Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-12-01
washington, December !, 1881
THE POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT.
Annual Report OF the Postmaster Gen.
eral-A Larger Building Needed.

eral-A Larger Building Needed.
Postmaster General Hatton in his annual report
states that the total expenditures for the service
for the year were s46 4O4 9S065. The revenues for
the year were s4a .127Os and the excess of ex.
pendttures over receipts was So OG6, 1885,. Adding
to this the amount OF outstanding liabilities and
the amount credited to the Pacific railroad conpa.
ies gives an estimated cost OF service over the rev.
enues for the year OF s5,204.4SiI2 The revenues
were g. $3.50 Tor AZ per cent less than those
the previous year, the decrease being attributable
to the reduction Of letter postage from TO cents
which took effect october l, 1883. The estimated
receipts for the fiscal year ending June 90 1885, are
ISL ,s72 Sa0.@, and the estimated expenditures
$50 ,O99 1872 TO- leaving deficiency OF q S6 26 to
be supplied out OF the Treasury. This estimate OF
receipts Is based on an assumed annual Increase OF
9 per cent which the Postmaster General does not
The Postmaster General recommends that where
towns within short distances each other have an
aggregate population Of 10000 and $4,000 postal
rev enue the free delivery service should be extend
e d to them by law.
The Postmaster General urges the reduc ion OF
postage on local letters to one cent, and the adop
ton or special postage stamp of ten cents In
addition to the proper postage for letters intended
for prompt delivery, the distribution OF which
could De erected by messenger boys He also re-
commehdS That the unit OF weight in rating letters
and sealed packages be changed from half an
ounce to an ounce, and that the laws be SO
amended as to recognize the suf1iciency of the
surety OF properly organized and approved CON-
pany on the bonds Of postmasters, letter carriers
and other officers OF the department. The bill pre-
pdiSu Wy StCuilu ASSISltHI 1OSlluISI6E S1neTAl
TO break up what Is known as speculative bidding
IN the star service, which secures over three
lOurthS OF the routes annually advertised, IS
strongly commented to the attention OF Congress.
The average annual cost OF the star service for
ve years preceding 1884 was 1924 SO2 or q little
over eight cents per mile For the last fiscal year
the cost was IS esq GAL, cost OF about 6A cents
mile, with mileage OF 81 ,052 miles. The re-
port approves the suggestion that the law author
1zlng the issue Of postal notes be so amended
money orders, to a designated individual or his
1ndOrSee, and cOncurS In the recommendation that
the fee for money orders not exceeding s. be re-
duced from eight cents to five cents.
INLARs1NG THE POST OFFICE BUILDING.
The attention OF Congress is invited to the neces
sity OF providing additional accommodations fol
the department by the extension OF the present
building. bill was introduced in the Senate May
Is. 1882, and reported, with amendments. from tho
Is, 1882 Senate bill -e79, Forty-Seventh Congress
first SESSION., to provide for the purchase of site
upon which to erect an extension OF the Post Office
department building. The bill gave authority tC
purchase or take for the public that portion OF
9Th street, between and streets northwest
and also the square numbered 406. bounded by I
and and 9Th and 9th streets northwest.
He urgently recommends that the relief sought
by this bill be granted by Congress The presen,
building is now, and has been for q considerable
period, totally inadequate to the needs OF the
service.
The plan contemplated by the bill referred t
was the extension OF the present building the
whole OF the square mentioned, and an addition tC
thereby be made for the use OF part of the build.
ing for the post Office OF the city OF Washington
giving central and otherwise convenient loca-
ton. ample room, With excellent facilities for dis
tiles for the receipt and dispatch OF mails by
wagons.