National Republican., 1883-10-22
PERTINENT POSTAL POINTS.
Annual Report Of the First Assistant Post
master General
Operations Of His Bureau for the Fiscal
Year Ended June 80, 1883,
An Increased Average Of Work Performed in the
Several Divisions Of the Office
Some Statistics That VIII bo Interesting
Reading Tor the Public.

Inc annual report OF tho first assistant
postmaster general, Mr.. Frank Hatton, of the
operations Of his bureau for tho fiscal year
ended Juno 30, 1883, has just boon laid before
the postmaster general. The following is a
synopsis of the report:
Tho average amount of work performed in
each of the divisions of this Office during tho
PAST fiscal year, except in Il few instances, eN-
cecdcd that of any previous year. In the Cstab-
Hshment of q worry large number of postoilices
and changes in the location of many alrcadyin
existence, in tho moro thorough dis
semination of information concerning
the construction and Interpretation of
the postal laws, and in anording
better and more numerous facilities for tho
proper transaction of business in postofices,
the bureau has, SO far as tho appropriations
would permit, endoavored to meet the neces-
sities of an increasing population, assist in
the activity of commercial circles, and keep
pace with the construction and extension of
the various railways and other means of com
munication. 1t is believed that in no pre-
Ceding year havo fewer complaints been made
concerning the incompetcncy or dishonesty of
postmasters, or of delay or confusion in the
delivery and dispatch Of mail matter in the
different postoflices.
There was an increase of 81 in the number
of postofices established during tho last fiscal
year as compared with tho preceding year,
and also an increase of Ia in the number of
offices discontinued. Tho whole number of
postoficers on Juno 80, 1883, was AZ, 1868, nm
increase of 1,632 during the year. Appointed
by sections the increase in the six New Eng
land states was 36; in the middle states and
the District of Columbia, 223; in the southern
states and Indian territory, 725; in the ten
states and six territories of tho west and
northwest, $50, and in the Pacific slope, 6S.
Pennsylvania had the largest number of post
offices of any of the states, the number being
II foil ,,,stl
Ohio was third on the list with 262O.
The largest increase in the number of post
Offices in any one of the states and territories
during the year was in Dakota, tho number
being 112. The smallest increase (onc) was
in Rhode Island, and in Connecticut there
was u decrease of one. Lancaster county,
Pennsylvania, has 15S postofices, tho largest
number of any county in the United States.
The increase in the number of presidential
Offices during the year was 192-a larger
number than in any previous year. The
whole number of this class of offices on June
30 was 2,143. The largest increase was in
illinois, New York has POT presidential
offices, or more than any other state.
The number of money order offices was
5,S57, an increase of AL over the previous
fiscal year.
The removals and suspensions during the
year numbered 316 less than for the year be-
fore, an indication undoubtedly of an i'm
provement in the character and habits of the
persons now serving the public as post
masters.
Tho total expenditure on account of post
offices supplies such as scales, canceling inks,
blanks, &c, was $l11,92z19, leaving an un-
expended balance of $72.Sl.
An increase of the appropriation for print
ing and binding will be necessary, and an
appropriation should be made to supply fourth
class offices with proper canceling apparatus
During the year 10T95 letters were written
to postmasters and to private individuals in
volving decisions under postal regulations an
laws, and $4,000 was collected from publishers
of second class matter for violations of law in
inclosing third class matter in second class
publications. Publishers of legitimate news
papers are specially interested in sustaining
the department in its efforts, through the di-
vision of postal laws and regulations, to ex-
cludo from the pound rate all publications
designed primarily for advertising purposes,
or for free circulation, or for circulation at
nominal rates. The enforcement of that law
will enable legitimate publications Favored
by statute as an instrument of popular edu-
cation) to sustain themselves by secur-
ing such local advertising support as
would naturally come to them. Tho
decisions of this division have been so salts
factory to all parties that no legal contests
have followed. Lock boxes are now i'll use at
6,700 postotfccs, the postmasters at which
hold III trust an aggregate fund Of 100000,
the safe return Of box keys. The present
regulations upon this ubjectshould be clothed
with the authority of law to protect the pub
lie against the loss of their deposits.
The duties of the salary and allowance di-
vision have been largely increased, in con-
sequence of the change of the rate of post
age, and by tho act of congress recurring an
adjustment of the salaries of presidential
postmastors to take effect Oct /, 1888, stimuli
taneously with the reduction of postage
This adjustment is now far enough
advanced to warrant the statement
that the result will be satisfactory
For the first timo in The history of the de-
partment the salaries of presidential post.
masters will be equalized and placed upon
the basis of the gross receipts of their offices
vast amount Of work has been done by the
salary allowance division during the year, in
addition to the work usually imposed upon it
and additional clerical force is imperatively
needed.
Among the allowances made by this di
vison were the following: 2,75S clerks at
salaries aggregatng $l,35j, 900; $435, ,431 for
rent light, and fuel Of postollices; $2O,
coo for furniture; S56,7si for furniture
$2lSOOO for salaries of la fourth class
postmasters raised TO tho presidential
class; $277,075 for salaries involved in the
adjustment Of salaries of 36l presidential
postmnstersi S25l,lSl for rent and 81, 3,S52 1O(
, for salaries of 2,l1S presidential postmasters
In order TO Jleet tho urgent demands of the
\ service for Gle ks in postofiiccs and Mt the
same time keep within the limited appropra
} tion, 1t was nec,ssary to create u fund by
! making reductions in tho salaries of those
Nccrks in 1876 offices. Ono quarter of tn,
fund so created was used to give relief nj
points where additional clerks were ab,
Bplutely needed TO work OIL accumu,
lated and delayed mails and prevent
further complications. This oxpedient was
somewhat in the nature of heroic" treat
ment, aud it is hoped that the occasion will
not again occur, Congress should make ample
provision for this service. FAs rule, these
clerks are unGcrpaid, especially at separating
offices. Tho pOstmasters Mt separating offices
(oillces where mails are separated for Other
oiiices) are in many cases compelled to employ
clerks at their own expense, which is u wrong
that should be remeded.
II is the duty of the government to furnish
Toomy aud well arranged Offices for the trans
action of the postal business Such u policy
J will increase the revenues of the department.
| and the citizens in the communities directly
benefited will take pride in furthcring tn,
interests Of tho service, Annexed tables o
receipts Mt nineteen offices whore new lease
and improvements have been made show The
wisdom of this policy in largely increased re-
ceipts. There is no good reason why the gov
ernment should not provide for paying tht
office rent at postotliccs of the third class ~
/ well as at offices of tho first and second class
' IL is great hardship on pOstmHstDrs at thirt