New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-12-16
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
POSTAL ABUSES"
SOME STATEMENTS OF THE POSTMASTER
GENERAL CHALLENGED.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: In your editorial reference 'postoflce de-
velopment" you evidently accept the Postmaster
Generals statement that "a saving OF $4,000 900 to
2Oo0o0o per year could be effected by the extirpa
ton OF the abuses OF second-class privileges and
that this saving would the cost OF extending
free rural delivery 70 every settled portion OF the
country"
II any correct agures or data were given to SUBJ
stantiste this assumed annual saving OF so vast a
twelve millions of dollars. the high on
cial's assumption would be accepted without cues
tion but. no such data avais BILE and the
called abuses" are too Understandable 20 be
reckoned in dollars. It is IN order cali halt on
public opinion on the whole matter-to be sure we
right before SO ahead
Statements from the Postofice Department have
for many years been generaiized as to cover q
multitude OF sins Of omission and commission
Correct or minute information on the real cost Of
mai transport quantities carried and classinca-
ton OF those quantities. has been 30 wofuliy
wanting that onciRl concentrations had to be ac-
cepteo and analysis made quite impossible An i'm
provement on the Departments methods has &C.
CURED during the last four years and from the
5ast published testimony OF the Joint committee or
commission 70 investigate the postal service
shall probably be able TO get at data and facts
bottom facts-never before available. But we may
with entire propriety ask for a suspension Of. judg
ment on the lines OF cost and saving until all that
evidence is tabulated and apparent
We may promptly set aside as both
fallacious and improbable the twelve million dollar
item SO confidently announced by the Postmaster
General as solving the problem Of free rural de-
livery and we likewise dscredit. deny, the exist
ence or ABUSES" the correction OF which would
such a sum TO the Government still further: We
confidently assert that the PostOfice Department is
IOlly empowered 70 extirpate all real abuses, to
forbid al infractons Of the postal laws, 10 refuse
mail matter that Is not Legitimate and fully within
the terms OF the statute; and almost every
publisher has been made 10 know the Postoflce
rulings special constructions orders and edicts It
readily meets any and every instance the postal
and for protestant there is appeal, remedy.
II II is urged that the Library" issues are ad-
age. by a misinterpretation Of the law. and there
fore, that this Is an abuse Il Is sufficient 10 say
that construction years ago; that 1t has wrought
Unreasonable good 10 the reading public; that
rary' literature Of the malls at second-class
rates has met with pronounced defeat That.
eharacterize such use as an abuse is an insult
alike 10 publishers. TO readers and 10 Congress
mere fraction OF the weight and bulk of second
class matter-nOt 10 exceed pes cent Of the whole
affect the postal revenues. and the saving be not
more than 10000 per year. IL has been the policy
reason. &c ove-state the quantity OF this kind Of
matter IN the malls but, as the of1cials have no
make excuse FOR the Departments ceaseless efforts
20 make case against these literal books Of the
agents OF the publishers who handle the bulk OF
the issues is very near 10 the actual amount, and
VIII stand the test OF any scrutiny
Have not a right. here and now. TO demand Of
the Postmaster-CSeneral the real source Of his
tremendous saving2 Is IL in sample copies, supple
Mehts ttaue iists, Catalogues aho matter eNtrane-
10 the publications. All that may be ilegiti-
aacb 80 $500 ,,,s,, - ~ In ,srs, a. a.,
fraction, the saving factor Is yet 10 be indicated.
Win he or any OF his subordinates give the pub
New-York. Dec. IS. 1900 ORvILLE J. VICTOR.