The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-12-03
100000

is 69,o20. The free delivery system is in opera
ton in 154 cities and the number of carriers was
$3.50. The total cost of this service was 49,
173,336,51. The postage on local matter at the
various Offices amounted to 81, 1915, $50 50, an
increase over the preceding year of $37S,65443
ana over the total cost of the service of 81, OIL
B95.O1. 30.
The aggregate of the salaries of postmaste rs
OF presidential Off ces, according to the adjust
ment for October 1, 1883, will he about SO, $780,
900, and for the year ending June 80, 1885, is
expected to reach $4,000. 600. Attention ia d.
rected to gross inequalities in expenditures for
clerk hire, as compared with receipts, in a mum
Der of the larger offices, A comparison of
figures show a variation of more than IL pei
cent. The Postmastmaster general directs a
general revision of the allowances for clerk
hire, with a view to making reductions, witho ut
impairing the efficiency of the service.
One thousand nine hundred and forty-f our
claims of postmasters for reimbursement or
losses by burglary, fire and other unavoidable
casualty. were filed during the year. OF these,
S25 were disposed of; 274 were allowed
amounting to S4,2I1.45. One hundred and
tighty-two claims were disallowed, and 1863
were abandoned or withdrawn.
The cost of railway service, including postal
N"AS "hA SASAho Wao P4fyf %OSH@Oy III dDUuG1 - 10
cents per mile; the Steamboat service cost
14.96 cents per mile, and the star service sos
cents per mile. The total cost of inland mail
service for the year ended June 80, 1888, was
~Sl9,234,899, au increase. OF 10 per cent. over the
cost of the same item for the previous year.
Concerning the star service, the Postmaster
general says:
The present status of the star service shows
Tor 1883 a cost of S4.739,478. with 1888, 1872
miles or annual transportation, against a cost of
1881 ,499, with 5000, 995 miles of annual
transportation in 1880, being an increase from
1850 OF 1,927,7S7 miles of transportation and
$2,5S2,O2l decreaseJin cost. This service is now
all performed under contracts made upon pro-
posals submitted in response to advertisements
The only change in the contract rate of paw,
liked by competition, has been for increase or de-
crease in trips or distance, and it may therefore
be said to be upon a healthy basis. The sharp
composition brought about by specializing bid
ders has so reduced the compensation for carry
ing the mails on star routes as to preclude the
employment of any other than the cheapest out
fits, and while the mails may be dragged through
on schedule time, the result is accomplished nv
means Inferior to those used IN private business.
10 secure the superior grade of service desired,
restrictions have been placed upon subletting
by prescribing A form of sub-contract through
which greater RESPONSIBILITIES are imposed upon
those undertaking TO render the service. 1t is
expected that this will add somewhat to the
cost, but it will undoubtedly result in a material
Improvement In the service.
The relations between the government and
the companies owning the subsidized Pacific
roads are unsettled and unsatisfactory.
OF railway postal CLERKS and their salaries
Gen. Gresham says:
"At the close Of the year there were 1855
railway postal clerks, an increase of 2, IS per
cent. over the preceding year, while the increase
III annual salaries paid averaged only AZ cents
per clerk. The superintendent asks for an ap-
preparation for the next fiscal year OF 81, 1885,
2S9. 81, an increase of $31S,169 60 over the cur
rent year, which seems TO be reasonable. An
increased appropriation OF 800, 900 is asked TO
pay for additional postal cars. Clerks in this
branch of the service are appointed on pr0ba-
zion for six months, during which time they are
frequently examined to test their fitness. Only
those who are then found to be capable receive
permanent appointments. This practical appll-
cation of clvil-service rules has been productive
OF excellent results. During the year there
were LA casualties, in which one clerk was
killed, thirty-ive seriously injured and forty
two slightly injured. renew the
lion OF my predecessors, that the Postmaster
general be authorized to pay the widow or the
guardian or the minor children of a railway
postal clerk who is killed in the service a sum
equal to one years salary OF the grade which he
held at the time of his death.
The money-order business has increased
steadily during the year. The superintendent of
Jhe money-order system states that the new pos
raj notes, the issue of which was authorized by
employed for reinittances of small sums, and re-
ports that the n0stal notes paid at the New York
city post0fiee from the commencement of bust
ness on Sept. 3 until Oct. 20, 1888. numbered
1894, and amounted TO &1O6, S543l, while
during the SAINT time 80, 126 money orders were
paid, amounting to ST, 136,49S.Sl. The other
provisions of the act modifying the postal
U0ney-order system have been duly put into
effect, as stated in his report.
The amount of postage collected on second