The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-07-27
EFFECT OF POSTAL REFORM.
Its Results Are Not Likely to BE
Shown Immediately

Washington Letter in Boston Transcript.
Some of the newspapers nave, according
to experts in the Postofice Department,
been jumping to rather wild conclusions as
TO the amount TO be saved by the recent
reforms in second-class postage, and the
use TO which the saving would be devoted.
The deficit in the postal balance sheet has
been gradually dwindling for the last five
years. For the year ending June 50, 1897,
it was s11. al, 779: the following year it was
5000 sO5; the next, IS, 610, 776, and in 1900,
S5,3S5, SIS. The figures are not yet made up
for the year just ended, but they will
probably approximate $1,000 900.
Now it will take no little Improvement
in the relative dimensions Of income and
expenditure TO wipe out a 1900, 600 deficit,
and the department will nave 10 work very
fast TO make the new rules tell much Of a
story for a while: Every publisher who is
accused CT violating the rules will have 10
have a hearing, and this process will be
encountered and embarrassed by the inter-
ference OF congressman. Then may and
probably will come one or more test suits,
instituted by publishers strongly enough
intrenched to be able to carry their appeals
as far up as the law will allow. With the
dockets OF the courts as full as they are
legality of the rules is finally determined.
Next VIII come two or three reweighings
"a CAC AidiiS. ~ AZ ID now IL VIII make
no difference how many bogus or dnquali-
NED periodicals are thrown out; the pay
ments TO the railroads will 20 on at the
same rate, and the government will get no
Deneft from the change. At intervals as
frequent as practicable after the new sys-
tenn goes into full operation there will have
TO be weiehings. to keep pace with the de-
crease In the mass of the matter shipped
III Is plain, therefore, that the early esti-
mates OF the effect OF the new orders in
which the abuses OF the second-class priyi-
lege are TO be swept away, the deficit ex-
plunged from the balance sheet and the
discarded as absurd. In the judgment of
conservative men. including the postmaster
genera. himself, the present regulations will
not be likely 10 cut down the expenditure
more than $4,000 to $4,000. 90 a wear
after all Is told. II Congress would give
the department ali the legislation il asks
for this saving could be increased to 500
Oc,Uvc, but that contamination is aDpar-
emily a good way off still. The great thing
for the present will be TO see that some one
does not contrive 10 tack a rider upon one
or the postal bills, practically nullifving
all that the department has been able TO
DO through improved Administered tive meth
DDS.
The saving Of $S.0o0.0c0 would change the
deficit into a surplus, other things being
equal, of say 100000. On the strength Of
that the present postmaster general would
not feel justified In advising Congress To
launch into penny postage generally. at
least unless he could ind some better assur-
ance than he has now that ii would not
throw the department back into another era
OF deficits. But what he would undoubtedly
do. and what he may do as soon as the