Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-11-22
POST OFFICE AFFAIRS.
the Annual Report OF Postmaster Gen.
er0l Villas.

THE EXTENT AND SUPERIORITY OF THE AMERI-
CAN POSTAL SYSTEM AS COMPARED WITH
OTHER COUNTRIES ovERPAID RAILROADS,
dc.-THE WASHINGTON CITY POST OFFICE.
The Postmaster General. Wm F. Villas, in his
annual report,s states that the International bu-
reau OF the universal postal union has recently
coliected and published statistics of postal ad-
mlnistratton by most of the civilized countries
OF the earth, which disclose the interesting fact
that In immensity and extent Of means, OF ex-
penoltures, of performances and results, the
postal machinery ofthe United States exceeds
In some points far exceeds-that of any other
nation ON the globe. The entire length of all
railways employed by the United States nearly
equals the combined extent of those of all other
countries OF the world, while the other post
routes more than Quadruple the total of any
single people besides; and, by the latest reports
received, the mileage last year of our mail
transportation exceeded by more than 1885,
100000 miles the service rendered to any
government OF post offices no other nation
has one-th1rd our number; a marked feature of
advantage To our people and of liberallty in
pohcy. We expend annually more money than
any other to maintain postal facilities, and, if
the postal telegraph service be excluded from
tne reckoning, We derive greater revenue. AT
the same time, no service is maintained at
more economy of expenditure for results.
ALLEGED FRAUDS BY POsTMASrERs.
The changes of postmasters during the
eighteen months past, the report says, have
contributed to disclose the fact that many vic.
latiOns OF the law have been practiced, and
illegally excessive compensation has too often
been retained. AS the quarterly returns of the
newly appointed officers were received from
Time 10 tlme the cancellations claimed by them
were perceived In many instances to be Signifi-
cantly less than those returned by their prede-
cessOrs; upon which examinations by inspec.
tors were ordered, resulting often in evidence
that the returns OF the former incumbents had
exaggerated the amounts cancelled, sometimes
n NIL anil hama E..4-
have required 1t, commissions have been with
held and compensation fixed at a reasonable
ngufe. e. Inc number OF such orders within the
OF october was 172, and the aggregate differ
ence between commissions claimed and COM
pensatlon allowed, or the amount re-
claimed by the government as wrong
fully taken, including some disallowed
rents. has reached $7S,575.6O. In some in
case $4,Z25.l5, and in twenty-four cases above
$1,000. Arrests of sixteen pOstmasters have
been made, whose fraudulent intent seemed
legally proyable and inexcusable; of whom
seven pleaded guilty, one was convicted on
trial, one acquitted four await trial and three
action by the grand jury. Three four hun
others will doubtless be found recurring it, as
the examination Of returns by the auditors
indications of probable Irregularities. The az
cumulating evidences leave little reason to
aouot that the practice OF making false returns
mas Oeen pursued by some pOstmasters almost
since the enactment OF the statute OF 1873; that
1t has been growing and spreading fault en-
nfacing larger numbers as years have passed,
Inducing the fraudulent sale of stamps TO give
q speclous cover by larger reported sales to the
falsely reported cancellations. and causing con-
siderable annual loss to the department..
1t Is suggested that the present limitation of
three months for presentation by postmasters
OF claims for losses resulting from burglary,
nre or other unavoidable casualty works Oc-
casional injustice; and although but a short
period should be afforded, il is believed six
months would be more consonant with justice.
THE FREE DELIVERY SERVICE
by carriers was, during the last year, extended
to three cities-Aurora ILL.,, Duluth, Minn., and
Newport, ky.,-makng on the 3Oth of June,
1856, ISL Tree delivery offices in ALL The
limits imposed by law on the discretion of the
department. in extending the system have
pandeo the additions of other communities to
The enjoyment OF the privileges of the system
VIII be few, az from year to- year, they gradu-
any attain to the population or volume OF bust
ness now required,
The recommendation in the last annual re-
port for the extension Of the discreet etionary lmi-
lations of this service to places OF 10000 In
habltants or SIC, 600 OF gross annual revenue is
renewed The opinion expressed in the last
report that separate grade OF collection car
riers should be established, LOT use in the larger
cities, a. lower rates OF annual pay than are
given the delivery carriers, has rlpened to q
conviction that efficiency and economy would
both be promoted by the measure.
Inc money-Order system has been during the
past year extended to 311 additional post
0Inces while but 10 were dropped from the list.
IL Is gratifying proof OF the efficiency which
characterizes the management OF this business
tn tlat Du 81 money orders or In the ratio of
as enormously paid; and Of these part proved
ON examination to have been properly paid.
THE SPECIAL DELIVERY SERVICE
instituted under authority of the act of March
3, 1885, was put in operation on the 1st day of
October, last year. The act limited the service
to treedelivery offices and such others as served
places with population OF 1000 or more: and
lts privileges were thus operative at but 555
post offices. The present Congress, by the act
oil August Attn, gave power to make the STAMP
available at any office and upon any article of
mailable matter. The enlarged system was put
Ia operation on the 1St OF October. The short
period since passed allows but general informa-
tiOh OF the results. Confident assertion is there.
,1re amPoSsioie; yet II may be properly said
auxiliary will much increase The usefulness OF
the service.
The report, after referring to the saving
effected by disseminating payments to railroad
companies for the use OF apartments less than
forty feet in length. and in other than railway
cent from the compensation of land grant
roads, says: The conviction will force itself
upon the mind of every careful inquirer it may
be safely affirmed, that the present method OF
measuring the compensation TO railroads for
mall transportation is clumsy, unequal in
effects difficult of satisfactory adjustment, and
by no means fixed upon true basis. The sub
ject deserves early consideration.
The reduction i'll the annual cost of the star
IouGc tTuuSpoTtatlOn, euecLeQ Dy Or0erS be-
tween July lsl, 1885, and June 3Oth, 1856, was
$3Ol ,479, and contracts were made during the
year for tour years, beginning July LIST, 1856,
In the fourth contract section, by which an am
nual saving OF $23S, 1910 was accomplished.
REFERRING TO THE REPORT
OF the general superintendent of the railway
mail service the report says that at the close Of
the fiscal year there was an increase of thirteen
in the lines of railway post offices and an
increase OF one hundred and eighty-four
In the number of clerks. The casualties
TO clerks have been as numerous as in other
years. seriously fnjuring nifty six and
slightly injuring sixty other, but forum.
ately causing no deaths. cannot pass
this point without recalling the discussion in
vision was urged. When pensions are given
with generous lavishness, twenty years after
the alleged injuries, for every slight disorder
the soidier sustained, the spirit Of justice
equally demands some provision for the
seriously manned servants OF the government
in the severe and perilOus mail service by rail.
After referring TO the disagreement between
some American steamship companies and the
department In respect to their compensation,
the opinion Is expressed that the establishment
OF y regular mail service with the Argentine
Republic, the republics of Uruguay anu Para
quay ana the empire OF Brazil would be highly
useful, and Is lairly demanded by the interests
Of the country.
THE SEALED POSTAL CARDS.
contract was made in October With the
United States Sealed Postal Card company, the
owner Of patent covering at least as good an
envelope as any submitted to the department,
by which that company undertook ~ furnish,
sential, such envelopes as the department
should require, wholly at tue risk OF the COM
pany, SO tnat the department receives them
without cost, pays only ior such as are sold, and