The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-08-05
Some of the Plans to Which the Post
master-General Is Giving Attention.
The Limited Telegraph Scheme. the Savings
Bank, One-Cent Postage and Free Delivery.
in the Smaller Cities and Towns.
Jerry Simpson Lays His Plans to Capt.
ure Major McKinley's Scalp in Ohio.
Combination with Charlotte Smith to " Star"
During the Fall Csmpaign-MOneyin Cir
culation Amounts TO $2401 Per Capita
THE POSTAL SERVICE.

THE POSTAL SERVICE.
Some of MT. Wan.malers Plans for Extend
ing and Improving Its Efficiency.
Special the Indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON. Aug 4-"The most that
We can do" said Postmaster-general Wana-
maker to-day lis to do we'll as well as
we can under existing postal laws. We
eau ask the attention of the people 10 re-
forms and inform the members of Congress
about them when they ask US. We cannot
ourselves make laws providing for postal
telegraphy. postal savings banks. 1-cent
postage and universal free delivery. no
matter now strongly we believe in these
things We can only suggest; it is for Con-
gress to pass the laws"
This in answer TO the question, hastily
propounded to-day and replied to ofi-hand.
whether postal legislation of Importance
would be likely to pass the next Congress-
and what Mr.. Wanamaker proposed 10 do
about {.
You spoke of the postal telegraph; how
does that stand, and what can be done
about itF'
THE limited postal telegraph plan.
think. !" the Postmaster General replied. lis
the best postal telegraph plan yet proposed
simply because it is the easiest aud most
business-like-and it is not immodest for
me to say that. for it was the product of
months of conference and agitation
amongst men familiar with the telegraph
business. as well as the best postal systems
of Europe. 1t was unanimously re-
ported by the Senate committee, and only
failed by a vote in the House committee. and
that. too. after series of discussions that
were in favor of the bill. Ii has been made
out TO be o tremendous exaggerstion of
governmental power. you know-paternal-
Ism, armies of civil servants, millions of
expense, and all that 1t 10 nothing of the
sort; il is simply . proposition that the
present forces and properties of the Post
Office Department shall help out the tee
graph companies, and that the tel
egrsph companies. in return for this
favor. and in consideration OF this
saving. shall transmit kilograms moro
cbeapiy. and so bring their immense bene-
fits within the reach of ten OF twenty mill
ions of people, say. instead of one million.
Personally. believe this departure would
~ the telegraph companies certainiy' ~
as much for them as they do for the de-
| partment, ana. hence. for the people. It -
| q proposition directly TO benefit hundreds
| of cities and towns in this country. and
| 10 benefit indirectly the whole country.
! for il proposes 20 connect at ell points with
| the postal service; and that 10 universally
| used. IL brings moro OF the people to-
| Excuse ne, though; / did not mean 20
| argue for il to you. We shall have 70 wait
until the time comes again for that.
NO. do not see that the plan will have
~
made to it last session. from those who
looked at it from n purely public stand
point 1t was defeated because &c was
| supposed to antagonize certain private
did. but if it was fought with
the belief that il antagonized private in
terests. why there was the fact. and there
was nothing to do about 1t You may los
certain that the limited postal telegraph
| plan is coming. 1t 10 not coming. of course.
| until the people understand It and ask
their representatives IN Congress 70 vote
for it."
| THE POSTAL SAVINGS BANK.
II see." was the answer. Doubtless tits
mnch the same with the postal savings
bank plant"
"Yes. almost exactly the same. That has
been falsely assumed to antagonize the
banking interests. My own opinion is that
by taking hundred millions of dollars of
money out of the stockings and from under
| the f1oors-and Mr. Gonld estimates the
| total of unused savings in this country as
| high as that-it would 20 TO all the bank
ing and loan institutions. and not only
earn profits. interest, money. for its depos-
itors. but 1t would put just that amount of
| money into circulation. and not only would
| the bankers profit thereby. bot the men in
the smaller kinds of business would have
| Just so much more capital within their
| reach TO work with. That is not the main
thing, either; il 10 this addition of
such tremendous quick capital 20
the uses Of the whole country. The
main thing, as l believe. rs that it would
make millions of peopIe-yes. millions
| thrifty. saving prosperous. proud; II would
make them capitalists. But what ! am
saying is not 10 the point either. Your
| question 10 whether the members of tho
new Congress will look at il in this way.
and whether they will pass bill To permit
| postmasters IN remote quarters. where
vested rights would not be interfered with,
| 80 receive deposits which the government
| shonld be security for"
You spoke moment ago about l-cent
postage. and as though you would like to
eyes, that reform is very dear to me: but
think what is involved. To cut the post
| ages on letters IN two would mean an annual
deficit Of Sl5,0O00t0. In addition 10 the pres
ent one. We are not 10 blame for the pres
| ent one, you know. which has. think, been
reduced one-half, say Ss.0OOOO0. during the
| last two years We had TO do i've million
dollars worth of free business for
the other executive departments.
| in the tirst place. Then we DO o losing
business of 81, 100000 or sl5.000.000 on the
newspaper mails. which must be made up
by letter postage. This Is proper: we ought
tO do 10; for II there 10 one way 10 dissent
nate intel geDee. which is the object OF the
| Postotiice Department more than another.
| il Is through the newspapers. Then.
| imagine the average person would rather
have his paper than HE letter come cheap
~ in the mails. because he has &c
| come oftener, as general thing. bnt
with these great items. which AZ least we
! ought TO have credit for. taken into &C
count. our deficit is only apparent Yet
there seems TO be no way of making it
| appear only apparent. for IL IL hard to get
money appropriated for the use of the serv-
Ice unless IL Is seen that it comes back dol
| lar for dollar. The only thing we can do -
TO economics where Wa can wisely do 60.
and 10 develop the profitable parts Of the
| business"
But would not the revenue recover itself
gradually. although you make this redsc-
| tionf'
QUESTION OF REVENUE.
Eyes; and 1 was just coming TO that
point The revenue would recover ITSELF
but not 60 quickly. nor with such GER
taintv. as under previous reductions