New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-10-22
THE POSTAL SERVICE.
ANNUAL REPORT OF MR.. HATToN.
FACTS ABOUT POST OFFICEs-souE RECOMMRNDA-
TIONs OF PUBLIC INTEREST.


Mr. HattOn, the First Assistant PostmasterGenera OF
the operations Of his bureau for the fiscal year ended
June 80 has been made to the Postmastcr-Gcnera Mt
HatOn says believed that in preceding year have
fewer complaints been made concerning the incOmpe
tenCy dishonesty Of pOstmasers, OF OF delay OF con-
fusion in the delivery and dispatch OF mall matter IN
the year there was an increase OF eghyeyen In the
number OF post offices established ms compared WIN
the preceding year, and increase OF La
In the number Of offices discontinued. The whole
number Of post offices June 80 was 47s63 an increase
of G32. Pennsylvania with 371G, had the largest mum
Der Of any State TerTory NewYork came next Win
$685. and Ohio stood third with 1920 The largest IN
crease in any State or Territory in Dakota 172, and
the smallest was In Rhode Island, which showed gam
of one Office The number Of Offices in Connecticut was
decreased by one Lancaster County Penn. had los
offices the largest number Of any county In the Uhed
| States.
PRESIDENTIAL OFFICES.
The increase In the number Of Presidential Offices was
1924 larger number than In any previous year. Inc
whole number OF this class of offices on June 30 was 2lld
The largest increase in Illinois; New-fork has ZO|
Presidential Offices more than any other state inc
number moneyorder offices was 1857, an increase Oh
421 The removals and suspensions numbered 3l6-less
than for the year before indication of an improvement
in the character habits Of the now serving as
| postmasters.
The total expenditure on account OF post ONCE
supplies such as scales, cancclling Inks, blanks
etc, was Sl11927, leaving an nexpended Dai'
ance Of S73 An Increase OF the appropriation
for printing and binding will be necessary and an appio
pration should made TO supply fourthclass oihecs
with propcr canccng apparatus. Lock boxes are In use
M roo post offices the postmastcrs at which hold IN
trust an aggregate fund Of S3,OOOOOO deposited Win
them by box renters to secure the safe k1o
The regulations upon subject should be clothed
with the authority OF law, to protect the public against
the loss OF their deposits The duties Of the salary and
allowance division have been largely Increased In cohae
qucncc Of change OF the rate OF postage and by tho ACT
Of Congress requiring adjustment OF the salaries Oh
Presidential postmascT5 For the first time In the Ms
tory OF the Department the salaries Of Presidential post
masters will be couazcd and placed upon the basis Of
the gross receipts OF their Offices Among the allowances
made by this division were the following: Two thousand
seven hundred and nfty-eigL clerks at salaries agse-
ting 81 OOO 1885, 49, for rents HIGHT and fuel OF post
Offices 900 for furniture SJG7Sl for fuIniiuIc SIS
900 forsalaics Of - fourlhcll, po-tnaser- raised 20
tbo Presidential class; S277O75 for salaries involved IN
the adjustment OF salaries o'36l Presidential postma
S254isI for rent and T3,sj2fo0 for salaries OF 2l'o
! Presidential postmastcrs.
REDUCED TO ~ ExPrDIEST
In order TO meet the urgent demands Of the service for
clerks I'm post offices, and Mt the same time keep within
the limited appropriation It necessary to create
fund by making reductions in the salaries ~ hos" clerks
I'm 1915 Offices Onequlrcr Of On" fund 20 created was
used Ia give relief point, where additional clerks were
absolutely needed to work of accumulated and delayed
mails ana prevent further compile This cypcdiDut
nat IN the lNulf W l'l'i' li'H'll'f ..'A
II IL hopod that the occasion win not again occur. Con
grcss should make ample provision for this service. As
rule these clerks uudcrpad, especially at separating
offices. The postmaster at separating 9IHcc' aI' ~ many
| which !, wrong That should Dee rrincii,d, a., ..,,
II the duty OF the Government - fuu'.h roomy ana
wcllarrauccd office, ;or %. Transaction OF the postal
U,,"Ttnop, and i, ,ti.r. .u the communjly directly
benefited VIII take pride u iutE,ng the interests Of the
service Receipts GO nineteen oh,'7 ",i' u =" ','''
and improvements have been made show Tie Wisdom o,
this policy In largely increased rcccpls There no good
reason why the Government should not provide for pay
ing the office rent a post Office oil ~, 'u '''' 10 We"
The aggregate sum OF the annual salaries " me 2L''
Presidential pJ,tIna~t"r- amounts 10 s'.'pVJ' i3.H
four Offices having been added 10 t4' III; VI u
thought hut ninety ad,lti o.g- VIII % a',,t,rl 10
surrounding the adjustment 81 salaries ~ Presidential
po-tma-icls hc fiscal year ending juno - l~-3 viii
involve IN round numbers not l'-7 IMAM fi'"'''""'
EXTESeIO> or TIE FEE DELIVERY -TRyl'F
Beyond TIE benefits OF the free delivery service o., nj
present restricted, J. class Of towns In dcn-'y p"P
lated portions OF the country which, 70 IS believed could
be served by carriers with benefit 20 TIE people and econ
ouy 10 Oh, Department These towns within short
distances OF one another which have not -nciy the re-
a. I'd qualifications Of population or gross revenue The
law should DE amended a 10 Iuihorl" the Department
10 extend he sy,cIu 10 such places by establishing It at
the principal or central Office OF group and dscounu
inc the other offices or substituting for them inexpensive
branches Of tho m,n office from which carriers could
serve the surrounding locri'ic- In We" al the lilH'
excess NJ postage local matter over IN. cost OF ne
iIc' infn 'o' , H. i i r,t,jcI and ilbrr' ap
proprntlcus made To bring up io tho highest pih'tcl
M, Iai n- Of bushes and social me- but fail-
To meet the dispatch required ia The delivery OIL ''rI' oil
exceptional Importance.
RECOMMENDATION AGAINST DELAY.
Under IN. present system, letter., received after tho
carriers 60 ont upon their trips, wha,cycr THEN import
aucc Init he Ia the office m the next trip NJ o'clock
D. IL when the delivery closes for the day they must lle
over I'll the next morning and this delay frequently falls
10 the object of the communication. Out ot this
Of speedy delivery have grownu In severn"
OF tho large cities, private enterprises, which are NO"
conducted in competition with this service, ana are Ill
vcfug from the legitimate revenue. ~ this Department
thousand, Of dollars yearly. The patronage bestowed
upon them cyiuc.s a pull" demand Tor more speedy
delivery Of certain class Of CORE spondcnce To meet
l- want IL il suggested that special stamp De- provided
Which, when ami Cd 10 letter whether mail OF local, In
add ton 20 the dnar postage stamp sh9l, DE Icgl,d
datc delivery up 20 10 o'clock p M 10 rto,id ioG ho
deliver It Is sufsr-icd tht n',- oo THi{fd a I mr.
some authorized person
RiDUCIO, IL LOCAL POSTAGE.
In view Of the excess Of receipts Of postage on local
matter alone over the OF It's delivery TlO2lS9 1t
seems that the time hH, arrived when the postage on
local letters at where the carrier system is Ia
opcation can be reduced from two cents TO cent
such reduction viii surely result IN large Increase OF
local The report, of the inspectors who inycs
tigaied tie unlawful dispatch companies show that the
Department Is losing thousands OF uollhi- HhIHIy 10Y
tier competition Ihcy oHI no brIiri Ia,lHli'o ln I'
Department. and the only thing gained by lhril patrons y
the ayin" OF cent letter reduction NJ local
hostage would result u great increase I'm business,
well a. meet the demands Of the ctic, served by
| carriers.
In the meter of leasing buildings for post offices
great exists on account or Lack or
VcLdrGncd authority make contracts beyond the rs
cal wear The Department should have ample discfc-
tioary power ia the premises conferred by Congress.
The cndcayor TO divorce Lc money order work from
Other pJ-tu business, contemplated by Congress, Is
causing mach trouble all over the country. The law
should Dee amended 10 provide FOR THIS work In the
snnc manner rs Il pays for clerical assistance I'm
tInu,acng other postal business. That ia, The annual
alowancc Tor c nix hire should the entire COS; Of
the labor required at any and AL points.
Tie of making allowance for expenses
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