Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-12-08

confinement OF those convicted In united
States courts OF violations OF fenerai
laws. which, for many years mas peen
a subject OF Executive recommendation
has. at last TO n slight extent. peen re-
allied by the utilization OF the abandoned
military prison at Fort Leavenworth as
a United States penitentiary.
This Is certainly q movement IN the
right direction, but Il ought to be at once
supplemented by the rebuilding or ex-
tensive enlargement OF this improvised
prison. and the construction OF at least
one more. 10 be located I'm the Southern
States. The capacity OF the Leaven-
worth Penitentiary Is so limited that the
expense OF its maintenance. calculated at
a per capita rate upon the number or
prisoners IL can accommodate, does not
make as economical an exhibit as II
would II Il were larger and better adapt
ID to prison purposes: but | am thorough
~ convinced that economy. humanity.
and a proper sense OF responsibility and
duty toward those whom we punish FOR
violations OF Federal law. dictate that
the Federal Government should have the
entire control and management OF the
penltentiaries where convicted violators
are confined.
II appears that, since the transfer Of
the Fort Leavenworth military prison TO
is new uses. the work previously done
ny prisoners confined there, and for which
expensive machinery had been provided.
has been discontinued. This work con-
sisted Of the manufacture of articles for
army use. now done elsewhere On all
grounds It is exceedingly desirable that
he convicts confined I'm this penitentiary
be allowed to resume work OF this de-
scription.
II Is most gratifying to note the salts
factory results that have followed the
inauguration Of the new system. pro-
vided for by the act Of May y. 1896. un-
Ter which certain Federal officials are
compensated by salaries instead OF fees.
The new plan was put I'm operation on
the 1st day Of July, 1906 and already the
great economy II enforces. its prevention
If abuses. and its tendency to a better
enforcement Of the laws are strikingly
apparent Detailed evidence OF the use
fulness of this g-dssSyed. but now
happily reform. will be
found clearly set forth in the Attorney
Generals report.
POST-OFFICE DEPARTMENT.
Our Post-Ofice Department is in good
condition. and the exhibit made Of its
operations during the fiscal year ended
June 30. 1896, If allowance is made for
lmperfections in the laws applicable to
IT, is very satisfactory. The total re-
ceipts during the year were $50, 1873, 2OSfO
The total expenditures We're $50, GIG, 1854
exclusive of 81. $50 S9S27. which was earn
ed by the Pacific railroad for transpor-
tation, and credited on their debt to the
government. There was an increase Of
receipts over the previous year Of $751;
0S0.2i. or IL per cent. and an increase Of
4 e 80 @ 4
cent. The deficit was 81 $50 $3.50 less than
that Of the preceding year.
The chief expenditures Of the postal
service are regulated by law, and are not
In the control Of the Postmaster-General
All-that he can accomplish by the most
watchful administration and economy is
TO enforce prompt and thoroughly col
lection of and accounting for public
moneys. and such minor savings In small
expenditures. and I'm letting those con-
tracts for post-office supplies and star
service which are not regulated by
statute.
An effective cooperation between the
Auditors office and the Post-Office De-
partment. and the making and enforce
ment Of orders by the department re-
curing immediate notification TO their
sureties OF all delinquencies on the part
OF postmasters, and compelling such
postmasters TO make more frequent de-
posits of postal funds have resulted in
a prompter auditing Of their accounts and
much less default 10 the government than
heretofore.
The years report shows large extern
sions Of both star-route service and
railway-mail service. with increased
postal facilities. Much higher accuracy
in handling mails has also been reached,
as appears by the decrease OF errors
IN the railway mail service, and the re-
ductlon of mail matter returned to the
Dead-Letter Office.
POSTAL ABUSES.
The deficit for the last year, although
much less than that of the last and pre-
ceding years, emphasizes the necessity
for legislation TO correct the growing
abuse of second-class rates. 10 which the
deficiency is mainly attributed. The trans
mission at the rate OF / cent a pound Of
serial libraries, advertising sheets
"house organs" periodicals advertising
some particular "house or institution'),
samples copies. and the like, ought GER
tainly 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 the growing waste Of
its earnings:
The matter carried in the mails for the
departments, offices, ETC., Of the govern
ment, and for Congress, in pounds,
amounted 10 9i4S0,lS9. If this is Offset
against buildings for post-ofiices and sta
tions, the rentals Of which would more
than compensate for such free postal ser
vice. we have this exhibit:
Weight Of Mail Matter other than above
Trbrouob ba Malls for the
Year Ending June 30. 1896:
Class. Weight, Lbs. Revenue.
/. Domestic and foreign
letters. postal cards,
etc. ................... 65,SS7SiS seO.62ii Si
2. Newspapers and pc
radicals, l cent per
pound ................ 34oySS,6i6 2,yyo 4J5
3. Books seeds etc,
cents a pound ....... 7S70l,1B l0,S2iO59
4. Parcels, etc., 16 cents
a pound .............. 19.950,1s7 S.199.S21
Total ................ 81, 81. 1876 s77,Ol4. 257
The remainder Of our postal revenue,
amounting TO something more than $780,
90, was derived from box rents, registry
fees. money-order business, and other
similar items. The entire expenditures
of the department. including pay for
transportation, credited TO the PACING r'lll-
roads. was S92, 1856, 1851, which may be
considered as the cost Of receiving. carry
ing, and delivering the above mail mat
ter 1t thus appears that though the Sc
cond-class matter constituted more than
two-thirds Of the total that was carried,
the revenue derived from 1t was less than
one-thirtieth of the total expense. The
average revenue from each pound Of first
class matter was SO cents. From each
pound OF second-class matter, 8 l-2 mills
(of the second-class, 52.34s.237 was county
free matter; from each pound OF third
class, 1871 cents; from each pound OF
fourth-class, 15.6 cents.
The growth in weight Of second-cass
matter has been from 299, 900 900 pounds
in 1894 to 100000 in 1886. and TO almost