The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1888-12-14

the additional labor they involve, the total
ordinary or current expenditures Of the de-
partment for the three years ended June 81,
lsss. are less by more than % per cent than
such expenditures for the three years ended
June 30 1884. The various steps which have
been taken TO improve the business methods
of the Department are reviewed bv the Secre-
tary. The purchasing Of supplies has been con-
solidated and placed under a responsible bu-
reau head This has resulted IN the curtail-
ment of open purchases, which in the years 1884
and 1885 amounted to over 80 per cent OF all the
purchases Of the department, to less than II per
cent. so that at the present time about 20 per
cent Of the total departmental purchases are
made By contract and after competition As
the expenditures on this account exceed on an
average Of q. 100000 annually, it is evident that
an important Improvement on the system has
been inaugurated and substantial economies
introduced
THE Posr-OFFIcR.
The report of the Postmaster-General shows
a marked increase Of business in every branch
Of the postal service. The number Of postoflices
on July l. 1883 was 81 80, an increase of LA in
three years and OF 2.2lo for the last fiscal year.
Free delivery ofnces have increased from $50 in
the fiscal year ended June 80. 1887, to $50 In the
year ended June 80, 1888. In the railway mail
service there has been increase in one year Of
l6s routes, and in the number Of miles travelled
per annum an increase of $50, 1969l1.4 The
estimated increase of railroad service for the
year was 6,O6o miles but the amount of new
railroad service actually put on was l2'A5O
miles
The volume Of business in the money order
| division including transactions in postal notes,
| reached the sum of upwards of 143 millions for
the year. During the past year parcel post con-
ventious have been concluded with Barbados
| the Bahamas, British Honduras and Mexico
| and are now under negotiation with all the
Central and South American States. The in
| crease for correspondence with foreign
countries during the past three years is crafty
| ing and is especially notable and exceptional
| with the Central and South American States
| and Mexico. As the greater part OF mail
matter exchanged with these countries Is COM
| mercial in its character this increase is evil
dence of the increased business relations with
| them.
The practical operation Of the parcel post
convention so far as negotiated has served to
| fulfil the most favorable prediction as to their
| benefits In January last a general postal con-
vention was negotiated with the Dominion Of
Canada. which went into operation March and
which practically makes one postal territory Of
| the United States and Canada Under it mer-
| chandise parcels may now be transmitted
through the mails at fourth class rates Of post
age.
1t is not possible here to touch even the lead
| ing heads of the great postal establishment to
| illustrate the enormous and rapid growth of the
| business and the needs for legislative readjust-
ment of much OF its machinery that il has out
| grown. For these and valuable recommends
| lions of the Postmaster General attention Is
| invited to his report. A department whose
revenues have increased from tl9 I12, 90 in 1870
to 81 e.OOO in 1888, despite reduction OF post
age which have enormously reduced rates Of
| revenue while daily increasing its business de-
mands the careful consideration Of the Congress
| as to all matters suggested by those familiar
with its operations and which are calculated
to increase its efficiency and usefulness.
OF the total number of postmasters 81, s74 are
of the fourth class. These. OF course, receive
no allowances whatever for expenses in the ser
vice, and their compensation is fixed by per-
centages on receipts at their respective Offices
This rate of compensation may have been and
| probably was. at one time, just, but the stand
| ard has remained unchanged through the sew
eral reductions in the rates of postage. Such
reductions have necessarily cut down the COM
pensation of these officials while It undoubtedly
| increased the business performed by them.
| Simple justice requires a mention of this SUBJ
| iect 10 the end that fourth-class postmasters
may receive at least an equivalent to that
which the law itself fixing the rate intended for
| them
Another class of postal employees whose con-
| dtion seems to demand legislation is that Of
cIerhs III postouiees anu Gail especihi at'en-
ton 10 the repeated RECOMMENDATIONS OF the
fostnlaster ueneral lor tneir ciassilcation-
Proper legislation of this character for the
relief of carriers in the free delivery service has
| been frequent. Provision is made for their
promotion: for substitutes for them on vaca-
tlon' lot suosttutes lor holuays' anu limiting
.leir hours vi iaooI. SeN Gu niiiiioh uoiiars mas
oeen appropriated lot tne current year 10 pro-
I -
Nlue LOT tnep' though tne total nunuer Oh OF
noes ~nere tnes are eiilployeu = Out 800 ior tne
past nscai year. Win an esuma1eu increase LOT
the current year Oh put lofty' ~nile tne total
ous the = nlteu states Is fS,seVo.
phfAHrNENI VI JUSTICE.
Inc ransacuons OF tne department OF JUS
tiee ior Tue nseai year enueu June o. 1855, are
contalneu III the report oi the attorney -uen-
eral, as wen as number OF Faluaoie recon-
menuatlons' tne most OF WHICH are repetitiohs
OF those previously msae ana ought 10 receive
consideration II Is stated in this report that
.nougn judgments IN cNl SUITS amounting 10
essu-l|o were recovered IN FAVOR OF tue Gov-
oa, INNS sue yeAt' onAs tne sun y, fi'-,
- vas .Teeu sneleon anu 'nat 'nousn
iiHe,' peH1es az ioi "eie iinpos
70 vi 20 20 ouis 81 ''os''>- vi 'n~'
'u IL "a' pa.d on .. ,eIiu, 'Ie'1ul.
| .. 10y ,u,usu an must a,ou vi .ne
-. -, a.. ,r-.. y mo-
- w ~. ..in S"o~'N eHu'e ~ Ia
eo r'I,e " eue sI
o Sppes -, nuni snIs 'Spo'. 'ne' .ususu
p.IoL ~ '".eH' ISN; 49, We" ue1n uu' >.
Ion, 80, ~ tue ', ., IAN anu
iu@Ho uuUer 'ne laws Vi aoo. anu ioss' PUNISH
us ~. go 90 So"o.son %
| e. S,',sr,s n.,,;,.,e., no, u",e nee.S
.,,. =, 60 w. ~ uus. 'no l@"s anu =
| -. a. =. e. as op,aon - ~
80. - = - :. 81 = .n. Va
~. $500 .,.,a.. .s,. ' oppvse. :, "
| ru...a -. .-.ST Sss "" 'ne
So s".s.',, ~ .s .. e nv
| .r.lss ~ ahuet
| - s-..-s.. ~ o. v. - :, ioc'' iot