The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1889-12-05

village pOstOtficeS and benefit more people than
by stopping at the railroad stations, which are
often a mile or more distant from where the
people live. An experiment could be easily
and quickly made to ascertain whether the de-
mand for cheaper Geographic service exists as
is claimed. 1t could be done without any outlay
Of money by the government, and with no in
reference with existing telegraph interests, IN
asmuch as it would create as stated. new class
of business. Moreover. many people becoming
acquainted with the uses of the telegraph would
wonder how they ever managed to get along
without it and would find themselves using the
swifter service well as the limited, and hnan-
cially guaranteed messages would continue to
be confined to and carried by the existing cor
4 contract should be made with telegraph
lines now in operation or that may be hereafter
built under advertisement and public bid, at the
most favorable rate that can be obtained, in the
same manner as the POStOff1ce Department. now
contracts with railroad companies for the carry
ing of letters and postal cards, connecting the
wires with free delivery ana other deslsaa1H;eo
cred after their receipt in the CITY to which they
are sent Some of the free delivery offices de-
liver mail ten times a day, some SIX. ana rev
less than four. A WASHINGTON message to New
York or Boston, announcing that the sender IS
leaving by train and is to be met at II nhe sra
Sc tson if delivered the dav of starting, would "a
into one of sever VI re sular deliveries at the
OH ,e connected ny telegraph in the other city.
TIE slower service would answer all purposes
for mum )ers of people. No ad titional expense
teiegrap her could be selected when the postal
clerks are appointed IT there was sufficient
Geographic business wholly TO employ one man
TIM, so much the better A clerk could he as
signed for this particular work. and the service
would be that much more like y to be prohtable
With no Otf,er responsibility in this limited tele
graph bureau than that for ordinary mail no
expensive system of copying and recording: by
using postage stamps for payments, no cash sc,
clnnting is needed-the low exper SeS would
justify low rates for the peoples benefit If each
money order Office sent but three messages per
day there would be n, 0NOmeSsageS, which would
be a good business Connecting the money or
der offices by wire payments of money could ne
telegraphed by private code to various points
free a trifing cost, and add to the conven-
fence OF many people.
1 respectfully ask that such LEGISLATION be
enacted as is necessary to empower the post
master general to enter into contract with re
sponsible parties for term not exceeding i've
years, on conditions favorable to the govern
ment. for the purpose OF establishing hmted
post and telegraph service.
THE FOREIGN MAIL SERVICE
The Postmaster General, referring to incom-
petent clerks, says Ine praculce or retalnlhg
humanity because no other provision is made
for them has grown to be serious embarrass-
ment. ] admit and agree to the objections urg-
ed against civil pension list, but respectfully
suggest some action | e taken to relieve the
present situation Authority to retire the clerks
who have arrived at certain age upon the re
port of three bureau chiefs and allow one years
pay upon such retirement would alleviate inucn
of the s ffering which would otherwise enSue,
Will not involve permanent charge upon the
country, and will be of great economy and vast
advantage to the departmental service. 1t is
suggested that the NJ c ssity for some provision
O this KIN will become greater with the adj
vance of time"
Postmaster General recommends that the bar
r.er which the present law creates be removed,
and that the postoff1ce department be authoriz-
ed il its discretion to make contracts win
Ameii can isttrad ships OF defined tonnage
and prescribet rate or speed Iof a periou oi
years, after due advertisement shah have been
had ami oppoi tunitY for competition afforded. so
that while just pay may be given to the carrier
the government may be able to OBTAIN service
in all directions that it may deem important
la the interest of the public as well as the
postal service the employment OF money orders
for the remittance of small sums of money by
mail should be extended as widely as possible
In furthurance Of that object 1T would seem
expedient for the department to supply post
masters at the smaller money order Of1ceS Win
circulars for distribution. in such manner as
convenience and utility of the money order sys-
tenn, Of which many persons have no practical
knowledge.
THE FREE DELIVERY SYSTEM.
There are at present H6 Offices that accommo-
date people with the mails at their doors. This
Is only about one sixth of the number or preSl-
Dental Offices the other 22l6 oDlge their pa
irons to call at the office tor the mail. Under
existing law the extension of the free delivery
is limited to cities of a population Of 10000 per
sons, or gross revenue of Sl00OO annually.
While this law stands the extension Of the best
form of postal regulations must be very slow.
/ 1t is recommended that all places of a popula-
ton of not less than 1900. or where the post
office has shown gross revenue OF SIOO0 Ior
the previous year, shall have the benefit of the
/ IL.
vice to all the second class Offices and to some
OF the third class but in order to do this it will
be necessary to amend the law to give the
proper authority to the POStof1ice Department.
[ suggest early consideration of the question
of establishing postal savings banks at 10000 or
the fourth-class offices in towns where such Ia
cilities are most needed leaving the extension
of this privilege to be determined after a trial
of two years. There are three plans: First, to
accept limited deposits, upon which interest at
the rate of not more than 2 per cent. be paid
second, if objection be made to the government
Onligating itself to pay interest," accept deposits
with an agreement to invest and distribute
the cost of the service third, If it is deemed
inadvisable to undertake any such obligation,
offer the pOstoff1ces as depositarfes without in
terest, affordng the people convenience and
safety. In each case the Secretary OF the Treas
ury would loan the money eqnitably distribu-
posits originated to keep it in circulation, re-
quiring United States bonds as security, and
interest, if the government pays interest, but
not otherwise.
The suggestion of modified plan for small
savings is made in case the other plans are dis
approved: that authority be given to the depart
ment to redeem for cash under regulations
prescribed by the Postmaster General all unde-
faced postage stamps or postal cards when pre-
Sented at any pOstOlce savings cards in
multiples of 81. While this would be the least
important Of the four schemes, / believe it
would find a hearty response among the toiling
people, especially the younger and smaller wage
earnerS.
Several pages are devoted to the lottery bust
ness, which. Mr.. Wanamaker says. the present
law does not entirely prohibit. He suggests the
passage of a law, the provisions of which are
applicable to the agents and agencies acting for
them so as to exclude the latter from the right
yi11U aUiCf -lnftor