The Portland daily press., 1888-12-03
THE POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT.
What II Costs Uncle Sam to Carry the
peopIe'S IefferS

PeopteS Letters.
WASHINGTON, Nov 1.-Postmaster Gen
eral Dickinson's annual report presents CON
cisely the condition and history of every
branch of the postal service for the fiscal
year with many comparisons with previous
years showing remarkable expansion of
business and large increase in expenditure.
The gross revenue for the year was $685.
176; expenditures, $50 335, ,4O3; estimated de-
fciency, $4,190,227. The deficiency for the
fiscal year ended June 80. 1885, was S6,973,-
s44; for 1886, $7,166,594; for 1887, $4, ,23s.
The revenue for the current year is esti
mated at $62,50S, ,65S; expenditures, S65,S12.-
073; with probable deficiency this year or
about $3,506,000. During the past year,
aoa, as.ooo postmasters have been appointed,
bo2i upon designations and commissions ex-
plrlng; 1874, upon removals; $50 to fill va
cancies by death and 1864 on the establish
ment of new post offices. The railway SER
wee shows an increase of $1,000 miles and
decrease of II per per cent. in the rate of
cost per mile travelled. The volume of bus
lness in the money order division was up
ward OF $143,O00,000 andIit is self sustaining
with net profit to the government of S50.-
600. The volume of ordinary mail matter
mas largely increased and it is estimated the
revenue during the past year would have
been, without reductions of postage up
wards of $7O,000,O00
Carefully pr.pared statistics are submit
ted In every branch of the service, demon
strating, in the opinion of the Postmaster
General, increased efficiency over previous
years. Carefully prepared statistics are sub
mtted, contrasting our service with that of
Great Britain, Germany and France, demon
strating that in the cheapness of postage.
gross revenue and expenditures number of
post offices, extent of mail routes, mileage of
mail service and the volume of mail matter
transmitted, the postal system of the United
States Is the leading one of the world. In
connection with the foreign mail service, and
especially In relation to our means of COM
munication with South and Central America
and Mexico, the Postmaster General vigor-
ously reasserts his views against making the
postal administration the disburser OF subsi-
dies. In his opinion, such function would
hamper the service, and he urges that if the
policy of subsidZing American lines for the
promotion OF commerce be adopted, apprO-
priations be voted directly to the owners
Among the recommendations submitted are
the ownership by, the government of post Of
nee buildings, allowance for rent for third
class post offices, revision of the franking
privilege law, and that, at the termination of
existing contracts for the manufacture of
postage stamps. postal cards and stamped
envelopes, the government take the work in
to its own hands. The Postmaster General
thinks if the franking privilege were abol-
lsned and regular yearly allowance for the
purchase of postage stamps made instead,
every Senator and member of the House
would be placed upon an equality. No one
could make use Of the mails beyond his own
| allowance, and DO unauthorized person could
| make use of the mails to forward unofficial
| matter. Discussing the relations of the gov
ernment with railroads, the Postmaster Gen
| eral calls attention to the urgent need of the
| revision of the law as it confers no authority
| on any official of the government to compel
| the owners Of railroads to receive and carry
the mails.
On the subject eff postal telegraph he says
| If the correspondence of the country is to
| continue under the charge and protection of
| the overnment, the vast and increasing
volume conducted by telegraphy and the
| right of the great body of the people to be
afforded facilities for the best and quickest
transmission at rates within the means of
all will press this subject upon the attention
| OF Congress with more and more urgency.
| The chief difficulties in the way are the
| great cost of present methods and the alb
| sence OF safeguards which, according to
| the theory of the present mail service,
| should protect the privacy of correspon-
dence. he believes the inventive genius of
the country has reached stage in the dis
| coyery of electric science when these prob.
lens may be solved. He recommends the
appointment of a commission of competent
| and disinterested men, learned in science
who may examine the inventions and invite
Others, who shall be authorized to erect short
| experimental lines and who shall report tC
the President or Congress the result of SAID
investigation.