The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-11-30
THE POSTAL SYSTEM.
Wanamaker Favors Telegraph,
but Not Express Business.
suppression Of Lotteries and Dsne Now
els-sunday Ress Tar Empieyss-
Doahle Postal Card.

" A8H1N6L0t G1KIs NOV. - EQ3&z0&St&T-
General Wanamaker. n his report. says:
THE postmaster-genersl. with bis advent
to once and the taking up Of his duties in
the department, finds that ether new ofi-
GERS enter the field The whole organ;Ea-
ton at the top Is changed. and the work
falls into unframed hands. This constant
change viii continue. Prom .
business point Of view the deputy post
master-general. first. second and third
assistants have too much work TO attend
70, and more officials are needed for the
registry and supplies divisions and the
dead letter Office. A general manager.
one of the best educated postal men in the
service, is also needed, man charged with
tha general management OF the service.
whose controlling mind grasps the work.
81 confess to disappointment in that ne
goeiations with the Western Union Tele-
graph Company did not lead to q scheme
which hoped 20 submit, whereby people
at large could have the benefit Of tele-
graphic service At popular rates IL 10
stated that merchants, bankers and trades
and newspapers are the principal custom
ers Of the telegraph companies With q
lower telegraph rate AMI with stations at
the windows of postoff1ces, sn entirely new
class OF business would grow up. atfording
great convenience 70 many not now IN the
habit OF using the wires. The great pro-
priety and advantage of united service
cannet be questioned from the point OF
convenience and economy.
There Is no reason whatever why night
messages of telegraph companies should
not be delivered rs postal matter by the
first morning delivery by carriers. This IL
proper postoffice business, and would add
10 the profits of the department. The
work of the wires covering the country
could easily reach many of the
postoffices and benefit more people
than by stopping ct railroad stations,
which are often q mile or more distant
from where the people i've. The expert
ment could be easily and quickly made.
1t could be done without any outlay by the
government and without any interference
with existing telegraph interests, inasmuch
ss IL would create as stated. an increase Of
business" He asks for legislation 10 bring
about the the establishment Of such limited
post and telegraph service.
OF Sunday mail service the postmaster
general says he will make use OF all proper
means tending toward the minimizing OF
postofice work on Sunday. because he be-
lieyes the government should, as far as
possible, make no requirements which viii
prohibit the employees enjoying . day Of
rest.
The postmester-general does not favor an
extension of the parcel post system. All
the postoffice buildings are now over
crowded and could not make space for an
enlarged package business. When the
postal service is carried nearer 20 the point
where there Is an axcess Of revenue, this
business can be considered.
OF lotteries and the mails he suggests .
law for jurisdiction over offense by courts
et the office Of delivery the same as ct the
Office of mailing and thus make the
offense continuous between the Office OF
mailing and that OF delivery and eniarging
the opportunity b convict
He also recommends amendments OF the
postal laws. which permits the mailing of
works Of fiction rs second-class matter.
In the special topics discussed by the
postmaster general he recommends q
double postal.card for return answers, q
postal museum and prompt delivery Of all
letters on which postage IL not prepaid and
to collect double postage.
Touching the civil service, the report
runs thus: The postal department has an
individuality OF its own. An ordinarily
good workman of the government might
suit perfectly well In any other Of the civil
places, but for the possofiiee work he must
learn that the work there IL . kind OF APP
prentice work with promotion. With
1900 employees rightly selected, who feel
thorough pride in representing the govern
ment and are alive every day to improve
ment, our postal service would soon BE-
come the best in the world.
The report recommends that discretion
be given in the making Of contracts for
carrying foreign mails with American
registered vessels. 1t Is recommended
that ali places having population not less
than 500, or where the postoface IN shown
to have = gross revenue Of 5000 for the
previous fiscal year. shall have the benefit
Of the free delivery system. Early con-
sideration IL requested OF the question OF
establishing postal savings banks
at 1000 fourth-class Offices in towns
where such facilities are most
needed, leaving the extension OF
the privilege 70 be determined after q trial
of two or three years. Regarding / cent
postage. the report says II il 10 introduced
now il would reduce the revenue by nearly
5000, 600. and the department. Is not
ready for this while the present deficiency
in receipts exists
WAsHExsrox CTTx. Nov. 29.-The third
assistant postmaster-gcneral has hled his
report. II shows that the total revenue Of
the postal service for the last fiscal year
vas Sc. 1904 The expenditures and ap-
preparations we're SCI SD. s4T. The out
standing Liabilities at the close OF the year
were sl,i7i.s 3f. The deficiency IN the
postal revenue. 70 be supplied cut Of the
general treasury. shows. 20 meet expendi-
tares Is estimated. ss.S5oIs3 The
revenue Of the year exceeded the
previous yexr il the sum OF g. &Sz. Sos The
increase Of expenditure and liabilities was
IS. soc .4GS over the Previous year. For the
next liscat year the revenue IL estimated at
SEQ 6is. $40. Tie appropriations for that
year are 81. 65. 4s&. For the year eading
June 50. 1ssl. the revenue Is estimated
1T 81. Az ,5s7, and expenditures At 81, 4Sa. ;
es. leaving q deficiency Of 81 09o .s61. Dur
ing the past fiscal year ia0. 20 letters we're
delivered By special delivery messengers,
or an increase 81 nearly II per cent. over
tie previous year. In this branch Of the
service there was q szrpl0s Of fees over En-
pendisEres Of IS ,s5S-2