Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-29
and that it may then be extended to the sub
stations and postofices of large cities.
SNSTEM

and that it may then be extended to the sub
stations and postofices of large cities.
PNEUMATIC SYSTEM.
He would especially like to see a pneu-
matte system working perfectly IN Chicago
by the time the Worlds Fair is in progress,
so that the postal exhibit there would really
show this high development of the service.
He favors, wherever practicable, one-story
inexpensive buildings for postoffices and
says that to move out of 5000 rented
room, safe and ample for the postal busl-
ness, into 100000 building, where the
janitor alone gets more salary than the
whole of the rent in the former place, can
not be justified on any b usiness principles.
If the postal revenue arising from letter post
age could be set aside for its proper uses, the
millions of letter writers of this country might
quickly be permitted to enjoy reduced tax
is clear gain of nearly $4,000. 900 from letter
postage. This large profit, with the annual
deficit (Which last year amounted to 81 I6S.S SOO)
appropriated out of the general IreasEry, M Is
all swallowed up by the losses on other classes
of mail matter carried at less than the cost OF
distribution and handle.
ONE CENT POSTAGE.
There need to be no conjecture as to the
principal item of cost in trying to drop to a
l-cent rate. The amount received from letter
postage last year was something over S3s,OOO,-
600. This sum would be cut exactly in half, and
We would therefore lose little over Sl9.0CI GOO.
The deficiency for the current year is likely 70
be s., $4,000 which would make the total de-
ficency S2S, 500 900 and more.
This large deficiency under lcent rate
would be reduced. first, by the natural increase
OF business; second, by the stimulus of low
rate of postage; and third, by the completion
of the pending legislation to collect proper
DOSraueS from slmnlP comics OF SO-CalleQ news
papers and from paper covered books.
1t is estimated that by the sample business
over s, 600 900 is annually lost to the revenue,
and in the transportation of paper-covered
books considerably more than 81, OOO, 600 is kept
out of the postal income for the benefit OF GER
tain book publishers The deficiency under a
lcent rate might be still further reduced by
the adoption of improved devices from time to
time, which would save time and money.
DEPARTMENT POSTAGE.
The most formidable item present for con.
sideration is the S. 0cO 900 worth of postal work
performed annually without pay for the Execu-
tive Departments. If each Of the departments
had paid its postage the revenue of this depart.
ment would have been IS, VOC, 900 more annually
than it is now.
The report touches upon the question of
civil service as applied to the Posrofhce De-
partment, in the following words:
The examinations for the inspector force
and for the railway mail service ought to be
made more difficult, SO that candidates for
places will better stand the test of actual work.
l wish that some scheme might be devised by
which the departmental force, and all parts
and branches of the postal service, classified or
to be classified, might be encouraged into new
exertions by some just, general and certain
plan of promotions. l think it would be i'm.
possible to find an appointing officer who has
not been glad to take advantage of stringent
examinations to keep away the mere political
place seekers.
The revenue of the department for the
fiscal year, the report shows. was $50, S5S,'
7S3. The expenditures and liabilities were
S66, GA, ,0S3. The deficiency for the veal
was, therefore, S., 7S6, 800. The report close:
with tribute to Mr.. Clarkson and to othel
chiefs of the department.