New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1888-12-12

year The latter mentioned increase ia classi
ned as follows: New England states S: Middle
states ls1; Southern states and Indian Terri
epory t4il. 1,4O6: the states and territories of
the Pacific coast 100: the ten states and terri.
tories OF the est and Northwest, ABS: District
o. Golum pla total, 2,219. Free delivery Of
Aces nave increased from 1S9 in the fiscal wear
ended June 80, 1887, to 35S In tbs yea ended
june so, 1888 In the railway mail service there
naa peen an increase in one year of 1913 routes,
anu ~ Vhe number OF miles travelled per araurn
an increase OF l50,795.9Iz4S; the estimated
increase OF railroad service for the wear was
800 mics put the amount of new railroad
SnLfAoe ACTUALLY put on was 12,T64 so miles
5he Voiu1ne OF business in the money order
DIVISIONS, Including transactions in nestaI
S9Is oo6 1e aea the sum of upwards of
9I4o'ooo,ooo Tor the year. During the past
year year parcel pos conventions have been con-
GIuaed with the Barbados. the Bahamas British
titi s aha Mexico, and are now under nego-
Statloh Win all the Central and South American
staIes. The increase of correspondence with
countries during the past three years is
slstt!Lyllls, ana Is especially notable and ex-
cept1onal with the Central and South American
states ane with Mexico. As the greater part of
nall matter exchanged with these countries is
commercial in its character this increase is
evidence OF he improved business re ations with
IheIn The practical operation of the parcel post
Sin1e SO Tar as negotiated has served to
1he most favorable predictions as to their
Dement'S In July last general postal conyen-
zion was NEGOTIATED with the Dominion of Can
aea, whlch went into operation on March 1, and
WniGL praCtlcally makes one postal territory of
the United States and Canada Under it ner-
chandlse and parcels may now be transmitted
enfough The mails at fourth-class rates of post
age It Is not possible here to touch even the
teadin@ heads OF The great postal establishment
TO Illustrate the enormous and
RAPID GROWTH OF BUSINESS
OF OF the needs tor legislative readjustment of
4lucn OF It's machinery that it has outgrown.
1or ohese and valuable recommendations of the
postmaster general attention is earnestly in
siteu TO MS report. A department whose reye-
aoes nave increased from 81 772, 600 in $40 to
co. IOo,Vo0 IN 1883, despite reductions of post
sse, Which nave enormously reduced rates Of
revenue while greatly increasing it's business
demands the careful consideration of the con-
gfess as TO all matters suggested by those ia
3nIllsr with its operations and which are calcu-
iated 10 increase its efficiency and usefulness A
Dill proposed by the postmaster general was in
troQuced at the last session OF the congress by
"hlch uniform standard in the amount of
gross receipts would fix the right of comnlu-
nifty TO u public building to be erected by the
government for postoffice purposes 1t was
demonstrated that aside from the public con-
'enlence and the promotion Of harmony among
citlZens, Invariably disturbed by changes of leas
inGs ana OF site. it measure of
Inc highest economy and Of sound BUSH
ness Judgment. It was found that the
government was paving in rents at the rate of
from to 10 per per annum on what the
cost OF such public buildings would De- Avery
Rreab advantage resulting from such law would
DC the prevention of a large number of bills
constantly introduced for the erection of public
Dullalngs at places, and involving expenditures
noI Justlhed by public honesty I trust that
Onls measure will become a law at the present
session of congress-. OF the total number of the
Pos5masters 54874 are Of the fourth class.
Inese, or course, receive no allowances whatever
tor EXPENSES in the service, and their compensa-
ClOn Is nXed by percentage on the receipts of
Their respective Offices This rate of compensa-
ZION may have been, and probably was at some
Time, just But the standard has remained I'M
changed through the several reductions in the
rates OF postage. Such reductions have neces-
saflly cut down the compensation of these Off
Gals, while 1t undoubtedly increased the BUSH
ness performed by them Simple justice re-
qu1res attention to this subject, to the end that
FOURTH CLASS PosTMAsTERs
may receive at least an equivalent that which
the law itself fixing the rate, intended for them
Another class of postal employees whose condi-
ton seems to demand legislation is that of
clerEs IN postotices, and Gail especial attention
to the report and recommendations of the post
master general for their classification. Proper
legislation of this character for the relief of car
r1ers in the free delivery service has been fire.
quent. Provision is made for their promotion;
for substitutes for them vacation: for sub
st1tutes for holidays and limiting their hours IF
labor. Seven million dollars has been appropri-
ated for the current year to provide tor them,
though the total number of offices where they
are employed IS but 35S for the past fiscal year,
with an estimated increase for the current wear
OF but forty, while the total appropriation for
all clerks in offices throughout the United States
Is 5000, 900. The legislation affecting the re-
latlons OF the government with railroads is in
Geed of revision. While for the most
part the railroad companies throughout
the country have cordially co-operated with the
postottice department. in rendering excellent
service, yet under the law as it stands, while
the compensation to them for carrying the mail
Is limited and regulated. and although railroads
are made post roads by law, there's no authority
. repC09d anywhere to compel the owners Of Il
railroad to take and carry the United States
mail. The only alternative provided by act of
congress in case Of refusal is for the postmaster
general to send mail forward by pony express
TAis is but an illustration OF il-titting legisa-
ton. reasonable and proper at the time of its en-
GeLment, but long since outgrown and requiring
REIMBURSEMENT 1t is gratifying to note from the
carefully prepared statistics accompanying the
postmaster generals report that, notwithstand-
ing the great expansion of the service, the rate
Of expenditure has been lessened, and efficiency
mas been improved in every branch. that fraud
and crime have decreased, that losses from the
mails have been reduced, and that the number
of complaints OF the service made to postmasters
fore.