The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-11-16
Mr.. KEYS ANNUAL REPORT.
RECOMMENDING INCREASED POST OF
FTCE APPROPRIA TONS.
Better 20 Curtau or Abolish the Free List
than Increase the Rates orPostaee-lIiuher
Salaries for Letter Carriers Recommended

Better 20 Curtsn or Abolish the Free List
than Increase the Rates Off ostaee-lIieher
Salaries for Letter Carriers Recommended
WASHINGTON, Nov. 15.-The annual report
OF David NJ. Key is made public to-day. Much
space is devoted to the subject Of the present
and prospective deficiencies In the amounts
appropriated by Congress for tho salaries Of
Postmasters and for railway mail transporta-
ton. In regard to Postmasters he says that the
possible deficiencies in their salary account is
due to tho provisions Of the law. and cannot be
controlled by the Department
After describing the rates OF compensation
prescribed by law for railway mail service, he
says that to abolish the postal car system. be-
sides the great Inconvenience involved, would
have necessinted the. employment, OF extra
there was no appropriation. Headds
Hence have delayed making such radical changes in
appropriated this branch Of the postal service until
Congress could be consulted upon the subject should no
additional Appropriation be made for this service, shall
feel my duty under the law 80 TO cgrail the service
might consider the public Interests injured thereby
Mr.. Key referring to the fact that second and
third-class matter does not pay its way through
the mails. and to the immense amount Of official
matter sent free, together with the reestablish-
ment OF the frGnkinR privilege, says:
The suits have shown that T. was not expected that
deficiencies In Its should be met by appropra
sS % sss Il NE r and & posy he e
continued IL necessarily follows that the Deficiencies
matter Of these CLASSES and IL sums inadequate to meet
s.nSs II ne service &c % e Crippled congress Tue
Now most respectfully. but earnestly suggest that II
revenues Of the dsparnen6y eurtaipg aboshng the
on merchsndse than b. appropriatng sums nadcqaate
70 40 Efficient prompt aud fast transmission OF the
Mr. Key recommends that suitable pro-
vision be made by law for the delivery to
addresses in this country. free Of customs
Giles OF printed matter received in the mails
from foreign countries; when despatched in ac-
f0Edancg With p the SondioPs prescribed by the
With reference TO the free delivery system.
the report says:
les and COLLECTIONS In several Of the larger elites and in
view Of the LARGE excess Of postage on local matter over
livery-a wise policy would Justify liberal
tor NE purpose sbovs ana also
population 5000 emitting them TO il under the sw
Mr.. Key. without repeating the argument. re-
news his recommendation OF last year for a ma
| terial increase in the compensation Of carriers.
| He again invites attention TO the subject OF the
| service rendered by railway companies in carry
ing the mails between stations and post ofIices,
| and says II should either be made an element OF
the basis OF compensation TO be paid for accord
way companies should be relieved from this
duty. an unpaid service being always source
Attention Is again called to the insuficiency
| OF tho compensation allowed under law for SER
| vice on many short routes. During the las,
| session OF Congress bills were presented 10
| amend the law regulating the compensation 10
| raj road companies for carrying tho mails so ms
| 70 base the rates OF pay upon the items of
space speed and frequency" II is suggest
| ell that the space 10 be paid for on each route
| should DO limited to a specified amount. or GER
| tain weight Of mails. Otherwise the compcn-
sation OF all railroads, and consequently the
| expenditure OF moro than $1,000 900 annually
would be left to the discretion OF the Postmas.
ter-General. andhe thinks II Is clear this should
4 not be done
The other recommendations OF general in
tsrest made by Mr.. Key are. in brief. that
Congress should authorize temporary con.
tracts for star " mail service 10 be made
for one year in case Of need. without adver.
tisement. instead Of the six months period
70 which, by the amended law. the department
is limited and that he be authorized to pre-.
scribe a uniform TO DO worn by all employees oil
the postal service, with view to preventing
their personation by unauthorized individuals
He also recommonds the erection of a new Pos
ONCE building in San Francisco. and urges
l'that accommodations be provided for the Wash
ington City Post Office outside OF the depart
ment building. where all the space is greatly
needed for general purposes, including thu
| storage OF valuabl e records which are now ex
| posed 10 damage by fire.