Bismarck weekly tribune., 1888-12-07

The Postal Service.
The report Of the postmaster general
shows a marked increase of business in
every branch of the postal service. The
number of postofices on July 1, 1888,
was 57,376, an increase of 6,124 in three
years, and of 2,219 for the last fiscal
year. The aforementioned increase is
classified as follows:
New England states. ........ .. 8
mlddie states ..................... 181
Southern states and Indian Territory (41) ii, ,4O8
The states and terrftares Of the Pacific coast 100
The ten states and territories of the West and
No,tnwesI .:....... .................... 43t
iotal............... .....................2,21 30
Free delivery offices have increased
from 1S9 in the fiscal year ended June
30, 1885, to 358 in the year ended June
80, 1888. In the railway mail service
there has been an increase in one year of
168 routes, and in the number of miles
travelled per annum an increase of 16O,-
795, ,917.48. The estimated increase Of
railroad service for the year was 5000
miles, but the amount of new railroad
service actually put on was 42,764.5O
miles.
The volume of business in the money
order division, including transactions in
postal notes, reached the sum of up-
wards of $143, ,000, 900 for the year.
The Parcel Post.
During the past year parcel post con-
ventions have been concluded with Bar
badoes, the Bahamas, British Honduras
and Mexico, and are now under nego-
tiation with all the Central and South
American states. The increase for cor
respondence with foreign countries dur
ing the past three years is gratifying,
and is especially notable with the Gem
tral and South American states and with
Mexico. AS the greater part of mail
matter exchanged with these countries
is commercial in it's character, this in
crease is an evidence of the improved
business relations with them.
The practical operation of the parcel
post conventions so far as negotiated, has
served to fulfill the most favorable pre-
dictions as to their benefits. In January
last general postal convention was me-
gotiated with the Dominion of Canada,
which went into operation on March l.,
and which practically makes one postal
territory of the United States and Can
ada. Under it merchandise and parcels
may now be transmitted through the
mails at fourth class rates of postage. It
is not possible here to touch even the
leading heads of the great postal estab-
ishment to illustrate the enormous and
rapid growth of business or the needs for
legislative readjustment of much of it's
machinery that it has outgrown. For
these and valuable recommendations Of
the postmaster general attention is ear
nestly invited to his report. A depart
ment whose revenues have increased
from $40, ,772, 600 in 1870 to $51 ,7OO, 900 in
1855, despite reductions of postage, which
have enormously reduced rates of rev.
enue, while greatly increasing its bus
mess, demands the careful consid deration
OF congress as to all matters suggested
by those familiar with its operations, and
cheney and usefulness.
Postohace Buildings.
A bill proposed by the postmaster
general was introduced at the last ses-
sion of the congress by which uniform
standard in the amount of gross re-
ceipts would fix the right of a commu-
nifty to a public building to be erected
by the government for postofice pur-
poses. It was demonstrated that aside
from the public convenier ce and the
promotion of harmony among citizens
invariably disturbed by change Of leas
ings and OF site, it was measure Of
the highest economy and Of sound busi-
ness Judgment. It was found that the
government was paying in rents at Che
rate of from z to 10 per cent per annum
on what the cost of such public build
ings would be.
A very great advantage resulting
from such a law would be the preven-
ton of large number of bills con-
stantly introduced for the erection Of
public buildings at places and involv-
ing expenditures not justified by public
honesty.
OF the total nvmber of the postmast-
ers, 81 ,874 are of the fourth class. These,
Of course, receive no allowance what
ever for expenses in the service, and their
compensation is fixed by percentages
in their respective offices. This rate
of compensation may have been, and
probably was, at some time just, but
the standard has remained UNCHANGED
through the several reductions in the
rates Of postage. Such reductions have
necessarially cut down the compensation
Of these officials, while it undoubtedly
increased the amount of business per-
formed by them, and simple Justice re-
quired attention to this subject to the
end that fourth class postmasters may
receive at least an equivalent to that
which the law itself fixing the rate in-
tended for them.
Another class Of postal employees whose
condition seems to demand legislation