The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1883-11-01
HATTON'S REPORT.
A Years Operations of the Gen.
eraI Postoffice.
Annual Report of the First Assistant
Postmaster General

The annual report or Frank Hatton,
First Assistant Postmaster General, has
been laid before the Postmaster Gcner al
The reporter says: The average amount
OF work performed in each division OF tho
Office exceeded that of any previous year,
and the bureau has, SO far as the appropra-
ton would permit, ondeavored 10 meet the
necessities. 1t ia beloved that in no proceed
ing year have fewer complaints been made
concerning incompetency or dishonesty OF
Postmasters or delay or confusion in the de-
livery or dispatch of mail matter in the diff
ferent postofices. The whole number of
postofiices on June 30, 1883, wars ~, s63, an in
crease of 1872 during the year. Apportioned
by sections, the increase in the New England
States was 80. Middle States 223, Southern
States and Indian Territory 725, States and
Territories West and Northwest $50, and tho
Pucifc slope 6s. Pennsylvania had the largest
number of postofiices-3,7l6. New York fol-
lowed with 3,0S2, and Ohio third, with 2,620.
The number of money-order offices Is 1857,
an increase of 42l.
The removals and suspensions during the
year were 3l6 less than for the year before,
an indication undoubtedly Of the improve
ment in character and habits of the persons
now serving the public as Postmasters. Dur
ing the Year 0,705 letters were written to
Postmasters and TO private individuals In
voying decisions under the postal regulations
and laws, and 81, 900 was collected from pub
fishers OF second-class matter for the viola
ton of the law in inclosing third-class matter
I'm second-class publications. Publishers OF
legitimate newspapers are specially inter-
ested in sustaining the department. in It's
efforts through the division of postal laws and
regulations 10 exclude from the pound rate
all publications designed primarily for adver-
Using purposes or for free circulation, or for
circulation at nominal rates. The enforce
ment of that law will enable legitimate publ
cations Favored by statute as an instrument
of popular educatOn) TO sustain themselves
by securing such local advertising support as
would naturally come to them. The adjust
ment of salaries of Presidential Postmastcrs
is now far enough advanced 10 warrant the
statement that the result will be satisfactory,
and for the first time in the history of the de-
partment the salaries OF Presidential Post
masters will be cqualized aud placed upon a
basis of the gross receipts of theirOfliceS.
Beyond the benefits of the free-delivery
service rs at present restricted is n class of
towns in densely-populated portions OF the
country which ii is believed could be served
| by carriers with benefit to the people and
economy to the department. These are towns
within short distances of one another, which
have not sngly required the qualifications in
population or gross revenue. The law should
be amended so as to authorize the depart
ment to extend the system TO such places by
establishing it at the principal central
Office of the group and disseminating the
other offices, or substituting for them mex
pensive branches of the main Office, from
which carriers could serve the surrounding
localities. Excess of postage on local matter
over the cost of free-deIivery service, and
taking into consideration the fact that
! local correspondence increases in pro-
portion to the facilities offered, IL should
be extended and liberal appropriations
made to bring it up TO the highest practicable
/ DO IL, niti. d In
ton. This service meets the general de-
mands of business and social life, but fails 70
meet the dispatch required In the delivery OF
letters OF exceptional importance Under
the present system letters received after the
carriers 20 out upon their trips, whatever
! their Importance, must lie in the Office till
/ the next trip. At q o'clock p. m, when the
delivery closes for the day, they must lie
/ over till next morning, and this delay fro
quently fails TO meet the object OF the com
munication. out of this want of more speedy
( delivery, have grown up in several large
! cities private enterprises. which are now con
/ Quoted in competition with this service and
! are dverting from the Legitimate revenues OF
! the department thousands of dollars year
/ ". The patronage bestowed upon them
/ evinces n public demand for n more speedy
! delivery of a certain class OF correspondence
| To meet this want il is suggested that spe-
! cial stamp be provided, which, when affixed
! TO n letter, whether local or otherwise shall
| entitle the letter to immediate delivery up &c
/ 10 o'clock p. III. To provide for their delivery
/ it is suggested that boys be employed, and re-
! quired to procure receipts from the party adj
/ dressed, or some authorized person.
In view of the excess OF the receipts OF
! postage on local matter alone over the cost OF
| its delivery 81 OIL ,s9D, it seems the time has
arrived when the postage on local letters AT
| Offices where the carrier system is in opera
| tior can be reduced from cents TO ! cent
! Such reduction will surely result in very
! large increase in local business.