The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-12-03


ais $50 to I'LL vacancies by death, and
3,Sl6 on establishment OF new postoflces.
One thousand six hundred and forty post
offices were discontinued during the year,
and the names and sites OF l,i03 offices
were changed, retaining the incumbents.
The adjustment OF July /, 1883, estab-
lishod 1917 offices in the hrst-class, 497 in
the second-closs, and LOSS in the third
class, making total of presidential offices
at the date last named OF ., ZOE. The gross
receipts which accrued at the presidential
offices for the four quarters ended March
| 81, 1883, amounted to S3S, i9S, 0S7, an in
crease of 81, 326, 326 rs compared with the
adjustment of July |, 1857.
There has been an increase OF $50. 500
in the amount required for the salaries Of
| presidential postmasters over the amount
required 1887
In the railway mail service an increase
OF about l,2OO miles is shown rs against
the previous years estimated increase Of
| 5000 miles. There is an increase Of l7,O17
| in the numboroi miles Travelled pcr nnnum
and decrease OF y per cent. In the rate
of cost per mile travelled and an Increase
OF 3,S2 per cent. in the average number OF
trips per week.
money order division for the wear is up.
ward of SliS,0OO,O0O. aud shows a net
profit 10 the Government OF about $50, 900.
The volume OF ordinary mail matter has
| largely increased, and IL Is estimated that
the revenue ON the number OF pieces
handled during tho past year would have
been. without reduction of postage, up-
ward OF $40, 100000 The business OF the
registration division has increased during
the year 81 per cent over that Of the pre-.
vious year.
The free delivery service was. during
the last fiscal year, extended TO 1869 addi-
uonal places, undor the act of January 3.
1887, making total Of 35S froo-delivory
cities. Tho number Of carriers was in.
creased from $50 60 0.3i0.
Carefully prepared statistics are submit
ted In every branch OF tho service, dem
onstrutng, the ropOrt says increased eili-
cheney over previous years, and which
may bo summarized Us follows During
the year 7Ol persons, offenders, officers OF
the department, and Others, wero arrested
Tor various oilcnscs against the postal laws
and regulations. The number includes
90 postmastors, ~ assistant postmastors,
~ postoiilco clerks, II railway postal
clerks, % letter carriers, 10 mail carriers,
other employee; l23 burglanos Of post.
offices, and $50 Others for various oiicnscs
those subjected TO the jurisdiction Of the
courts OF the United States. Foriy-nine
buglarics and % other offenders wore mr.
rested whose cascs wcrc subject 30 the la.
risdiciion Of the State courts. One hun.
drod aud scveniy-one OF these offenders
were convicted, % acquitted OF discharged,
aud bl0 are awaiting trial. The rcpoft
says Il Is gratifying 10 note that there has
been marked improvement over the past
year ON the numbcrol complaints Of depro-
daiions upon the domestic registered mail,
aud that the percentage OF loss isalso small.
Tho number Of complaints received Is
smaller, aud the percentage OF asccriancl
loss much less. Only 4,S2O complaints
were received "a against ., 2S8 madc last
year, while the total number Oh piccca
| registered increased l,0i2,h The total
] number Oi losses sustained, as shown 10y
| investigation aud careful estimate, wnH
| Si5, or one piece out II every ~. 3li pieces
handled. last year tho actual LOSSES Wcrr
l,0dj, or one piece out OF every lt.tS7.
These figures show q much better service
this year than last. These LOSERS were
from oil causes accidents, burniur IT ears
and posioliccs aud other casualties, aud
oaly 2l3 were tho result Of theft by din.
honest officials.
Fony-iuur thousand nine hundred and
seventeen complaints Ia regard 10 the do-
nestle ordinary mail were received, aud
BASIS investigated. Ia view Of the figures
showing the Increased number Of postage
stamps sold during the year, dcmon,iral-
ing the great increase ~ mail handled.
these figures show an improvement In the
service. Ia $3.50 Of these complaints In
ycslgaiod the claim Of loss was found a.
be- false. The letters or packages were
either not mailed " were subsequently de-.
liycrod.
The ro-tmnstor-Gcncral says at the
request IT nay predecessor an appropriation
Of $4,000 was made for the inspection
service. THIS WIS done In order that the !
smaller postoiliCcH, thusc Of the fourth |
class, might bo examined. aud the post |
masters Instructed hy personal visit Ol MA
Inspector This had not previously bC,n
done systematically. During thc past year
2lhsD such offices were carefully In
sp,cicd. Much good has resulted, as the |
department records show greater prompt |
ness In making deposits and receipts Ia The !
departments. aud marked Increase In r.,
coipla The inspectors collected ~ caused !
10 BE- deposited Ia the Treasury on account |
Of cnscs oi Glass & leases which are not |
strictly 20 bc called mail dcprciliionsl. |
sl7Ib2i2j. For the good 81 the service |
IN all H. branches this additional appru. |
priaiion 81 500 ON should be removed Tor |
The coming ychr'
Tho total number u complaints In 70.
gard 10 foreign mail, registered aud
ordinary. ~, 100, are considerable nj nn in.
crease over any previous year, but ID ~
also noticed that the number II actual |
losses h lcts in proportion 10 the number |
Of complaints treated, G,GSJ cases related |
10 tie registered mail, 3,SJ2 81 tlc ordinary |
mail, aud $40 10 miscellaneous complaints. !
Actual los was sustained In ~ casrs.
Tables oi tcsis II the efficiency oi railway |
posloflico clerks under the standard |
adopted prior Ia 1880 are submitted, show
inga marked improvement, the average |
per cent oi increased efficiency oi lS,, |
over 1857 by the results II the estimates |
submitted showing $3.50 por cent ior /
1857 ~ ~ % per cent IN 1858.
Tho report submits elaborate schedules |
oi railway mail connection IN the South |
and between the Northwest aud South. |
showing constantly Increasing business |
and need II more attention for next year, |
showing that subject has received marked |
consideration during the pact fiscal year.
The pos,mastof-Ocnrral submits that |
appropriations Tor special pay ~ railroads |
should BE- batter distributed, OF, II need |
DO, increased, " the policy Of special ~. |
pfopratious lor increased pay IL 10 be- con. |
unucd lie calls attention 10 tho settled /
..s.. a. al