Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1886-12-08
UNITED STATES MAILS.
Recommendations In Connection with the
Postmaster Generals Report.

Postmaster Generals Report.
The affairs of the postal service show marked
and gratifying improvement during the past year.
particular account of its transactions and con-
ditiOns is given in the report of the postmaster
general, which will be laid before you The re-
duction of the rae of let er postage in 1888 ren-
dering the postal revenues inadequate to sustain
the expenditures. and business depression also
contributing resulted In an excess of cost tor the
fiscal year ended June 80, 1886, of eight and one
third millions of dollars.
An additional check upon receipts by doubling
the measure of weights in rating sealed CORE
spondence, and diminishing one half the charge
for newspaper carriage was imposed by legisla-
ton, which took effect with the beginning of the
pas fiscal year. While the constant demand of
our territorial development and growing popula-
ton tor the extension and increase OF mail fac1ll-
ties and machinery necesSitates steady annual ad-
vance in outlay and the careful estimate of a year
ago upon the rates of expenditure teen existing
contemplated unavoidable augmentation of
the deficiency in the last fiscal year by nearly
81. 000,0j0 The anticipated revenue for the last
year failed of realization by about ga 600. But
proper measures ofeconomy have so satisfactorily
limited the growth of expenditure that the total
deficiency in fact fell below that of 1885,
and at this time the increase of rev.
| enue is in gaining ratio over the
| increase of cost. demonstrating the sufi-
cheney OF the present rates of postage ultimately
to sustain the service. This is the more leasing
bee Gs4 our people epjoy now both cheaper
postage, propOrtiOnatey to distances and vast
er and more costly service than any other upon
the globe. Retrenchment has been effected in
ranted by law have ceased, and the OUTLAWS for
mail carriage have been subjected to beneficial
scrutiny AT the close of the last fiscal year, the
expense OF transportation on star routes stood
at annual rate of cost less by over
$780, 900 than at the close of the previous year;
| and steamboat and mail messenger service at
nearly SOC, 900 less. The service has been in the
meantime enlarged and extended by the estab-
lishment OF new offices, increase of routes of car
rage, expansion of carrier delivery convenences,
and additions to the railway mail facilities in
accordance aXipQnciaS q
country land the long established policy ofthe gov
eminent. The Postmaster General calls attention
to the existing law for cOmpensating railroads,
and expresses the opinion that method may De
devised which will prove more just to the car
rier and beneficial to the government and the
subject appears worthy OF your early consldera-
ton.
The differences which arose during the year
with certain of the ocean steamship companies
have terminate by the acquiescencc OF all in
the policy OF the government, approved by Con-
gress, in the postal appropriation at its last
sion; md the department now enjoys the utmost
service afforded by all vessels which sail from
our ports upon either ocean. A service generally
adequate to the needs OF our intercourse.
Petitions have, however, been presented to the
department oy numerous me rchants and manu-
facturers for the establishment of direct service
to the Argentine Republic, and for semi monthly
dispatches TO the Empire of Brazil and the OBJ
ject is commended to your consideration. Tt is
an obvious duty to provide the means of postal
communication which our commerce REQUIRES
and with prudent forecast of results the wise ex-
tension OF IL may lodQ St1mulat1ng intercourse
and become a harbinger of a profitable
traffic which will o. en- new avenues
| for the disposition of the products of
our industry. The circumstances of the countries
at the far south of our continent are such as to
invite our enterprise and afford the promise of
sufficient advantages to justify an unusual eff
fort to bring about the closer relations which
greater freedom of communication would tend to
establish. suggest that as distinguished from
grant or subsidy for the mere benefit of any line
of trade or travel, whatever outlay may be re.
quired to secure additional postal rvice neces-
sary and proper and not otherwise attaina ble
should be regarded within the limit of legiti-
mate com pensation for such service
The extension of the free delivery service as
suggested by the postmaster general has hereto
fore received my sanction, and it is to be hoped
suitable enactment may soon be agreed upon
The request for an appropriation sufficient to
enable the general inspection of fourth class Of
fees has my appreciation.
renew my approval of the recommendation of
the postmaster general that another assistant be
provided for the Post office Department and
/ invite your attention to the several other rec.
concentrations in his reDOrt