Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1885-11-11
REraRT OF IHE EIRsT Assist.
ANT PesTuAsTER GENERAL.


WASHINGTON. New. lO.-Firss Assist
ant Postmaster General A. z Stevenson
has submitted to the Postn asser Gen
eral bis annual repsrt On the operations
OF bis burean for the nsc4l year ended
June 3osb, lsnS From the report II ap-
pears that the sumbsr Of postofices es
tAbiished during the year Vas 212l, and
the number dl continued vas $50. max
ing the whole number Of po-tofi Ses
at the end OF the dscsl year 81 -252, a
net increass of l235 during the year.
The number Of Offices subject to ap-
continents sv tie President (presiden-
,ial grade vas 2233, and the number
subIscs 20 appointments by the Post
master General fourth class vas
1903 The whole number of appoint
ments during the year vas IL .aO3, made
up AZ follows: On designations and CON
missions expired 63O4; removals and
suspensions SO. changes OF names and
sites SO7; deaths Of possmastsrs 4i2; es-
taelishment of new Offices 2l2l
the increase in the number of post
offices Vas distributed as follows: New
England States, -. Middle States and
District Of Columbia, IL; Southern
states and Indian Territory, 6is; ten
States and six Territories Of the West
and Northwest, 375; three States and
three Territories of the Pacific slope,
65. The smallest increase in any State
or Territory vas l 10 Virgins. The
increase in Dakota for the year was IL,
and in Mississippi So The only de-
crease vas IN Nevada The total nun.
Der Of money order offices was 6992, An
increase OF 749 over the preceding year
The number Of changes of PostI.asters
during the year Vas less than in the
preceding year, and the large decrease
ID the number of cases acted upon
during the year az compared with the
preceding year was due. says General
Stevenson, to ths fact that vary few
changes we're made in those offices dar-
ing the winter months.
Under the head OF the free delivery
system. the report states that the num-
Der Of free delivery offices at the close
OF the year was l78 An increase OF 10
and the number of carriers vas 1853
-eu increase of 4SS. The entire cost
Of the service was 81, $50, ,952, leaving an
unexpendec balance of $79,0l7. The
service has nov been extended to nearly
all the cities having a population Of
1000 Inhabitants, or returning $4,000
gross receipts per annun, and It's fur
ther extension must, under the laW,
await the growth of cities to the re-
quirements above noted. or the Qualifi.
cations must be lowered by legislation.
The First Assistant Postmaste General
says that in view Of the success of this
system, Its convenience to the public
and Its other merits, in his Judgment,
warrants the Recommendation that an.
thority be conferred BY legislation for
its extension TO places Of 10000 inhab-
itants, or having a gross revense of
$1,000.
The report briefly states the advan-
tases which have resulted from the CON-
solidation Of large free delivery offices
and recommends that the same policy
be applied TO non delivery Offices, % as
to give them the benefits of free de
livery. IL 10 believed that this consoii.
dation would reduce the labor of exam.
lining accounts by cutting down the
number OF separate postofficss and re
salt IN greater harmony IN the service.
Under the head of salary and allow.
ance, 10 10 stated that the total amount
alloved for clerk hire in post office was
- 94 $50; for rent, fuel and light I, .
postoffices $463 939; for salaries of
postmasters t2435D adjusted during the
year $3, 70l 600; for salariss of Presi
Dental postmssters $3.50, zoo. Since
April, 1854, $500 appiicstions for re-
view Of the salaries of p 'sfunasters
under the act Of March Sd, 1888, were
received and fled. The numoer 70
viewed and readiusted was 1881 and
$500 applications we're allowed, involv-
ing an additional amount for compeu-
sation OF back pay to postmssters of
$37S.922. As the resnlt Of the annual
adjustment the salaries OF IA Offices
we're added TO the Presidential list and
l3t effices we're releRated to the fourth
class.
Toe grand total of gross receipts at
Presidential Offices for the four quarters
ending March 81, 1885. amounted TO
f3l, ,792, &c, ard the aggregate salaries
of postmssters will absorb ll.&2 per
cent. of the revenues The postal re-
oeipts," says General Stevenson. form.
ing the basis Of salaries OF Presidential
postmasters huctnate With the favorable
or unfavorable condition Of the basi
ness of the country. At the prese ut
time they show that the country IL
entering on an era Of prosperity and
plenty, and therefore net less than g.
500, 900 will be required 10 pay the sal
aries Of Presidential postmssters for
the fiscal year ending June 30, 1887
The amount Of compensation for clerk
hire required during the same period Ii
estimated at 81, $40. 900, making the total
estimates for this branch Of the service,
including allowances for fuel, rent, fur
niture and miscellaneous items. $9.-
s97 600"
The First Assistant Postmaster Gene
raj 10 cenclosion calls attention to the
failure Of Congress to prsvide for pay
ment by the 0overnment of the rent of
third cla2 post offices He rcncws the
Recommendation that provision be
made for the payment OF the rent Of
offices Of that class, and for the pay
mcns Of the expenses Of light, fuel, sta
tionery and miscellaneous items for
these Offices. IL IL also recommended
that January l, 1887, be hxsd a. the
limitation for apple atoms for the read
justmens Of salaries under the act Of
March laS}