Evening journal., 1889-11-30
NEWS FROM WASHINGTON
The Postmaster General Files.
His First Report.
THE CONTEST FOR sPEAKERsuIP.

=
A Conservative Estimate OF Mr.. Recd's
strcngth-The Fight FOR the clerkship
Between Carson and nicPherson-sev-
eral Consuls Appointed.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 30.--After noting in
his annual report the fact that in twenty
years the transactions Of the postoflice do
partment have doubled and surmising that
in ten years it will have nearly doubled
again, the postmaster general suggests the
necessity of a new oiicer--a fourth assistant
postmaster general-to be in direct charge
Of the great divisions of the railway mail,
the foreign mail, the money order ofice, the
registry and supplies divisions and the dead
letter Office. He also suggests the necessity
in the department for a comptroller OF gem
oral secretary
Looking Aftor Postmastcrs.
The postmaster general proposes that there
be twenty-six postal districts established by
the postmaster general according to popula- !
tion and territory, each office in the district
TO he visited at stated times and records
made and kept showing first, the capacity
of the postmaster; second his personal at
tenton to his duties; third, the order and
discipline Of the Office, and fourth, the
growth of the business, with such other mat
.ers as may be determined on. The post
mssters Of the presidential CLASSES in each
district should be classified into three grades,
namely: "An to be marked "highest;n "Bn.
marked excellent and "Cr marked fair, n
and all under the low mark TO reported for
ha mt
proper 70 take. Z
Honorable Mention and Preferment.
Those who receive the highest marking
ought 10 b9 reported TO the President for
honorable mention and .preferment. The
supervisors would have TO be experienced in
the postal laws and regulations, and to be.
| possessed Of enthusiasm for the perfection Of
tho system, instruct the postmasters and
clorks point out possible improvements in
the Offices and enlarge the business; 70 as
certain and keep the postmaster general con :
tmuaily advised, In short, exactly whnt the
| postmaster and clerks are doing for the
salaries received and exactly how the people
q each community are satisfied with the
postal service,
new department building is also recon-
mended.
Reslgnations aud Removals.
Some statistics Of appointments, resigna-
tioni and removals are interesting The
figures with reference 60 presidential Offices
between Mnrch a. 1889, and July /, 1889, are
as follows. BY death, "a; by designations,
I 10, by oxpirations l05; by offices becoming
/ presidential, 1l9; by removals for various
reasone, 1886; total, 500
An Army Of Employees.
= There ase l50,935 employees in the posta
service The postmaster general asks that
I such legislation be enacted as is necessary e
? empower the postmaster general TO enter
into contract with responsible parties for q
term not exceeding five years on conditions
= favorable to the government for the purpose
Of establishing a limited post and telegraph
service.
One Cent Postage.
( One cent postage is an easy possibility Of
; the near future II introduced tomorrow tn,
d cutting in half Of postage would reduce tn,
J; revenue on letter postage by probably si5,
OoO0O0 We are not ready for this while the
present deficiency exists. -
The new postal card Of large size, very
soon 10 be issued, is almost large enough t
be called a letter postal card. Il is as neal
penny postage as we can get at present. tn,
Z postmaster general suggests early consdera
/, tion Of the question of establishing posta
! ! savings banks at 10000 of the fourth clas
: : offices In towns where such facilities arr
most needed, leaving the extension of thi
privilege to be determined after a trial o
= two years.
= The total cost Of last years service wa
about s63, ,5OOO,OOO. The account for tn
! ! current fiscal year is estimated as follows:
- Amount oflappropration ......... $50, COS "a
: Estimated deficiency appropriation re-
III quired .............................4 l.l225
N Total ......... ................... S07.s27 $50
4 Estimated gross revenue ............ 60.6.s Is
r Estimated deficiency ................. ss,io90e