Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-11-30
WANAMAKER,s REPORT.
He Makes Many suggestions-What is
Needed,

He Makes Many Suggestions-What is
Needed.
WASHINGTON, November 29th.-Postma
ter r-General Wanamaker in his annual re-
port says: The Postmaster-G General, with
his advent into Office and taking up the
duties of the department, finds that other
new officers enter the field. The whole
organization at the top is changed and the
work falls into unframed hands.
This constant change will continue, but
from business point of view thus to un-
settle the services cannot be beneficial to
any department
The Postmaster-Generars First, Second
and Third Assistants have too much work to
attend to, and more officials are needed. A
Fourth Assistant Postmaster General is
needed to be in direct charge of the railway
mail, foreign mail, money order Office,
registry and supplies division, and the dead
letter office.
A General Manager, one of the best edu-
Gated postal men in the service, is also
needed. A man charged with the general
management of the service, whose con-
trolling mind and firm grasp should re-
main, while the others come ard go.
Also a General Secretary, to whom
should be referred all plans of improve
ment. A man whose business capacity
at once, without the usual DELAY. some
times of months, existing under the pres
ent cumbersome and antiquated methods
of the proposed limited post and telegraph
service, which the Postmaster General
hoped to have outlined. In this report for
Congress to consider he says:
THE great propriety and advantage of the
United Service cannot be questioned from
point OF convenience and economy to the
people. There is no reason whatever
why night messages of telegraph COM
panies should not be delivered as postal
matter by the first morning delivery car
riers.
This is a proper postoffice business, and
would add to the profits of the department.
The vast network of wires covering the
country, could easily reach many of the
village postoffices and benefit more people
than by stopping at railroad stations which
are often mile or more distant from
where the people live. The experiment
could be easily and quickly made to ascer-
tain whether the demand for cheaper tele-
graphic service exists, as is claimed. 1t
could be done without any outlay of money
by the Government, and with no inter-
ference with existing telegraph interests,
inasmuch as it would create, as stated, an
increase of business"
He asks Tor legislation to bring about the
establishment of such limited post and
telegraph service.
OF the Sunday mail service the Post
master General says he will make use of
proper means tending toward the mini
MIXING of postotfice work on Sunday, be-
cause he believes the Government should
as far as possible make no requirements
which will prohibit its employees from en-
ioying day of rest.
The Postmaster General does not favor
the extension of the parcel post system.
All postoffice buildings are overcrowded,
and could not make space for an enlarged
package business. When the postal service
is carried nearer to point at which there
is an excess of revenue, this branch can be
considered.
OF lotteries and mails he suggests law
for the jurisdiction over the offense by the
Courts at the offices OF delivery of the same
and at Office of mailing, thus making the
offense continuous between the Office of
mailing and that of delivery, and enlarg-
ing opportunities to convict.
He also recommends the amendment of
the postal laws which permit the mailing
of works of fiction as second class matter
In the special topics discussed by fhe
General, he recommends a
doable postal card for return answers.
The establishment of postal museum,
and the prompt delivery Of all letters On
which postage has not been prepaid, and
collect double postage.