The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-06-02

THE POSTAL BILL.
The House discussion of the Post OF.
fee Appropriation Bill should be fol-
lowed carefully by every intelligent citi-
zen. The meaning and the value Of
Democratic economy" can best be
judged by practical example. To save
at the spigot and waste at the bung
does not commend itself to thrifty folk
as desirable procedure, but what else
is it when the same body of men who
passed $4,000, 900 River and Harbor
bill now frantically attempt to recoup
themselves by crippling the postal SER
vice and creating heavy deficiency.
The number Of post offices in the
United States is increasing at the rate
of nearly 100 week according to the
statement of Chairman Henderson, of
the post Office committee, in his speech
in the House last Friday, and in the
face of that fact he has brought in bill
for next year which carries 1854, 900 less
than the appropriation for the current
year. In round numbers there are
$4,000 post Offices in the country; next
May there will be more than 10000, ac-
cording to his estimate. And yet he has
reduced the item for compensation of
postmasters $15, 900 below the estimates
he has reduced the item for pay of clerks
in post Offices 100000; the item for
rent, lights and fuel $125, 200; the item
for necessary miscellaneous and Incl
dental items for first and second class
post offices $12, 900, and so on.
These reductions will be exploited for
partisan effect as Savings" but what is
the fact? On the two items Of postmas
ters' salaries and inland mail transporta-
tion-which cover nearly half the total
amount carried by the bill-there is a
reduction of $8l5,0O0; this looks
large until there occurs the OBJ
vious reflection that if not a single
dollar should be appropriated under
either head, these branches of the SER
vice would still go on there would
simply be deficiency recorded against
the Postoffice Department, and 1t would
be paid out of the postal revenues. The
Postoffice Committee, therefore, might
as easily and as honestly have effected a
:" saving of $50, csc, 900 by omitting
the items altogether, as a " saving" of
f615,000 by cutting them below the
which will be required to carry
On these branches of the service the |
,nly difference would have been larger
deficiency in the one case than in the |
other.
Under these circumstances the mod |
Grafton of the economist is to be won
lered at. But there are branches of the
postal service to maintain which def.
,iences cannot lawfully be created, and
he situation as regards these is more
serious. The appropriation for
rec delivery Is reduced more
han 100000, although there are
more than fifty cities and towns entitled
% such service under the existing law
n which il has not yet been established,
md the number is steadily increasing.
rhe amount recommended by the COM
nittee is insufficient properly to main
ain the service where It is already es-
ablished. Another item is that for the
,ay Of clerks in post offices, which is
'educed $500. 900, although the number
# post offices in which the services of
Jerks are indispensable is constantly
mi rapidly increasing.
Appropriations for rent, fuel and
lights are slashed with no explanation
beyond the calm remark that 1T is per-
ectly apparent that the reduced amount
5 all that the department ought TO need
or the year 1892" Now. IL is not at
III apparent to the ordinary understand
ng that 200 more third-class post offices,
Tor example, can be provided for in
these particulars on 500, 800 less than
was required TO support the smaller mum
Der this year.
Only two suggestions are possible.