Rensselaer Republican, Volume 18, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 December 1885 — OUR POSTAL SERVICE. [ARTICLE]

OUR POSTAL SERVICE.

The Annual Report of Mr. Vilas on the Condition of His De* partment. •• The Effect of the Seduction of Postage on the Annual Revenues, Etc., Etc. * The anntial report of the Postmaster General shows that the total revenue of the Postoffice Department during the last fiscal year was $42,560,843, and the total expenditures $19,602,188, leaving a cash deficiency of $7,041,345, or, with the amount; credited Pacific Railroads, a total deficiency of $8,381,571. This difference is due, first, to the decrease of the revenves, which amounts in total only to $2,947,848; and, secondly, to an increase of the expenditures to the extent of $6,466,955, of which $6,042,439 have been in the cash disbursements and $424,516 in the cost of transportation upon the Pacific Railroads. Chiefly the decrease of revenue has cOulted from the diminishment in the rate of letter postage from 3 to 2 cents upon the half-ounce, which was the upit of weight during the period,. while the increase of expenditures has arisen principally from the natural increase of mails to be carried arid the natural extension of the service, although other cases have contributed something to both effects. It is thought that a return of business prosperity will secure a surplus during the ensuing year. The principal results of the increase of the unit of weight of first-class matter, from a half-ounce to an are a general increase in the use of the mails, some decrease of the proportion of letters weighing less than a half-ounce, a -striking increase of those weighing more than a halfounce, and some tendency to mail, more than formerly, sealed parcels instead of unsealed. The loss of revenue for the year from this cause is estimated at SBOO,000. The reduction of the rate from 2 cents to 1 cent per pound on secondclass matter strikes off one-half the revenue from thisjsource, there is_no indication of any marked increase in the quantity of such matter~to compensate the loss. ' The special delivery system has met with public favor, and, the Postmaster General says, probably should be extended to all offices and to all kinds of mail matter. It is suggested that postmasters and their clerks at small offices be authorized to de--liver such letters.

The breach between the department and the American steamship lines is taken up. After citing the provisions of the act of March 3, 1885, which authorize the Postmaster General to .enter into contracts for the transportation of foreign mails, after legal advertisement, with ’•he lowest responsible bidder, at a rate not exceeding 50 cents a nautical mile on the trip each way actually traveled between the terminal points, provided that the mails so contracted should be earned on Apieriean steamships, and that the aggregate of such contracts should not exceed one-half the sum of SBOO,OOO appropriated, the report shows that only the routes between New York and Havana and between San Francisco and Japan and China are navigated by more than one American coinpany; and, therefore, it was idle to advertise for a competition which could not be had. The report shows the difficulty of adopting the many plans suggested for securing legitimate competition for the carrying of the mails. The Postmaster General did not-eonsider the adoption of the mileage contract plan compulsory, and declined to make such contracts during the recess of Congress. It was thought best to send the mails by the swiftest ships covering the desired routes — using sometimes the vessels of one line and sometimes of another, as they were available. It was held by the department, after thorough investigation, that the rate of sea postage, 4J cents per pound for papers and 43| cents per pound for letters, was a proper remuneration for the service of carrying the mails, but the desirability of showing the friendliness of the iJuveniinent to Aiiierican lines was deemed sufficient warrant for extending to them the full inland and sea rate. The Postmaster General says that, in declining to yearly contracts, he does not render a decision as to the policy of subsidizing American steamship companies. He says: Much has been said about employing the postal appropriation to aid American commerce. When Congress shall desire to invest the Postoffice Department with care for that object it can not be doubted it will easily choose language which will plainly convey the purpose and impose the duty. Until then, that depart* ment can not rightfully employ the moneys appropriated for the postal service to secure objects not intrusted to its care, however meritorious in themselves. It may be properly further observed of this that during many years the practice of granting pecuniary aid to American lines was pursued at so great a cost and to so little advantage that it was long since wholly abandoned; that, when followed, Congress hod directed it, qnd if that body designed its renewal, presumably it would again have declared the purpose. The steamship companies running to the south and to Asia rejected the offer of sea and inland postage, and after Aug. 1 refused to carry mails except to foreign countries with which they had contracts. This caused much annoyance to the department, but very little inconvenience to the public. Between New York and Havana the service is stated now to be three times a week instead of two, as formerly, and within a short time it is expected to be lessened in time to about sev- . enty-four hours, a gain of a day and a haff over the time of steamers. The Australian mail has not been specially interrupted, and a now company has undertaken the service under contract with New Zealand for three years. Some delays and inconveniences have arisen between New York and Colon, San Francisco • and Japan and China, and to the west coast of Mexico, by the refusal of the Pacific Mail Company, and some between New York and Venezuela by the like action of the Red D Company. Except these, all tho foreign mails are transported either in the same manner or a better than during the last year. . Early action by Congress is very desirable to provide such means as it shall deem appropriate to relieve the inconvenience sustained on the routes indicated. The department recognizee'it’s obligation to the business men of the country, who have forborne complaint, with but few exceptions, rather than manifest a willingness to see the Government compelled to a course which, upon careful consideration, had been decided inexpedient and unwise to be pursued. They ore entitled to the earliest practicable relief which can be given. Whatever measure of compensation or pecuniary aid shall be deemed appropriate,” it is worthy of jserious consideration whether the steamships which have the protection of the Government should .be suffered to refuse-their service if the compensation provided shall be esteemed unsatisfactory. That should be conclusively determined by Congress or by the department. i The report is accompanied by the complete correspondence between the department and the steamship companies. The revenue for the next fiscal year is estimated at $47,500,000, and the expenditures are estimated at $55,000,000. i Of the 178 cities where the carrier system 1 is in operation, only seventeen realized more local postage than the expense of the service. The surplusjat New York was $1,131,500. at Chicago $154,000, at Philadelphia $292,000. The four sons of Lieut. Kislingbury, of Arctic fame, receive a pension of $lO each per motath.