Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-12-08
THE MESSAGE


work of this description.
lt Is most gratifying to note the salts
factory results that have followed the
inauguration of the new system pro
tided for by the act of May Is. 1896 I'M
Ter winch certain federal officials are
compensated by salaries instead of fees.
me new plan was put in operation on
me hrst day of July. 1896, and already
the great economy it enforces it's pre-
vention of abuses and it's tendency 10
L. better enforcement of the laws. are
SlilkihSiy apparent. Detailed evidence
OIL the usefulness of this long DELAYED
but now happily accomplished reform will
oe found clearly set forth in the attor-
ney generals report
POSToFFlCE DEPARTMENT.
Our postoifice department is in good con-
ntlon, and the exhibit made of its oper-
atoms during the fiscal year ended Jun,
!" 1896. II allowance is made for imper-
fectlons in the laws applicable to ii, is
very satisfactory. The total receipts dur
ing the year were So. 400. 30S. 40. The tota
expenditures We're 800 Cps, 296. 81, exclusive
Of $l.55a ,S9S21 which was earned by tho
Pacific railroad for transportation ant
credited on their debt to the government
There WAS an increase of receipts over
the previous year Of $5,5l6, 0S0.21, or T.
per cent. and an increase of expenditure.
va "'.Soo'l-i''A, VI IL pei ttlll
The deficit was 81 go $50. 10 less than thai
Of the preceding year. The chief eXpen
litures of the postal service are regu
latcd by law and are not in the control OF
The postmaster general. All that he car
accomplish by the most watchful admin
istration and economy is to force prompt
and thorough collection and accounting
for public moneys and such minor saving.
in small expenditures and in letting those
contracts for postoffice supplies and stan
service which are not regulated by stat
ute.
An effective cooperation between the
auditors Office and the postoflice depart
nent and the making and enforcement of
orders by the department requiring i'm
mediate notification to their sureties of
Ill delinGuencies on the part of postmas-
ers and compelling such postmasters to
make more frequent deposits of postal
funds, have resulted in prompter au-
lifting of Their accounts and much less
Default to the government than hereto
fore.
The years report shows large extern
sions of both star route service and rail
way mail service, with increased postal
facilities. Much higher accuracy in
handling mails has also been reached,
appears by the decrease of errors in
the railway mail service and the reduc-
letter Office.
much less than that of the last and pre-
The deficit for the last year. although
edng years. emphasized the necessity
for legislation to correct the growing
abuse of second class rates, to which the
deficiency is mainly attributable.
The transmission at the rate of I cent
a pound of serial libraries. advertising
sheets, house organs periodicals adj
sertising some particular house or insti-
ution). sample copies and the like. ought
certainly ought to be discontinued. A
glance at the revenues received for the
work done last year will show more
plainly than any other statement the
gross abuse of the postal service, and
he growing waste of its earnings:
The free matter carried in the mails
FOR the department, offices, etc, of the
government and for congress. in pounds
Amounted to ~, $50 100. If this is offset
against buildings for postoffices and sta
tons. the rental Of which would more
than compensate for such free postal
service. we have this exhibit: Weight
If mail matter (other than above) trans
mitted through the mails for the year
ending June 30. 1S96t-Class /. domestic
and foreign letters. etc, weight o. 3S7 Is.
value SEQ 624 AGA. Glass >. newspapers and
periodicals. cent per pound, weight 3iS-
}Ss Gas value 81 9ib. 403. Glass 3, books
seeds. etc, y cents a pound, weight IS
70l, liS value $1G.32l, 069 Glass A, parcels.
etc. 16 cents u pound, weight 1880, ISL,
value $3.l95,321 Total weight. 512,9 326 !;
total value, $77.oi4, 25l.
The remainder Of our postal revenue
amounting to something more than $4,000
oN0, was derived from box rents. registry
fees, money order business and other sim
liar items.
The entire expenditure of the depart
ment including pay for transportation
credited to the Pacific railroads, was
S92. 1S6. 1871, which may be considered as
the cost of receiving. carrying and deliv-
ering the above mail matter 1t thus APP
pears that though the second-class mat
Ter constituted more than two-thrds of
the total that was carried, he revenue
derived from it was less than one-thir-
tcth of the total expense.
The average revenue from each pound
Of first-class matter was SO cents
From each pound of second-class mat
ter Ss mills.
tOf the second-class 52,2is, 297 was
county-free matter)
From each pound of third-class 1S.l
cents.
From each pound of fourth-class matter
1876 cents.
The growth in weight of second class,
matter has been from 299. 900 pounds in
1894 to 3l2.0 600 in 1898, and to almost
349 0oO. 900 in 1896. and it is quite evident
this increasing drawback is far outstrip-
ping any possible sfowth Of postal reve-
uueS.
Our mail service should of course be
such as TO meet the wants and even the
conXeniences of our people, at a direct
charge upon them as light as perhaps to
exclude the idea of our postotfice de-
partment being a money king concern;
but in the face of a constantly recurring
deficiency in its revenues, and IN view
of the fact that we supply the best mail
services in the world, it seems to me 1t
is quite time to correct the abuses that
swell enormously our annual deficit. II
we concede the public policy of carrying
weekly newspapers free in the county OF
nublication ana even the policy of car
rvin., mt less than one-tenth of their cost.
at her bona lde newspapers and period
icaIs. there can be no excuse for sub
iectinr the service to the further immense
md increasing loss involved in carrying
ar the nominal rate of l cent Il pound
the serial libraries, sometimes ncluu-
ino trashy and even harmful literature,
,nd otbey matter which, under the loose
accommodation of a loose statute. has been
GRADUALLY given second-class rates, thus
.,hsorbing all profitable returns derived
from tirst-class matter, which pays three
49, fonr times more than in its cost, and