The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1885-12-03
POSTMASTER GENERAL VILLA
RECORD.

REPORT.
The STATESMAN is in receipt of the Off
cial report of VIM. F. Villas, postmaster
general of the United States. Mr.. Villas
refers to the fact that during the past fis-
cal year ending with June three captains
have been at the helm in his department,
viz; Gresham, who resigned September
"a, 1884; Hatton, whose term terminated
on the acceptance of his resignation
March Z, this year, and Mr.. Villas himself,
who came in with the democratic admins
tration.
The report shows considerable increase
in the deficiency of the postal revenues
and gives a condensed statement of the
receipts and disbursements for the years
1883, 1884, as we'll as the concurrent year.
The statement for 1883 shows surplus
over all expenditures of $1,033,233.17,
and for 1884 total net def
cheney of $5,246, 951.42, while the present
year shows a still greater deficiency by
$8,381, 571.41.
This difference is due toSa burning of
the candle at both ends, the cutting down
the revenues, and increasing the expenses,
the former is caused by the diminishment
of the rate of letter postage and the latter
from the natural increase of mails and ex-
tension of the service.
The falling off of the revenues for 1884
to 1883 was $40 per cent, while that of
1885 from 1884 was only two per cent.
Each quarter of the fiscal year show an
increase over the preceding quarter and
thus indicates that the growth of patron
age has reached point of complete
counteraction to the depressing influence
of the reduction in the rate.
The unsatisfactory condition of general
hnc S171r
effect, which is very appreciate.
The increase of expenditures was nearly
3 per cent less during the present year
than in 1884.
! There was an actual decrease of COM
pensation to postmasters during the past
year of $50, 981.93, while there was an in
crease in 1884 of 1868, 436.41, and in 1888,
$1,35O,717.74 and the increase in clerk
hire this year was only about two-ffths of
what it was last year.
The free delivery of this year has incur
red an expense over one-third greater
than last year. Mr.. Villas first assistants
report shows 2,O21 newly established Of
fees, and $50 discontinued, and the total
of postmasters, 51,252, of which 1928
were presidential, 49,O19 fourth-class.
There were 1888 less appointments of
postmasters this year than last.
Mr.. Villas promulgated a regulation re-
quiring every fourth-class postmaster who
had been in office for five years to give a
new bond, because, under the old rule, the
government suffered great loss by death
of bondsmen, etc.
Nineteen cities have been added to
the free delivery system, and this
year 1,744, 537, Alb pieces were collected
and delivered in all.
There has been a balance of $50, 969.48
left over from the appropriation for post
office supplies.
The second assistant postmaster
general reports on forty-eight new routes,
and 1872 miles, the decrease in steam
boat service was $33,571.
The Star routes show an increase of
642 routes and SAB miles.
The money order system is reported as
nearly perfect as it can be at present.
New buildings have been added and
abuses of mails rendered less easy, and
the facilities have been increased gener-
ally and expedited at really a less ex-
pense than was necessary under the old
arrangement.
Gen. Villas makes many good recon-
mendations, and shows himself thorough
ly conversant with his duties.
The report is a very exhaustive one.
and will repay a close perusal. It is
neatly printed in phamphlet form and
comprises 165 pages octave.