The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1888-12-04

THE PosTOFFICEs.

carriers, and providing substitutes for
vacations and holidays, and hruita-
ton in the appropriation for but eight
hours service per day, At q
total cost for that service during
the current fiscal year OF about
81 900, 600 Of money, there has been
provided for the cost OF clerks in all
tho postoffces OF the United states
but $3.50 60. The total increase of
free oeiivery Offices for the current
yeaI will not exceed 10.
The act of congress approved July
"a, 1883. authorized allowances for
rent, fuel and lights for tirst-ciass
postoffices as frequently deEsnded by
the department. On the lsf OF July,
ISIS, 1908 officers were as
igned to the third-class, and
under the operation of the existing
law 20 additional offices were assigned
to the third class from October l, lsSs,
making the total number 1855 The
limitations of said act by which the
maximum annual rent for an Office OF
the third class was liked st 500 and
the maximum allowance for fuel and
lights at so should, in my opinion, be
repeated, as the best interests OF the
service require discretionary authority
in the head of the department 10
Fix this allowance, having regard
10 local needs.
The postmaster-general calls attel-
ton to the frsnking privilege and
recommends revision OF the law,
with penalties for its violation. He
carefully reviews the statutes and
points out their want of uniformity.
Following IS his closing paragraph on
the subject: elf the ranking
privilege were abolished and u
regular allowance for the purchase
OF stamps made instead, every senator
and member OF the house of represent
tatives would be placed on an exact
equality. No one could make use of
the mails beyond his own allowance,
and no unauthrized person could make
use of the mails to forward unofficial
matter. The agricultural college, now
enjoying the ranking privilege, might
be furnished through the department
OF agriculture with free penalty envel-
opes.
The posimaster-gonerai calls atten-
ton TO the fact that the law reposes no
authority in any official of the govern
ment to compel owners OF railroads TO
receive and carry the mails of the
United States, and says it is in urgent
need of revision He says public
opinion and sentiment are
the only forces to which the
department can now appeal to
secure improved mail facilities.
When amicable negot atoms fail, then
the only existing law providing an al
tentative in the case of the refusal of
any road not under contract with the
government TO take mails, is for the
department to send them forward by
pony express.
Recommendation is also< eide that
at the termination of exis,' "a
tracts for the manufacture ofe
stamps, postal cards and $ FAR Ae the
yelopes, the government shall 4.
work into its own hands. Sepoft
After submitting through the&s 10
various recommendation reiatikA .ne
the improvement OF the details oa&,lo1ss
survice, the postmaster-general Sc
mits the following of more general in
terest: A bill prepared by
this department aud reported favora-
ably by the committees of both
houses, but not acted upon at the last
session, would provide standard fixed
by the return showing the amount of
business transacted at each office
which would give the postmaster
general power to purchase sites
and erect permanent buildings for
postotlice purposes. had the honor
to furnish committees with data show
ing that in my judgment sound bust
ness principles dictated such a policy,
and demonstrating that it would
be a measure OF economy for
the government, by comparison with
the present system of leasing. From
my experience in the matter of max
ing new leases, or renewing old, the
same led me to present the subject to
congress with much earnestness