Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1894-12-06

Inc report OF tne pOstmaSter-general
presents comprehensive statement Of
the operations of the postoffice depart
ment for the last fiscal year. The re-
ceipts OF the department during the
year amounted to $75,0S0,47 GA, and
the expenditures to $S4, 1924, ,4l4 Is. The
transactions OF the postal service in
dicate with barometric. certainty the
tluctuation in the business of the coun-
try. As much, therefore, as business
complications continued to exist
throughout the last year to an unfore-
seen extent it is not surprising that the
deficiency of revenue to meet the ex-
penditures OF the postoffice department,
which was estimated in advance at
about $S,0OO,0 900, should exceed the es-
innate. The ascertained revenues last
year which were the basis of calculation
for the current year, being less than es-
timated, the deficiency for the current
year will be correspondingly greater,
though the postmaster-general states
that the latest indications are so favor
able that he confidently predicts an in
crease OF at least s per cent in the
revenues OF the current year over those
OF the last year.
The expenditures increase steadily
and necessarily with the growth and
needs of the country SO that the de-
ficiency is greater or less in any year
depending upon the volume of receipts.
The postmaster general states that this
deficiency is unnecessary and might be
obviated at once if the law regulating
rates upon mail matter of the second
class was modified. The rate received
Tor the transmission OF this second-class
matter is | cent per pound while the
cost OF such transmission to the govern
ment is eight times that amount. In
the general terms OF the law this rate
covers newspapers and periodicals.
THE LAW ABUSED.
The extension of the meaning of the
terms from time to time have admitted
to the privileges intended for legitimate
newspapers and periodicals surprising
range OF publications, and created abuses
the cost OF which amount in the aggre.
gate to the total deficiency of the post
office department. Pretended newspa-
pers are started by business houses for
the mere purpose of advertising goods,
complying with the law in form ONLY
and discontinuing the publications as
soon as the period OF advertising is over.
sample copies OF pretended newspapers
are Issued IN great numbers for like
purpose only. The result is a great loss
OF revenue to the government besides its
humllIatlng use as an agency to aid in
carrying ont the scheme of business
house to advertise its goods by means
oil a trick upon both its rival houses
and the regular and legitimate news
papers. Paper-covered literature. con-
slstlng mainly of trashy novels, to the
extent OF many thousands of tons, is
sent through the mails at | cent a
pound, while the publishers of standard
works are required to pay times that
amount in sending their publications.
An ABUSE consists in the free carriage
tnroug h the mails of hundreds of tons
OF seed and grain uselessly distributed
through the department OF agriculture.
Inc ,postmaster-general predicts that il
the law be so amended as to eradicate
these abuses, not only will the postoffice
department not show deficiency. but
he believes that in the near future ali
legitimate newspapers, periodicals and
will be properly transmitted
through the mails to their subscribers
free OF cost. | invite your prompt con-
sideration OF this subject, and fully in
torse the views of the postmaster-pen-
eral. The total number of postoffices in
the United States on the 3Oth dav of
June, 1894, was 6S,S05, an increase of
i4V5 over the preceding year. OF these
542S were presidential, an increase in
that class OF 6S over the preceding wear.
Six hundred and ten cities and towns
are provided with free delivery, % other
'ities and towns entitled to this service
lnder the law have not been accorded il
'n account OF insufficient funds. The
expense OF free delivery of the current
lscal year will be more than $l2, SOC, 900
md under existing legislation this item
u expenditure is subject to constant in
,,rease. The estimated cost of rural free
ieIivery generally is so very large that
t ought not to be considered in the
present condition of affairs.
There are connected with A. -.