The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-02-26
oR1sR ron rUaLro DooUn1rra
nOo, eee. Geo Psusas . 1ear Carried Free IN
the Rlals-Whe Renas Themt


The averaged OF the free matter In tho form Of
documents carried through the mails in q year.
andchiehymade up OF Federal, State, or municipal
records, amounts annually TO nearly 100000 900
pounds, and the expense Of this form of transror-
tation. II paid for at ordinary postal rates, would
leave a large margin OF profit to the Govern.
ment each year, instead of loss, ms at present,
the weight of documents carried being ac-
tually in excess Of the weight of all the letters
carried.
Tho Congressional Record. though very much
moro interesting to the reader than is the usual
public document, is not such a periodical as
might be expected to have q widespread circu-
lation. but the most vigorous efforts to reduce
tho number OF. copies printed have resulted mere
ly in this: To the Vice. President and each Sena-
tor. forty.four copies: to the Secretary and Ser
geant-at-Arms of the Senate. twenty copies
each: to tho Secretary, for Office use, ten copies;
to each Representative and Delegate, thirty
copies; to the Clerk and Doorkeeper Of the
House, each twenty copies, and to the Clerk for
In the Albany Assembly last week the print.
ing 81 tn the re- reports ,t Of t the public Departments IT ,S vas
although extreme frugality has been shown in
all the State expenses this year. these are some
demand of the public for the reports. or the
Governors message. 5.0Oocopies; of the Comp
trOller 3 report, S,VUO copies, OF inc SUaUe 1fcaS-
urer's report. 1000 copies; of tho State Engi-
neer and Surveyors reuort on canals, $500
copies Of the report OF the Superintendent Of
the Insurance Department, in addition to the
1900 copies authorized by him, 2,000 copies; of
the Superintendent OF Public Works, $500
copies; of the report on tolls. trade, and tonnage,
500 copies; of the report OF the superintendent
Of State Prisons, 5000 copies: OF the report OF
tho State Board of Health, 5000 copies; OF the
report of the Bureau OF Labor Statistics, 10000
copies; of the report of the agricultural expert.
ment station. $4,000 copies; OF the report OF the
State Agricultural Society. $4,000 copies: Of
the annual report OF tie Railroad Commission.
7,OO0 copies; OF the report OF the Superinten-
dent Of Public Instruction, $4,000 copies: OF tho
Dairy commissioners report, $500 copies; of
the Factory Inspectors report, 10000 copies;
of the report of the Board of Mediation and Arbi-
%tration, 10000 copies: of the report Of the Now
York Forest Commission. 5000 copies; of the
report of the Commander of the Grand Army
OF the Republic. Department Of New York,
1000 copies.
OF the Mayors message in New York. al
though the contents of 1t arc made known to
the public through the newspapers, 5000 copies
are printed at the public expense, and I'M all
public departments the supply Of documents, so
far from accommodating. is found to be below the
demand. who reads the public documentf' Is
n question which has been very frequently
asked. but not satisfactorily answered. Farm
ers are said to take pride in its receipt as indi-
eating that they are known to the powers that
he. Public documents, too, are free, and every
onc,..nearly everypne-likes.to getbomething for
nothing.