The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1884-12-11
THE POSTOFFICE.
Postma ster- G General Hatton Re-
views the Work of His
Department.
Reduced Revenues Caused by the
Reduction of Postage-Ihe
Postal Clerks.
Quick Local Service Demanded-Ab0-
litiOn or the Sinecure
System.

SyStcms
We present below the salient features OF tho
annual report Of Postmaster General Hatton:
For the fiscal year the revenues were s43.55s,-
127.O8; the expenses, SAG, i9s0.65, leaving a
deficit of g., OG6, s335T, 20 which are added OUT
standing debts and the credits OF the Pacino
Railroads raising the excess of disbursements
over the revenues to S5,20i,4Ss.l2 Tho reve-
nues were 81 III, 56552 less than for the ireced-
ing year, owing to the reduction on postage
from TO cents. The amount paid Postmas-
tiers sll, 2s3, S50S7 an increase of sos, 1901
over that OF the previous year, anu SS5,S3
In excess OF the appropriation. This ex-
cess Mr.. Hatton says, was unavoidable.
because the law fixes the compensation or post
masters, and allows them To take 1t out or the
revenues OF their Office before making their re-
turns to the depai tment The aggregate amount
appropriated for the service of the year was
$40, ,o37t2, or s34l, O7697 more than the
amount disbursed on account thereof, and $780,
39407 less than the total disbursements and
outstanding liabilities.
The estimates for the fiscal year ending June
80, 1856, are:
Ordinary postal revenue. ........ .$1O,sI2 SD "A
Money-order business. ............. 4Oo,OOOOo
s51,272, S2OA
DISBURSEMENTS.
All expenses, including Pacific Rail
road credits. .<oO,UJ5, oyoV
Deficiency TO be supplied .......... s4.s26, 1920
uncertainty, the report says, because there Is
as yet no basis by which the revenues on D
cent basis can be reckoned, tho reduction in
the rate of postage from cents having come
at a time when It uneCualy affected the various
quarters. But regular increase OF per cent.
is expected, and that would place the receipts
at the fl ure given above.
In the expenses there will probably be for
compensation TO postmasters deficiency OF at
least Sl,5OO,0oo, and for transportation by
railroads about Sl,000.s00. The estimate
also contemplates the payment out OF the
appropriation of the entire cost OF mail
service ON the Pacific railroads, portion Of
which is now by law credited on the books of
the Treasury, and does not appear in the appro-
priation for mail transportation. The amount
involved by the contemplated change in the
mode OF settlement is approxiInated at $l,l00,-
coo, which amount, added to the two detcien-
cies mentioned, will leave the estimates s3,45s,-
769.5O in excess OF the appropriations for the
present year.
The reduction of postage affected the sales Of
postal cards so that the number issued last year
was l6,64O, 900 less than the preceding year. Tho
collections on second-class matter were 81 $780,,
592.l4, an increase of Sls4 446l over the preced-
ing year. OF this source OF revenue 24.9O per
cent was collected in New York, 9.41 per cent.
at Chicago, 6.42 per cent. at Boston, with Phila-
delphia st. Louis, Cincinnati. and San Fran
cisco following in order.
There were IL ,2i6,545 registered articles han
died and'4 ,S72 pieces of undelvered mail
were received at the Dead Letter Office. In
speaking of the work of the Dead Letter Office
THE amount realized from the sales of arti-
clesIor which no owner can be found is de-
posted in the United States Treasury. The
proceeds Of the last auction sale, which was in
January, 1884, was $1,9l5.43. The money sepa-
rated from dead letters which cannot be re-
stored to the sender isolso placed in the Treas
ury, and the amount deposited during the year
was S7,239.47. The value OF postage stamps
received from various sources and destroyed
was $2.OS2.la. The late Postmaster Gem
printed matter as had previously been
sold for waste paper should be
hospitals asylums, and other charitable and re-
formatory institutions within the District Of
Columbia This practice etill prevails, and
%, 1852 magazines, pamphlets, illustrated papers,
Christmas cards, valentines, etc, were dis
posed of in that way during the year"
During the year there were II, 053 appoint
ments TO places in the postal service, the num-
Der being $40 less than during the preceding
year. There are now 7l,67l employees in the de-
partment.
The Postmaster General urges the develop
ment of the trec-delivery system, holding that
it encourages method in the delivery OF mail
and stimulates correspondence. He recon-
mends that IN densely populated districts ham
lets be united in'their postal accommodations,
so as to bring them within the scope of the
law which allows free system to every post
Office having more than 10000 patrons.
Mr.. Hatton, citing the fact that the free
delivery system earned last year s., 1882 25
over It's expenditures, says he is convinced the
time has come for the reduction of postage OF
local letters
The department views with jealous eye the
growth OF the messenger service system and the
Postmaster raj describes the duty of the
postal service in the matter OF quick local de-
livery, 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
W laI may ne termed letter express companies,
which, by the employment of messenger boys,
are enabled greatly TO facilitate intercourse OF
this character among merchants, professional
persons, and others engaged in active life 1t 10
done mn
tenn and promptness as seriously 20 diminish tho
revenues OF the department at several letter
carrier offices. The patronage which is ex-
tended TO these companies affords evidence that
the free delivery system, notwit hstanding its
facilities and benefits, has not progressed so far
as 10 meet all the wants OF energetic business
life in large commercial cities. Therefore fur
Their improvement of the service in this particu-
lar should, in my judgment, be attempted, not
only 10 prevent loss OF revenue, but
with purpose to make il as useful as
possible. i am. of opinion that the public
have right to expect that this department
should make the same effort to serve them
promptly aud faithfully in the transmission and
delivery OF letters is done by private parties
know OF no way in which this can be better
accomplished than by the use of special
postage-stamp for letters mailed and intended
for special and prompt delivery at free-delivery
ofhces; This stamp should be of the denomina-
ton or ten cents, and, when affixed TO n letter,
In addition TO the proper postage charge, should
insure Tor II rs speedy a delivery as possible
after its reception at any letter carrier office
employing messenger boys, at a small salary.
and in such numbers as the circumstances
should warrant. l am satisfied such an effort
TO accommodate the public would still further
commend the free-delivery service to its patrons
In the large cities where 1t is in operation"
The POSTMASTER General saws he agrees with
the Secretary OF War that those officers of the
department who handle money should be in
sured by corporations instead of being required
TO give an official bond, the solvency OF which is
always in doubt
The report expresses confidence in the eff
cheney OF the star route service. but urges tho
amendment Of the laws relating to contracts In
that branch so as 20 give the awards to persons
who live along the line Of the route, and thus
stop the speculation business.
Tribute is paid 10 tie postal clerks The re-
port derlcres any attempt 10 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 develoIment of the foreign mail system
generally, especially with Mexico il also
approves the suggestion made by the supcrin-
tendent that ostal notes be amended TO DO
payable 10 order il desired, and describes tho
work on various buildings and facilities of the
department.