Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-11-27
The Postal Service.

According to the reports sent out from
Washington the report Of the Postmaster
General is n highly interesting document.
His recommendations have not been made
at random. Below are the most important
Of them. We quote:
81 believe that one years experience un-
| der such limitations. with the frauds ana
abuses checked, would demonstrate that
! we have already reached the time and con-
| dltions when all such legitimate newspa-
pcrs and periodical magazines may be
| transmitted through our mails from pub
| fishers into the hands Of subscribers free
| Of all cost"
He aIludes. Of course. 20 frauds and
| abuses practiced in or on his department.
| He also recommends ms follows:
"In general would recommend that
the first and most important thing to be
done L. TO revise the law as 10 second
class matter, 80 as TO place the Post once
Department Immediately upon n self-sus-
tanning basis.
Second: Avoid expensive experiments,
like the postal-tecgTaph. rural free deliv-
cry. etc.
Third: Develop the postal service on
existing lines OF adminstrauon-ViZ. Ex-
tend free delivery in cities that now enjoy
II. Accord II 10 towns already entitled
10 IT under the law. Quicken railroad
transportation.
FOURTH: Revise and reclsssify organl-
cation Of the railway mail service and r.
classify clerks In rost-ofilces.
Fifth: Provide for district supervision
OF all postal affairs by appointment Of cx-
pert postal OCiCinls from classified service,
as recommended in my last annual re-
port"
We have never considered II necessary
to make the Post-Office Department self
sustaining. IT Is a department which
must be kept up TO lts highest condition
Of efficiency whether at pays" or not.
Hence we would provide for rural deliv-
cry whether 1t paid or not. We would
have cities as well as country towns sup
piled with the fullest mail facilities II
will educate the rural population TO make
them familiar with the mails. AS to Sc
cond-class matter, we quote:
Il do not advocate u change Of rates
now upon legitimate newspapers and pc
riOdical magazines. My purpose is TO urge
the withdrawal of low postage rates from
the large cities and the pretended periodi-
calls that are now improperly enjoying
them, not only on account of the inherent
prOprlety OF that course. but because | am
almost hopeless of ever seeing the finan-
cial condition of the department properly
established until such withdrawal Is
brought about. The most conspicuous
class Of these pretended periodicals are
what are now generally known as serial
paper-covered books.
THE bogus trade paper, not devoted 10
the advertising of any particular house.
is another illustration Of the same abuse
Of the mails. OF great moment in connec-
ton with the abuse ] am discussing is
the privilege given To publishers OF news
papers and magaZnes-the first bestowal
OF which was under the act of March 3.
lSS5-to mail sample copies thereof at the
pound rate of postage.
but for this too liberal privilege / am
inclined to think that very few really ille-
Ultimate trade papers would ever have
been admitted 70 the mails as second
class matter"
These recommendations are all good
ones.
The following figures are interesting:
The revenue for the year was SIS, $50. 40;
| expenditures. $A,32i4l4; leaving n def
| cheney Of $9,2i3.935. The estimates for the
current year, ending June 30. 1895, are:
Revenue. $a,427,7iS; expenditures. $50. &c.,
| 49,; deficiency. $5.971, 737. The estimates
submitted 10 the Secretary Of the Treasu-
| ry for the next fiscal year are: Revenue,
| SS6,9OIi W; expenditures. 81 059,2S3; den-
cheney, sL15l,S76."