The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-10-25
NO. s..

| pOSCdl eRuIaJlOnS ana laws, ana SZOOl
was collected from publishers o.
second class matter for violation o.
law in enclosing third class matter In
second class publications. Publishers
OF legitimate newspapers are specially
interested in sustaining the depart.
ment in its efforts, through division
OF the postal laws and regulations. ia
exclude from the pound rate all publ.
cations designed primarily for adver-
tiSing purposes, or for free circula-
ton, or for circulation at nominal
rates. The enforcement of that law
will enable legitimate publications,
favored by statute as instruments of
popular education. to- sustain them
selves by securing such local adver-
tlslng support as would naturally
come to them. The adjustment of
presidential poStmasters is now far
enough advanced to warrant the state
ment that the result will be satisfac-
tory, and for the first time in the his
tory of the department the salaries of
presidential postmasterS will be equal
lied and placed upon the basis of
the total receipts of their office, total
expenditures in account for post
office supplies, $111,927, leaving a
small uneXpended balance of allow
ances made by salary and allow
ance of division during the
year for clerk hi1e, rent of
furniture, salaries of postmasters of
various grades, ETC., about So, 100000.
In order to meet the urgent demands
OF the service for clerks IN the post
offices, and at the same time keep
within the limits of the appropriation
it was necessary to create fund by
making reduction in tn salaries to
those clerks. In 955 of the offices one
quarter of Lhe funds so created was
used, so as to give relief at points
where additional clerks were abso
!utely needed. in order to work off
the accumulated and delayed mails
and to prevent further complicatio ms.
This expedient was somewhat in the
nature of "heroic treatment" and
1T is hoped the occasion will not occur
again. Congress should make ample
provision for this service. AS a rule
these clerks are underpaid, especially
at separating offices (offices where
mails are separated for other offices),
and they, are in many cases, compelled
to employ clerks at their wn expense,
which is wrong. That should be
remedied. 1t is the duty of the gov
ernment to furnish spacious and
well-arranged offices, for the
transaction of the postal business.
Such policy will increase the rev.
enue department and citizens in COM
munities directly benefited will take
pride in furthering the interest of the
service. The total receipts at nine
teen offices where new leases and I'M
provements have been made, show
wisdom in this change in largely in
creased receipts. There is no good
reason why the government should
not provide for paying Office rents at
postoffices of the third class as well
as offices of first and second class with
favorable surroundings, such as may
be expected. The salaries of pres
idential postmasters for the fiscal
year ending june 30, 1883, will, in
round numbers, be not less than $4,-
100000. Beyond the benefits for free
delivery service as at present restrict
ed to certain populated portions of
the country, which it is believed,
could be served by carriers with ben
eft to the people and revenues to the
department, there are towns within
short distance of one another, which
have not singly required the qualifi-
cations of populations or gross rev.
enue. The law should be an Hnded
so as to authorize the departms4.
extend the system to such places
by establishing it at the principal or
central office of a group, and discon-
tinuing other offices or substituting
for them inexpensive branches of the
main Office, from which the carriers
could serve the surrounding locali-
ties. In view of the large excess of
postage on local matter over
the cost of the free delivery service,
and taking into consideration the fact
that local correspondence increases in
proportion to the facilities offered, it
should be extended, and l believe an
appropriation should be made to bring
it up to the highest practicable STAN
dard in cities where it is now in op-
Grafton. This service meets the gen.
eral demand of business and social
life, but fails to meet the dispatch re-
quired in the delivery of letters of ex-
ceptional. Under the present system
letters received after the carriers go
out upon their trips, whatever their
Importance, must be in the Office until
the next trip. If received at o'clock
p. m., when the delivery closes for the
day, they must lie over until next
morning, and this delay frequently fails
to 5meet the object of communication.
Out of this want for more speedy
delivery have grown up in several
large cities private enterprises which
are now conducted in competition
with the service, and are diverting
from the legitimate revenue of the
a,-fr, o1a&% y 1r @f 1011
nually. The patronage bestowed on
these enterprises evinceS the public
demand for more speedy delivery of
certain class of correspondence. To
meet this want it is suggested that a
special stamp be provided, which when
affixed to letter, whether mail or To-
cal, in addition to the ordinary post
age stamp, shall be regarded by the
Office addressed as emitting the letter
to immediate delivery up to 10 o'clock
p. m. To provide for this delivery it
is suggested that boys be employed
and required to procure receipts from
the parties addressed, or some author
lied persons. In view of the excess
of receipts of postage on local matter
alone over cost of its delivery,
s, 1,021 ,804, it seems the time has ar
rived when postage on local letters at
offices where the carrier system is in
operation over the country, and great
annoyance here, the law should be
amended SO as to provide that the an
nual allowance for clerk hire should
cover the entire cost of labor required
at any and all points. The present
system of making allowance for the
expenses at offices Of the first and sec
ond classes is not practical nor just,
and should be changed so as to base
allowances upon the gross receipts
and revenue returned. In concluding
the report Mr.. Hatton pays high
compliment to the heads of divisions
under his charge.
Burehard, director of the mint, has
prepared the following statement
showing the specie and paper circula-
ton of the United States, October 1,
1888: Gold bullion in the treasury,
Sc, ,189, ,616 1885. Is; silver bullion in the
treasury, S51, ,079.11; gold coin in the
treasury, 81, ,444, 1925: in banks and
general circulation, 81 900, $50. 70; total,
| S5,445, 1859. Silver dollars in the
treasury, S1.145,S7372; IN banks and
general circulation, 1897 ,835.27; total,
81 523. .7O8.99. Silver fractional coin
in the treasury. $267, ,50161; in banks
and general circulation, S541, ,70263;
total, S809, ,204.14. Gold certificates in
treasury, S274, $4,000: in banks and
general circulation, $3.50, 1870; total,
1924 ,952 40. Silver certificates in
treasury, S153,6S2.80; in banks and
general circulation, $789.2l9 81; total,