The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1884-02-15
POSTAL RECOMMENDATION.

Thos. G. Smith, of the post office
department, who was detailed by the
Secretary of the Treasury, to examine
and report upon the postal methods of
foreign countries has completed his
labor and presented this report. AS
the result Of his investigation he rec.
ommends the following changes In
our post office system. There are, he
says, in round numbers $4,000 post
offices, each receiving and disburs
ing office. OF these $500 do money
order business, and IL 500 collecting
revenue from stamps only. Each
postmaster is authorized to return his
salary and authorized expenses from
the revenues he collects. 1t would
discontinue a direct accounting with
the 1880 postmasters. supplying
them with a limited stock of stamps
OH credit, and requiring them to pur-
chase at "a designated money. order
office In the vicinity all they requir.
ed thereafter. At such supply offices
they would receive their compensa.
ton and authorized expenditures.
The remaining $500 post masters
should account monthly direct to this
Office, with quarterly accounting.
Tho Dnof p,aefa ~ n ma a.,I oan,,nt Io -,
formed of the receipts and disburse-
ments for the first half of the fiscal
year until the last quarter has com.
menced, and the liabilities under his
for entire year therefor has
been incurred. With monty account.
ing he could be advised Of the reve.
nues and expenditures of within thir-
ty days from the expiration of each
month. Work of posting and stating
The general post office accounts now
requiring thirty-three clerks, would
De dispensed with, when the accounts
lnder present system were closed,
while the business of the stamp and
nance division of the assistant Office
De largely reduced. Smith suggests
hat a return to fixed salaries will re.
luce the labor of post masters, with
! record of pieces handled or stamps
cancelled in each quarter, with fixed
III even dollars, could be es.
to be raised or lowered as
business is increased or decreased.
lie thinks the benefits of the money
rider system can be partially extend
d 10 the II 500 smaller post Offices by
as stamps are furnished,
fractional note of convenient de.
less than 81. payable at
Is face value at any money order of.
ice, thirty days after date, stamped
hereon, when sold by the issuing
postmaster, and after such date TO be-
edsemable at Washington. at IA liked
discount OF 10 be absolutely void, thus
~ F'hS ~ 'uS vi | .
ihlS note is to be issued without fee,
icing simply substitute for stamps I
II RENTING.
THE very latest advices are To the e.
fleet that the Ohio river has begun !
u recede, AMI the hope of seeing land
5 reviviug in the breasts of the peo-
lie of the submerged districts. !
II Logan wants to secure the vote
{ the northwest for President he
must declare himself III equivocally
n favor Of good l'nlter for the Ia
ion. That is next in Importance to ,
cnSi"ns for the old soldiers. (
Cor. MArLEsoN is in deep trouble =
ver the freaks of some>SsfT lie mem
ers OF his c9Yrany. When one re-
than ordinary attention t
rom the public she becomes as :
ranky as aprima donna, and sings
,nly when it suits her fancy. II