The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1888-12-06
THE MAIL POUCH.
mands q REIMBURSEMENT of the Ma
chinery-Postal Conventions.

The report of the postmaster general shows
marked increase OF business IL every branch OF
the postal service. The number of posto:Sces on
July 1, 1883. was 1886. an increase OF 6,12t
in three years and of 2,219 for the last fiscal
year The latter mentioned increase Is ciass1-
he'd as follows: New England states. .: Middle
states, 1871: Southern states and indian Terri.
tory (41), 1.406: the states ano territories OF
the Pacific coast, 100: the ten states and terri
tories of the West and Northwest, 435; District
of Columbia. 2: total, 2,219 Free delivery OF
ices have increased from 1S9 in the fiscal year
ended June 80, 1887, to SoS in the year ended
June 80, 1888 In the railway mail service there
has been an increase IN one year OF Los routes,
and III the number OF miles Travelled PEE annum
an INCREASE of 80, .95.9174S: the estimated
increase Of railroad service for the year was
5000 miles, but the amount OF new railroad
service actually put on was Il. OI.3 30 miles,
The volume o. business liz the money order
divisions. includiIfG transactions IN postal
notes, reached the SYM OF upwards OF
$l43, 10000 for the year. Dut,ng the past
year parcel posi- conventions .bave bseE con-
Guided with the Barbados. the bahamas, BTU al
Honduras and Mexico. aud are now under nego-
ttation with all the Central and South American
states. The increase Of correspondence with
foreign countries during tho past Ihree years Is
gratifying. and is especially nocabie ana s4-
ceptioual with the Central and South American
states and with Mexico. As the greater part OF
mail mssser exchanged with these countries -
cornmere7a, in its character. this increase IS
evidence of the improved busins re atoms with
them The pfaet ica operation of the parcel post
conventions so far as negotiated has served 20
fulfill the mos. favorable predictions as TO their
benefits. In July last general postal conven-
ton was negotiated with the poEl4nion of Can
ada, which went into operation OF Nafca j anG
which practically makes one postal territory Qf
the United States and Canada. Under 1t mef-
chandise and parcels may now be transported
through the mails at fourtiiEclass rates OF post
age It is not possible here to touch even the
leading heads of this great postal ESTABLISHMENTS
to illustrate the enormous and
RAPID GROWTH OF BU MESS
or Of the needs for legislative reimbursement OF
,auch of It's machinery that 1t mas outgroWn.
For these and valuable recommendations OF tRe
postmaster general attention IS earnestly in-
srited TO his report. A department whose reye-
uues have increased from Sl9, 1l2.ooO III 1870 to
&52 700 600 in 1883. despite reductions OF post.
ape which haze enormously reduced rates or
revenue while greatly increasing its business,
demands the careful consideration OF the con-
gress as to all matters suggested Dy lnose Ia
miIiar with It's operations and Which are calcu-
lated to increase its efficiency and usefu mess
bill proposed by the postmaster general was IN
treduced at the last session OF the congress py
which uniform standard IN lha amuuny OF
gross receipts would fix the right or eoamu-
nity TO public building to ba erected Dy tAs
governments for postofhce purposes. IL was
demonstrated that aside from the public con-
yenience and the promotion of harmony among
citizens invariably disturbed by changes OF leas.
ings and of site, + was a measure OF
the highest economy aad of, sound busl-
ness Judgment. 1t was to2nd that the
government paying in rerfts a. ne rate OF
from z to 10 per cent per snnun on @aat tne
great advantage resulting from such law would
be the prevention of large number OF piiis
constantly introduced for the ereeticn OF pubic
buiIdsugs at places, and involving expenditures
act justitied by public honesty. ! trust thai
this measure will become q law at the present
session Of congress. OF the total number OF tne
nostnagters 54.o7A are of the fourth class.
These of course receive no allowances whatever
for expenses in the service. end theif compensa.
Sion is fixed by percentage On me receipts OF
their respective cfices. This rate o. compensa-
fion may have BEEN and probably was a. come
time lust. But the standard has remained I'M
changed through the several reductions IN the
rates of hostage Such REDUCTIONS Lave neces-
sarilv cut down the com station OF these ON
Gals while 1t undoubtedly increased the busl~
ness performed by them SlInpie Justlce re.
4nlireg attention to this subject to lie emu tnat
FoURTH-CLAss PosTMASTERs
NAV reeeiys at least an equivalent to that which
the law Itself ixng the rate. intended for them.
hcother class Of poatal employees whose condl.
ton seems TO dea4a4d le2isiatlon IS that OF
clarke n postofffces aha Ill especial attention
- the RET ort and racommene--ii'ns or the post
master gens.,o1 for their classifiea4iGs Proper
legislation of tbs character for taf fset o. ear
riers in the free o. livery service hiss been fre-
ouent Provision is n. de for their promotion
for substitutes for them p2 vacation: Lor SUP
stitutes for holidays and Tqise.ps tneir nours VI
labor Seven million dollars mas .,es.n approprl-
atcd fer the current year to pr0vids ia Them,
though the total number OF ofhces WheIf thsv
are employed is bat 33S for the past nscal year,
with an estimated increase for ti,e current wear
of but forty while the total appropriation for
all clerks in offices throughout the United States
is g595O,0oO. The Legislation affecting the re-
latios.s of the government with railroads is in
need Of revision. While fog the most
part the railroad companies throughout
The country have cordially co-operated with the
postoffce dRpsrtnert i'll rendering excellent
service. yet, pndsg the law as IL stands, while
the compensation 10 them for carrying the mai
is limited and regulated, and although railroads
are made post roads BY lay, there is no authority
reposed anywhere to compel tie owners OF
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
4-esi. raj to send mai! forward by pony express
This i3 but an Illustration OF iiirtting legisla.
eion reasonable and proper at the tine OF It's en-
AcLment. arr long since outgrown and requiring
reaoiustmspt. It is gratifying tn note from the
carefully preparsa statistics accompanying the
postmaster generals report that, notw1thstand-
ing the great expansion ef the service. the rate
of expenditure has been lessepedi and efficiency
has been iIa proved in every branci. that fraud
snd crime have decreased. that losses frog, the
fastis have been reduced. and that the nunbe1
OF cf, nplaints of the service made to postnasters
and u The department are far lcse than ever be-
fore.