St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-12-03
THE LETTER THAT CAME.
An Address by Dickinson From
the Stamp Window.

Special to Inc GLOBE.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 2.-Postmaster
General Dickinson's annual report pre-
sents concisely the condition and his
tory of every branch of the postal serv-
ice for the fiscal year ended June 80,
1888, with many comparisons with prey
ious years, showing a remarkable eX-
panSion of business, and a large in
crease in expenditure. The gross reve-
nue. for the year was $50, sos, 176, while
expenditures amounted to S56, 1886, 403.
The estimated deficiency is therefore
81, 1870, 227. The deficiency for the fiscal
year ended June 80. 1885, was Sc, 973, 9944
for 1856, it was S7,166, 594, and for
1887 the cash deficiency was $780,
23S. The revenue for the current
fiscal year is estimated at S62.50S, 65S,
and the expenditures for the year is es-
timated at $65, S12,073, with probable
deficiency this year of about three and a
half millions. During the past year
12,2SS postmaSterS were appointed
6,521 upon designations and commits
sions expired, 1,244 upon removals, $50
to fill vacancies by death and 1864 on
establishment of new postoffices. The
railway mail service shows an increase
of Il, 900 miles, and decrease of 72-100
per cent in the rate of cost per mile
travelled. The volume of business in
the money order division was upward of
S143, 900, 600, and is
SELF-SUSTAINING,
with a net profit to the government of
$4,000. The volume of ordinary mail
matter has largely increased, and it is
estimated that the revenue during the
past year would have been, without re-
auctions of postage, upwards OF S70,-
100000. Carefully prepared statistics
are submitted in every branch of the
service, demonstrating, in the opinion
of the postmaster general, increased
efficiency over previous years. Care
fully prepared statistics are submitted,
contrasting our service with that
of Great Britain, Germany and
France, demonstrating that in
cheapness of postage, gross reve-
nue. and expenditures, number of
postoffiees, extent of mail routes, mile
age of mail service and volume OF mail
being transmitted, the postal system of
the United States is the leading one of
the world. la connection with the
foreign mail service, and especially in
relation to our means of communica-
ton with South and Central America
and Mexico, the postmaster general
vigorously reasserts his views against
making the postal administration the
disburser of subsidies. In his opinion
such function would hamper the mail
service, and urges that if the policy of
sUBsIDIZ1NG AMERICAN LINES
for the promotion of commerce be adj
opted, the appropriations be voted dl-
rectly to the owners. Among the rec
concentrations of general interest sub
mitted are: The ownership by the gov
eminent of postoffice buildings; allow
anee for rent for third-class postoffices;
revision of the franking privilege law;
and that at the termination of existing
contracts for the manufacture OF post
age stamps, postal cards and stamped
envelopes, the government take the
work into its own hands. The postmas-
ter general thinks that if the franking
privilege were abolished. and regular
yearly allowance for the purchase of
postage stamps made instead, every
senator and member OF the house of
representatives would be placed upon
an exact equality. No one could
make use of the mails beyond
his own allowance, and no unauthorized
person could make use of the mails to
forward unofficial matter. Discussing
the relations of the government with
the railroads, Postmaster General Dick
inson calls attention to the condition
of the law as in urgent need of revision
which repeseS no authority in any
official of the government to compel
owners of railroads to receive and carry
the mails of the United States. He
says that public opinion and sentiment
are the only forces to which the depart
ment can now appeal to secure inn
proved mail facilities when amicable
negotiations fail, and that the only eX-
listing law providing
AN ALTERNATIVE
in the case of refusal of any railroad,
not under contract with the government
to take the mails. is for the department
to send them forward by pony express.
On the subject of postal telegraphy he
SAYS; IF the correspondence of the
country is to continue to be under the
charge and protection of the govern
ment, the vast and increasing volume
conducted by telegraphy and the right
of the great body of the people to be af-
torded facilities for the best and quick
est transmission at rates within the
means of all will press this subject
upon the attention of the congress with
more and more urgency. The chief