Mexico weekly ledger., 1896-12-10

and it Is quite evident this increasing draw
back Is far ontstripping any possible growth
OF postal revenues,
Our mail service should OF course be such as
TO meet the wants and even the conveniences OF
our people. at q direct charge upon them so
post ofice department being q money-makfn9
concern but In the face of q constantly recur-
ing deficiency in its revenue, and In view Of
the fact that we supply the best mail service
IN the world, IL seems to me It Is quite time to
correct The abuses that swell enormously our
annual detcit.. II We coneede the public policy
OF carrying weekly newspapers free In tho
county Of publication. and even the policy OF
carrying, at less than one-tenth OF their cost,
there can be no excuse for subSectine the
service TO the further Immense and increasing
loss involved In carrying at the nominal rate Of
times Including trashy and even harmful
literature, and other matter which, under the
been gradually given second-ciass rates, thus
absorbing all profitable returns derived from
nrst-class matter. which pays three or four
annual loss to be paid by general taxation.
Corrective Legislation Recommended.
II such second-class matter paid merely the
cost OF It's handling our deficit would disappear
give the people still better mail fac,iisies or n
cheaper rates OF letter postage. recommend
that legislation be at once enacted to correct
IDEAS in the regulation of our postal rates.
Experience and observation have demon
strated that certain improvements In the
must be served before We can gain the full
benefit OF the immsns sums expended In its
reforms, which / earnestly recommend:
There should be q small addition to the ex-
listing inspector service, to be employed in the
supervision OF the carrier force. which now
numbers 1900 men. and performs It's service
practically without the surveillance exercised
service. OF course such o lack of supervision
and freedom from wholesome disciplinary re-
straints must inevitably lead to imperfect
There should also be appointed a few In
spectors who would assist the central ofice in
necessary Investigation concerning matters OF
post oniee sites. for rent, fuel and
lights, and in organizing and securing the best
results from the work Of the 1900 clerks aow
employed in first and second-ciass offices.
am convinced that the small expense at
tending the Inauguration of these reforms
especially recommend such q recasting Of the
appropriations by congress for the post Office
department as will permit the postmaster
Ing post offices, This work has already been
entered upon sufficiently 20 fully demonstrate.
solidation is productive Of better service,
larger revenues and less expenditures, to say
nothing Of the further advantage OF gradually
tenn.
Universal Postal Union.
The Universal Postal union. which now en-
gates viii represent .ooo.ooo.o people, will Vi
hold Its fifth congress in the city of Washing
ton In May, 1897. The United States may be
said to have taken the initiative which led to
the first meeting of this congress at Berne. in
1874. and the formation of the Univeral Postal
union. which brings the postal service of all
countries to every mans neigh borhood and has
wrought marveis In cheapeninG postal rates
and securing absolutely safe mail communtca-
ton throughout the world.
Previous congresses have met In Berne,
Lisbon and Vienna, and their respective
countries in which they have have
made generous provision for their
dalton and for the reception and entertain
ment Of the delegates.
In view of the Importance of this assem-
blage and of its deliberations, and of the hon.
ors and Inequalities accorded to our repre-
sentatives by other countries on similar occa-
sions, I earnestly hope that such IN appropri-
alton will be made for the expenses necessa-
rily attendant upon the coming meeting in our
capital city, as well be worthy OF our ma
ttonal hospitality and indicative Of our appre-
| citation of the event.