 72 during the last to S367 979.-
Ol during the preceding year.
The total cash expenditure for transportation OF
the mails has risen by the sum of $l,936, S9l 50,
or about 10 per cent, as against an increase
during the preceding year of 81 ,472, ,lS4.S4 or a
little more than 8 per cent This has been due
entirely to increased and pr0mpter payments to
railroads, there having been less increase in the
| cost OF star service than during the preceding
year, and decrease in the cost of steamboat SER
vice of $24, .82.
| The increase in the item Of compensation to
postal clerks has been $274, ,852.31 as contrasted
with an increase during the preceding year in the
same item of $3.50, ,32442.
| The increased expenditures for free delivery
nave been during the year $4S1, 746O3, as against
$3.50, ,90001 increase the year before.
The sum total of the cost of the service for the
| year figures S50,942, ,41524, including the est-
mated unpaid liabilities, or, setting to one side
tne cost OF transportation on the Pacific railroads
| $49,6O2 1854. For this the appropriations
MADE IN thirty-SeYen itemS were 500, ,147 400.
| None of these items have been exceeded, except
Ihe one for compensation to poStmaSterS, which
teu short $243 848.94, and the one for ship
steamboat and way letters, which lacked $301. II
OF the expenditure. Both are beyond control Of
tle department., being governed by law, post
masters paying themselves.
For these items deficiency appropriations will be
necessary in order to close the accounts.
In the remaining thirty-five items there remains
unexpended yet total of S1.O74,361 6A avail
aDle against which are the estimated liabilities Of
| &2S5, 900.
On account of previous years there has been
| disbursed during the past year the sum Of s729.
| 046.90, the greater part of which was for the
unpaid liabilities of 1884 and for readiusted