The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-12-08

" )
WEIGHT OF MAIL NATTER
ther than above) transmitted through
the mails for the year ending
X June 80, 1896.
"a Weight.
I Pounds. Revenue.
: Domestic and for
a eign letters and
IL postal cards 49,. 65.337 ,343 $50. 624 AGA
X, News papers and
periodicals, lie. per
pound -. ~. .34S, 9Ss,64s 1880, 4o3
81 Books, seeds, etc.
&c. q pound -. ;. 7ST0l.14S 10, S2i .069
So Parcels, etc, Ice.
& IS q pound So. $50. 19950,1S1 S,129.S2l
Total 800. ~. ..512. s77,326 s77.0i4,25
The remainder of our postal revenue
fAmounting togsomething more than 3d.
200 coo was derived from box ren,s, reg
ssastryt fees, money order business and
Sother similar items. The entire eNpendi-
tnres OF the department, including pay
for transportation credited to the Paci-
sssdic railroad, Mas $92, 1S6,1s5.l1, which may
Z he considered as the coat OF receiving,
carrying, and delivering the above mai
matter. 1t thus appears that though
The second cless matter constituted
more than two-thirds of the total that
was carried, the revenue derived from
: IT was less than one dh.rtieth of the to-
l each pound of first class matter was ~
cents from each pound Of second class.
- mills. COZ the second class 52,3iS, 297
was county free matte..) From eacn
pound of third class 1871 cents; from each
pound Of fourth class. 15.6 cents.
Z The growth In weight OF second class
latter has. been from 299O00O0o pounds
Ssins 1891. to $4,000 900 In 1895, and to al
most S49, 0o0, 900 In 1886, and Ii Is quite
Seyident this increasing drawback is FIR
Sonlstripplng any possible growth of pos
5 eal revenues.
Our mai service should, of course, be
sGuch as to meet the wants and even the
conPeniences of our people, at q direct
Scharge upon them so light as perhaps
10 exclude the idea of our postoHlce de
6pagtment being n money-making con-
Germ but In the face Of a constantly re-
4curfing deficiency In Us revenues, and in
] View of the fact that we supply the best
mail service in the world 1t seems to
ssgne 1t liz quite time to correct the abuses
+ thRts swell enorm ously cur annual def
eli. If we concede the pubic policy of
Scarrylng weekly newspapers free in the
{ county of publication, and even the
POLICY of carrying at less than one-tenth
eof their cost, other bona fide newspapers
AND periodicals, there can be no excuse
STcr sn Injecting the service to the further
ssiHmense and Increasing loss involved
IN carrying at the nominal rate of one
times ncluding trashy and even harm
Sfult literature and other matter which.
under the loose Interpretation OF a loose
iBtatnte, has been gradually given second
class rates, thus absorbing all profitable
Sreturns derived from fra, class matter,
hich pay three or four times more
Il Than Its cost, and producing large an
;;Ssnatal loss to- be paid by general taxation.
81 Experience and observation have dem
spnsRa ted that certain improvements In
5Hhe organization OF the postotlice depart
s51snt must be secured before he can gain
sthe 9u,l benefit OF the immense sums ex-
fpended In Its administration. This in
7 yoiy YES the following reforms, which /
earnestly recommend:
sssssiF mere should be a small addition to the
existing Inspector service. to be employ
sen IN the supervision Of the carrier force,
4 hichS now numbers 10000 men, and per-
$2oFJnR inAits service practically without
sSthe surveillance exercised over all other
shra inches of the postal or public service.
SOffcousse such a lack of supervision and
sfgeedcm from Wholesome disciplinary
sTestraints must inevitably lead to i'm
S.peifect service. There should also be
gGppolnted few inspectors who could s.
Heist the central office in necessary inves
81 ston concerning matters of postoffice
sssfttes. allowances for rent. fuel and lights
safsd m Oh anizing and securing the best
sestilts from the work Of the 1900 clerks
itApWS employed In nrst and second class
fDmGes.
sslSaI am Convinced that the small ex-
zHgnse Intending the Inauguration OF
ssttneSe necessary reforms would actually
DE q prof Z able investment
especial lily recommend such reca St
sang or the appropriation by Congress
20! the pos Ice department as will per-
& zlIti ne q, sfmaster General to proceed
81 the work of consolidating postof-
isfieeas This work has already bee,, enter
s21 y pom sqfhciently to fully demonstrate
';sE71Xs1 experiment and experience that
eSIe Is productive of better
sEelyace, larger revenues and less ex-
ditures. to say nothing OF tbe further
ntages OF gradually Withdrawing
23s2stDidc es from the spols system.
s. sss POSTAL CONGRESS.
3 TIE Universal Postal Union wh,o,
SSSapW EN- braces all the civilized world
whose delegates viii represen, one
Ion people, viii hold lis fiffh con
OBS IN the city OF Washington In Nav
S4es7 The United States NAV he saiS
nave taken the Initiative which led
tirat meeting OF this congress NJ
IN 1874. and the formation of the
sTefsal Postal Union, which bring
EZzs post service of3all countries to ey-
mans neighborhood and has
fp9El lnarvela In cheapening postal
fA5k8 and occurring absolutely safe mail
nira ton throughout the world.
HIewh of = the Importance OF This as
cage at1d OF It's ldelibe atoms. and of
h9p 9rs and Inequalities accorded
brrf representatives. by her countries
81 Sinclair occasions.I earnestly hope
RtHEf t60eh an approDrIati nn, will he m a de