Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-11-25
THE POSTAL SERVICE.

Recon- nae n datiOns for the Exten.
sion of the Free Delivery system.
WASHINGTON, November 24.-Second
Assistant Postmaster General White
fields annual report elbows that the
annual rate of expenditure for star route
service June 80, 1880. was $5 ,229, 1857:
the number of routes, 1907; aggregate
length, 233 ,33l miles; appropriation for
the last fiscal year, $5, 400, 900; sum ex-
pended, $5,177,195. The report says
that there is decided improvement,
competition has become very close, and
awards are frequently made at rate go
low as to prevent sub-letting at profit.
The bidder then wilfully fails to assume
the service, trusting on an adjustment
with the Department to diminish or in
some way compromise his finan-
cial loss, and thereby measurably
avoid the penalties prescribed. Since
the beginning OF the present
contract term, July /, 1889, such bidders
have failed in an unprecedented number,
and the seriousness of the matter de-
| mands prompt and effectusl measures.
Contractors who have made low bids
frequently award the service to sub-con-
| tractors, who undertake it at ruinous
rates and without sufficient equipment,
and the result in many cases Is corre-
spondingly poor service, leading fre-
quently to persistent efforts by the sub
contractors to better their condition by
applications for an increase.
|. There is another evil in the frequency
of the changes Of route, schedule, ETC.,
which are almost solely for the benefit OF
the contractor or sub contractor, and not
in the interests of the people. Many in
stances come to the knowledge of the
office where delinquencies are not re.
ported by postmasters, because of de-
sire to add no more to the already heavy
burden of the sub.contractors.
| The report recommends the appoint
ment of commission to carefully con-
slider the matter and recommend needed
changes. The appropriation for steam.
boat service for'the current fiscal year ie
$3.50, 900, while the amount necessary is
$525, 900 The general tendency, how.
ever, is toward decrease of steamboat
service, the rapidly increasing railroad
| facilities having much to do with this.
road transportation is $19, ,440, ,095; mum.
Der of routes, 2.ll3; aggregate length,
150,3S miles. The amount estimated
] hcCoeHhiy iOA LaC CuIi0Ub A5Chl year le
$40, 100000
First Assistant Postmaster. G eneral
Clarkson in his annual report shows that
the whole number of postoffices on June
80, 1889, was $500, an increase of |, 1926
over the previous year; number OF Presi
Dental Offices, 2, 6S4, an increase of 1876
The appointments to vacancies caused
by removals up to June 30. 1888
amounted to 1,244; to June 80, 1889
1858. The number of money order
Offices in operation at the close OF the
fiscal year was 1888, an increase of 472
There were 401 free delivery offices, ar
increase of 43, and up to November &c
more were added.
The Superintendent of the free de.
livery service recommends its extension
to all places which have population &C.
cording to the last legal census of 5000
or to all postoffices which produced q
gross revenue during the preceding fiscal
year of at least So 900. This would en-
brace all the important postoffices in the
second class. The appropriation for this
service for the present fiscal year il
$4,000 900, and the estimate for the nexI
fiscal year is $9,069, ,4S5. A large in
crease in the number of offices is ex
pected after the census of 1890 is com
pleted.