Show POS10FFJGJC JtEFOKiL There is no reference in tho Presidents essago to the reduction of letter postage to one cent as demanded by the platform on which Mr HARRISON was nominated and elected The PnstmnstarOenerfll in n his report opposes the reduction at this time on account of the probable delay it would effect in the departments reaching a selfsustaining basiswhich is probably the poorest reason that could be given Not only do the people not care whether tho incomes equal tho outlay in administering administer-ing the postal business but they look with disfavor upon the attempt to make them do so since all such attempts involve a parsimony parsi-mony and picayunishness that limit the scope of the service and belittle the country coun-try tryWo Wo say the people do not care whether the postoilice department pays its way or not By this we do not mean they are indifferent in-different to the subject of economy but indifferant in view of supplying the public needs whether the cost is defrayed from the postal revenues or the general funds In other words they want the best quickest quick-est most correct and efficient collection distribution and dispatch of the mails at whatever cost The state the army the navy and indeed all the other departments save only tile postoffice are run with substantial sub-stantial liberality if not prodigality From them nothing is expeoted in the way of financial return Requisitions on these executive branches for clerk hire furna ture and all facilities are honored promptly and in good spirit whereas it is notorious that postmasters must wait for months even for replies to their communications and mnnths Innpor fnr thn riflalrpr snnnHua 0 or help The public are tired of the manner in which the postoflico business of the country coun-try has been handicapped by what may be called a traditional ambition on the part of postmastersgeneral to reduce the expenses as near as possible to the receipts A radical i radi-cal and immediate change is needed The west in particular requires more attention and a full recognition of the fact that this part of the country is growing and filling up with population |