The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1884-12-05

. lliS HCdtSSt dliu IlUlilpl6St Hd!lll6l
AT THIS OFFICE.
THE PoST-oFFiCE DEPARTMENT
The Postmaster-GeneraPs Report-A Con-
siderable Reduction in Revenues Caused
by the Lower Rate of Postage-Esti-
mates for the Ensuing Year-An Exten-
sion of the Free Delivery system Recon-
mended.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 1. -P0stmaSter-G Gen
eral Hatton has given his report TO the pub
lie. For the fiscal year the revenues were
S43, $685. 127. OS; the expenses, $40, 404, 960.65,
leaving deficit of S., 066, S33. 81, to which
are added outstanding debts and the cred
its of the Pacific Railroads, raising the ex-
cess of the disbursements over the revenues
to SIS, 204, 4S412. The revenues were 81
1886, 80 less than for the preceding year,
owing to the reduction of postage from
three to two cents. The amount
paid pOstmasters was 81, 2S3, S30.S7, an
Increase of S96S, 1854 over that OF
the previous year, and 1888, S3O.S7 in
excess of the appropriation. This excess
Mr.. Hatton says, was unavoidable, because
the law fixes the compensation of post
masters, and allows them to take it ont of
the revenues of their offices before making
their returns to the department. The az
gregate amount appropriated for the serY-
ice of the year was SIG, TAG, 037.62. or S341,-
07697 more than the amount discussed on
account thereof, and 1886, S94.O7 less than
the total disbursements and outstanding
liabilities.
The estimates for the fiscal year ending
June 80, 1886, are:
RECEIPTS.
Ordinary postal revenue. .........s5O,S7 2 sso.2z
Money-order business. ..........-.. 4OU,J0J.J0
LIZ. s2O2l
DISBURSEMENTS.
All expenses, including Pacific
Railroad credits. .-............ SGT, O89 1880
Deficiency to be supplied. .........$ 4,S26 1896
The reduction of postage affected the
sales of postal cards so that the number is
sued last year was 16,640, 900 less than the
preceding year. The collections on second
class matter were ST, SS9, 1924, an increase
OF S1S4, 414.61 over the preceding year. OF
this source of revenue 24.90 per cent was
collected in New York, GAL per cent. at
Chicago $40 per cent. at Boston, with Phil
adelphia, st. Louis, Cincinnati and San
Francisco following in order.
There were 11,246,545 registered articles
handled and 4, Isl, S72 pieces of undelivered
mail were received at the dead-letter Office.
During the year there were II, 953 APP
pointmentS to places in the postal service,
the number being $40 less than during the
preceding year. There are now 71,671 en-
plOyes in the Department.
Considering the investigations made by
special agents during the year the report
says:
The result of these investigations was graft
flying to the Department. Dishonest and neg
lIgent officials were discovered. The former
were removed and the latter were
reprimanded and more fully instructed in
their duties. In large number OF cases
where postmasters were discovered to be
short in their accounts it was owing to neg
ligence or a lack of ability to manage the at
fairs of their offices. Too many pOstmasters
feel warranted in regarding their positions
as sinecures, and feel free to give their atten-
ton to other business, content to draw their
salaries as officials, leaving the work of man
aging their offices TO others. This should not
be allowed. Postmasters at first and second
class Offices should be required to give their
entire time TO their official duties, and should
not be permitted to engage in any other busi-
ness that requires any portion of the time for
which they paid by the Government. This
result should be brought about even if 1t re-
quireS a statutory enactment to effect 1t.
The POstmaster-General urges tl19 devel
opment of the free-delvery SYSTEM holding
that it encourages method in the delivery of
mail and stimulates correspondence. lie
recommends that in densely populated dis
tricts hamlets be united in their postal ac
commOdatiOns, so as to bring them within
the scope of the law which allows free
system to every post-oftice having more than
10000 patrons.
MI Hatton, citing the fact that the free
delivery system earned last year 81 ,273,-
27S25 over its expenditures says he is con-
vinced the time has come for the reduction
of postage of local letters.
The department views with jealous eye
the growth of the messenger-service sys-
TEN, and the Postmaster General describes
the duty of the postal service in the matter
of quick local delivery as follows:
The necessity and demand in cities, for
prompt transmission and delivery of letters
passing between business men and others has
resulted in the establishment, in many places,
OF what may be termed letter-cXpreSS COM
panies, which, by the employment of mess
enger boys. are enabled greatly to facilitate
intercourse of this character among mer@
engaged in active lie. 1t is done at
a small expense and with so much sys-
TEN and promptEeSs as seriously to diminish
the revenues of the department at several
letter carrier Offices The patronage which is
extended to these companies affords evidence
that the tree-deliVery system, nOtW th5tand-
ing It's tScllIJleS ana dement's, mas DOB pro
crossed so far as to meet all the wants
OF energetic business life in large COM
mercial cities. Therefore, further improve
ment of the service in this particular should,
in my Judgment, be attempted, not only
to prevent a loss of revenue, but with pur-
pose to make it as useful as possible. / am OF
opinion that the public have right to expect
that this department should make the same
effort TO serve them promptly and faithfully
in the transmission and delivery OF letters as
is done by private parties. / know of no way
in which this he better nppOmUlIsl than
by the use Of a special pOstage-Stamp for let
tiers mailed and intended for special and
prompt delivery at free-delyery Offices
This stamp should be of the denomination
of ten cents and when affixed to letter,
in addition to the proper postage charge,
should insure for it as speedy delivery as
possible after its reception at any lctter-caT-
rer Office. This outside distribution could be Ell
fected by employing mesSenger-bOys at a small
salary, and in SUCH numbers as the c1rcuHl-
stances should warrant. L am satlsiled suca
an effort to accommodate the public would
still further commend the free-deliyery serv-
ice to its patrons in the large cities where it Is
in operation.
The Postmaster General says he agrees
with the Secretary Of War that those officers
of the department who handle money should
be insured by corporations instead of being
required to give an official bond, the sOlVen-
cy of which is always in doubt
The report expresses confidence in the
efficiency of the Star-route service, but
urges the amendment of the laws relating
to contracts in that branch so as to give the
awards to persons who live along the line of
the route, and thus stop the speculation
business:
Tribute is paid to the postal clerks. The
report deplOreS any attempt to weed out
this branch of the service without cause.
In conclusion the report gives data Of the
routine working Of the department and
urges the development of the foreign mail
system generally, especially with SexicO.
1t also approves the suggestion made by the
Superintendent that postal notes be amended
to be payable to order if desired, and de-
scribes the work on various buildings and
facilities of the department
The political campaign was pretty
lively in New Mexico, Judging from the
following attack on Judge Prince, made
by a Spanish paper published in Santa
Fe: Judge Prince is diabolical being;
he belongs to the Masonic fraternity, in
consequence of which he stands excom-