Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-11-30
WASHINGTON NEWS.
Annual Report Of the Post
master General.
MORE OFFICIALS BADLY NEEDED.

A Double Postal Card for Return Answers
Recommendations Sans Navy in Q
Good Condition According to Admiral
Porter's Report-Recommend of
the Board OF Visitors to the Military
I Academy-A Sensation.
WASHINGTON CRY, Nov SO-Postmaster
General Wansmaker, in his annual report,
says that the postmaster general of the
United States, with his advent into Office,
and in taking up the duties of the depart
ment 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 I'M
settle the service cannot DO beneficial to any
department The postmaster general, the
first, second and third asst stants have too
much 10 attend TO, and more officials are
needed. A fourth assistant postmaster gen.
eral is needed to be in direct charge Of the
railway mail, the foreign mail, the money
order Office, the registry and supplies divi-
sions, and the dead letter Office.
First-CIsss Men Wanted.
general manager, one of the best edu-
Gated postal men in the service, Is also need
ed, man charged with the general manage
msnt OF the service, whose controlling mind
and firm grasp should remain, while others
come and go; also general secretary, TO
whom should he referred all plans of i'm
provement-a man whose business capacity
and authority would bring about reforms at
tnce, without the usual delay, sometimes Of
months, existing under the present cumber-
nd al 81,
posed limited post and telegraph service,
which the postmaster general hoped to have
outlined in this report for congress to con-
slider. he says:
Night Messages of Telegraph Com psnIes.
"The great propriety and advantage of a
united service cannot be questioned from a
point OF convenience and economy 20 the
people. There is no reason whatever why
the night messages of the telegraph compa-
mics should not be delivered as postal matter
by the first morning delivery of the carriers.
This is proper postoffice business, and would
add TO the profits of the department The
vest network OF wires covering the country
could easily reach many OF the village post
offices, aud benefit more people than by stop
ping at the railroad stations, which are often
a mile or more distant from where the peo-
pie live An experiment could easily and
quickly be made to ascertain whether the
demand for cheaper telegraphic service ex-
lists, as is claimed IL could be done without
any outlay OF money by the government, and
with no interference with existing telegraph
interests inasmuch as il would create, as
stated, anew class OF business"
The sunday Mail Service.
He asks for legislation 10 bring about the
establishment OF such limited post and
telegraph service OF Sunday mail service,
the postmaster general says that he will
make use of all proper means tending toward
the minimizing OF postoffice work on Sunday,
because he believes the government should,
as far aS possible, make no requirements
which will prohibit its employees from the
enjoyment Of day OF rest The postmaster
general does not favor an extension OF the
parcels post system. All the postoffics build
ings are overcrowded, and could not make
the space for an enlarged package business.
When the postal service Is carried nearer to
point where there is an excess Of revenue,
this business can be considered
Using the Mails for Fraud.
OF lotteries and the mails he suggests a law
for Jurisdiction over the offeuse by the
courts at offices OF delivery, the same as at
the office OF mailing, thus making the offense
continuous between the Office of mailing and
that OF delivery, and enlarging the oppor-
tunity TO convict. lie also recommends an
amendment of the postal laws which will
permit the mailing OF works of fiction as
second class matter The revenue suffers a
loss through evasion Of the law by publishers
who secure admission to the mails Is second
class matter Of paper-covered volumes issued
In complete form "a books, but under the
sernblsnce Of periodical publications.
4 Double Postal Card.
In the special topics discussed by Postmas-
ter General Wannmaker, he recommends q
double postal card for return answers; the
establishment Of postal museum, and the
prompt delivery Of all letters on which the
postage is not prepaid, and to collect double
postage