New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-11-29


sub-stations and stamp agencies established in 1890
was 364; in 1880, S40
ADVOCATING THE PNEUMATIC SYSTEM.
The Postmastcr-General hopes that the way may
soon be clear to connect the executive Departments
and the Senate and House Of Representatives with
the Washington City PostOfIice by the pneumatic
system and that it may then be extended to the sub
stations and postofIces Of large cities lie would
especially like TO pneumatic 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 ser
vice. lie favors, wherever practicable one story. in
expensive buildings for postonces and says that TO
move out Of $500 rented room, safe and ainpc for
the postal business, into a 100000 building where
the jantor alone gets salary than the whole Of
the rent in the former place, cannot be justified on
any business principles. The Postal Service. says
the Postmastereneral, docs not need any such cX-
pendtures a Onc-story structure is all that is re
qured in three out of four. OF course, due
regard must be paid to the size Of the town and the
location in which the building Is to be erected, as well
as to architectural features conformab!e to the dig
nifty of the Government: but to waste money on
numerous stories, with towers and turrets for dignity
alone Is not in accord with the American idea Of
utility and taste.
NEW POSToFFICE BUILDING FOR THIS CITY.
Concerning the postoflce building In New-York
City, the Postmaster General says:
postal system not unlike that of the Clearing House
10 the New York banks Its operations AFFECT in some
degree almost every otter o1ee Lack OF space S Sr
applications Of the postmaster OF New for clerks
and carriers were necessarily very large during the
last year; but they have been granted, after careful
investigation in almost every instance. over S2OO
600 has added to the payroll of the clerical force
In twenty months--whlch is much larger amount
than was ever granted before in corresponding
period. But, however much the Department tries It
cannot overcome fixed physical conditions: III Is
usplcs tO
overcrowdcd postonice. The fleet ocean steamers
the mails are concerned, if their immense bulk Of
incoming matter is To- be piled up In the New YORK
I IGs u'i otov y padeTae The men cannot be
managed either economically or with the greatest speed
81 this became convinced by personal examination 1
vocated better quarters
AN ARGUMENT FOR ONE-CENT POSTAGE.
II the postal revenue arising from letter postage
could be set aside for its proper uses, the millions OF
letter-wrcrs OF this country might quickly be per-
mitted TO enjoy reduced taxation on leterwriting
In point OF fact there is clear gain of nearly 800,
100000 from letter postage. This large profit, with
the annual deficit (Which last year amounted to So,
76s 3OO appropriated ont of the general Treasury, Is
all swallowed up by tho losses other classes of mall
matter carried less than the cost OF distribution
and handling Part of this loss is caused by the trans
portation Of periodical and newspaper mall handled
alone at cent pound. of newspapers carried free
within the county of publication and OF other mater
this subject may be properly understood nave mad
prepared, with as much care as possible 1de.,,,i
few tables Of estimates, TO show the possible
condition dof the postal service when locke
at from various standpons In the first place there
need be conjecture as to the principal item OF cost
in trying 10 drop to Il 0De-cent rate The amount re
Ceivcd from letter postage last year was something
over s38, 100000 This sum would be cut exactly in
half and would therefore get but little over
SI0.OOOOOO The deficiency for the current year Is
likely 70 be 1850 SOO-wlIich would make the total
deficiency S23 900 and more.
This large deficiency under One-ccnt rate would be
FIRST iy tho
second by the stimulus of low rate OF postage and.
third by the completion of the pending legislation to
collect proper hostages from sample copies OF
called newspapers, and from papcr-covercd books.
II Is estimated that by the sample copy business
Of over 81 100000 j. annually lost to the revenue
and I'm the spOraton of paper-covcred books con
sdcrably more than ~ 100000 kept out OF the pos
tai income postal trust fund for the benefit OF GER
tain book publishers The deficiency under one
cent rate might be still further reduced by the adop
ton of improved devices from time 10 time, which
would save time and money. The most formidable
item present. for consideration Is the SsOOO0OO worth
OF postal work performed annually without pay for
the executive Departments. If each OF
the Departments had paid IT'S postage