The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1885-12-03
EXPLAINING MATTERS.
THE POSTMASTER GENERALS An
NUAL DiSQUiSiTlON.
Why He Did Mt Distribute That 940S. oOs
-Suggestions for Legislation Tho
House Committees-Ka and
Culiom at work-Notes.

master generals report Is published, and Is
In great part repe titon Of the reports OF
his subordinates heretofore published.
He says the decrease in revenue
is the decrease in postage on
letters and on this general subject remarks
that the principal results of the increase OF
the unit Of weight of first-class matter,
from half ounce to an ounce, ara gem
eral increase In the use of the mails, some
weighing less than half ounce.
striking increase 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 $4,000 The reduction of the
rate from cents to cent per pound OF
second-class matter strikes Off one hall the
revenue from this source and, SO far. there
is no indication OF any marked increase in
the quantity of such matter to compensate
the loss.
The most important part of the report re-
fers to the act of congress Of March g. 1885.
which authorized the pos tmastsr general to
enter into contracts for the transportation
Of foreign mails, after legal advertisement,
with the lowest responsible bidder, at
rate not exceeding 81 cents nautical mile
on the trip each way actually travelled be.
tween the terminal points; provided,
that the mails so contracted should
be carried on American steamships, and
that the aggregate of such contracts should
not exceed one half of the sum of $500, 900
appropriated. Col. Villas has not entered
into any contracts OF the kind proposed in
the act, and has been criticised freely there
for. The report says that only tho routes
between Now York and Havana, and
between San Francisco and Japan and
China, are navigated by more than ono
American company: and, therefore, it was
idle to adverti,e for "a competition which
could not be had. The report show, the
difficulty of adopting the many plans su3-
gested for securing legitimate composition
fer the carrying OF tho mails. The post
master general did not consile the adop-
ton Of the mileage contract plan COM
pulsory, and declined to make such con
tracts during tho recess Of congress. 1t was
thought be It to send the mails by the swift
est ships covering the dosirol routes, using
somo times the vessel, of one line, and sumo
times of another, a they were available. 1t
was held by the depart nent, after thorough
investi CATION, that the rate OF sea postage,
~ cents er pound for papers AMI 43$a cents
per pound for letters was u proper remu-
neration for the service Of carrying the
mails. but tho desirabillty Of showing the
friendliness OF the government to Amer
lean lines was deemed sufficient warrant for
extending to them the full inland and sea
rate. The pc tmaster general says that, in
declining to make yearly contracts, he does
not render deci,ign as to the policy of
subsidizing American steamship companies
He says:
Much has been sail about enployin, the
postal appropriation t. aid American COM
inerce. When congress shall desire to in.
vest the postotice department with care Tor
that object it cannot he doubted 1T will
easily cnoose language which wall plainly
convey tue purpo,e and impose the duty.
Until then, tho department car not right
fully employ the moneys appropriated for
the postal service to secure objects not in-
trusted to its care, however meritorious in
themselves.
1t may be properly further observed of
this that during many years the practice Of
granting pecuniary aid to American lines
was pursued ut SO great cost ami to SO lit
tie advantage that it was long since wholly
abandoned; that, when followed. congress
had directed it., and if that body designed
its renewal, presumably it would again have
declared the purpose.
Referring to the fact that u number of
steamship lines refused to carry the mails
at the price offered by the department the
score tary says:
Whatever measure of compensation or
pecuniary aid shall be deemed appropriate,
1T Is worthy of serious consideration whe thor
the steamships which have the protection
of the overnment sh ould DO suffered to re-
fuse their service if the compensation pro-
vided shall be esteemed unsatisfactory.
That should DO conclusively determined by
congress or by the department.
Col Villas makes the following sugges.
tions:
1t would greatly advance the interests of
the public to authorize all letters addressed
in care of hotel or inn. if not delivered
within the time specified upon Il
request on the envelope, to be forwarded
to such other address as should be 80
designated; and to require, under penalty,
all hotel proprietors and innkeoperS to de-
liver to the nearest postotiice all such let
ters within the period so named, and all
others within ten days after their receipt,
unless otherwise specially directed; to be by
the post master forwarded according to direc-
tion, returned to the sender il shown by the
exterior of the envelope, or otherwise to
the dead letter office l recommend that
such legislation be suggested to the con-
gress.
Return of postal cards to the writer,
when not delivered, Is not now author
lied by law. Tho practice prevails to
some extent, and when not done the
duty devolves on the dead letter office.
Tho latter course is inconvenient and slow.
recommend that legislation be sought for
the return Of undelivered postal cards, as of
letter mail, direct from the office of desti-
nation.