The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1883-11-01
POSTAL AFFAIRS.
Abstract Of the Annual Report Of First
Assistant Postmaster General
Hatton.
Improvement Of the Free. Delivery
System Recommended.

Tho annual report of Frank Hatton,
First Assistant Postmaster General, has
been lall before the Postmaster Gcncr nj
The reporter says: The ayrrayr amount
Of work performed In each division of the
Office exceeded that OF any previous year,
and the bureau has, so iar us the approI r.,.-
tion would permit. endeasorea to meet the
necessities. IL Is believed that In no preccd-
ing Year have fewer complaints been made
concerning incOmIetrney or dishonesty of
postmnsters or delay or confusion Iii the dc-
liver. or dispatch OF nni matter I'M tho uii-
fcrcnt poStU.lccs. The Whole nunler of
posiolllccs Dn Jun, 70. lsss, was n, s63, nj In
crease Of l,6,2 durng the year. Appnriioned
hy sections, the increase IN lie Nsw England
States was 30. Middle states aa3 Southern
States and Indian Territory -, states and
Territories West and Northwest $50. and lie
Paeiie slope IL. PehHst itaiiia haa the largest
number Of postoilices-3,'l6 New York fo.-
lowed with 3.Os2. and ohio third. with s.,20.
The number 0f money.oider Offices is !, s5a,
uH increase Of AL.
Tho removals and suspensions during tho
year We're $40 less than for the year before,
an indication undoubtedly Of tho improves
mcnt in charac'c' anl hatiits OF The persons
now serving the pahlie as pastmas:crS Dur
ing the year 1900 letters were written to
Postnasters and To private individuals In
volsing decisions under the postal regulations
and laws, and s.. 900 was collected from pub
fishers Of second class matter for the yiola-
ton Of the law In inclusing third-cass matter
In sccond-class publications.. Publishers or
legitimate newspapers are specially inter-
csted In sustaining the department in its
efforts through the division Of postal laws and
regulations TO exclude from the pound rate
NIL publications de signed primarily for adyer-
tssinx purposes or for free circulation, or for
circulation mt nominal rates. Tho enforce
ment of that law will enable legitimate publ
cations Favored y statute as IN instrument
Of popular cdncafi,nl 10 snstau themselves
by securing such local advertising support as
would naturally come 10 them.
beyond the benefits OF the frec-dcllycry
service rs at present restricted i Il class of
towns In denscly-ropuated portions of the
country which II is believed could lie 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 singy required tho qualifications in
population or gross revenue. The law should
he amended 50 ~ to authorize the depart
mcnt to extend the system to such places by
establishing II ut the principal or central
Office OF the group and disseminating the
other Offices, or substituting for them inex-
pensive branches OF the main Office, from
which carriers could serve the surrounding
localities. Excess OF postage ON local matter
over the cost of ffee-ieltcry service, and
u
local correspondence increases in pro-
portion to the facilities Offered, IL should
be extended and liberal appropriations
made to bring il up to the highest practicable
standard In cities where Ii Is now in opera
tion. This service meets the general de-
mands of business and eocal life. hut fails To
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. Att oc'o.k u. III. when the
delivery closes for the day, they must lic
over till next morning. aud this delay fire.
qlcntly fails to meet the object Of the COM
municaton. Out OF this want OF more speedy
delivery. have grown UP in several lars.e
cities private enterprises. which are now con-
dueted in competition With this service and
are diverting from the leeisimatr revenues of
the department thousands OF dollars year
ly Tho patronage bestowed upon thssn
cyinccs public demand for il more speedy
delivery OF Il certain class OF cSpunaener.
To meet this want ii IL suggested that Il Src-
cial stamp be provided. which, when affixed
to il letter, whether local ar otherwise. shall
cntitle the letter to immediate delivery up to
10 o'clock p. m. To prov Idle for their delivery
ii is suggested that boys he employed, and re-
qnired to procure receipts from the party nd
dressed. or some authorized pcrson.
In view Of the excess Of the receipts of
postage on local matter alone arer the cost Of
its delivery tSl.O2i. .saii, ii seems the time has
arrived when the postage on local letters ut
Offices where the carrier system Il in opera
tior can bc reduced from = cents 10 cent.
Such Il reduction will surely result in Il very
large increase In local business.