The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1890-11-29
OUR POSTAL SERVICE
Facts Found in The Postmaster Gen.
erals Annual Report.
1T DOESN'T PAY ITS WAY
One Cent Postage Won't Do So John
Says-But a Postal Telegraph
Is Badly Needed and
Must Be Had.

general in his annual report shows during
the past year over s300, 900 we're saved on
the postal card contracts. The cards,
though inferior at first, were quickly
brought up to the required standard.
Four hundred thousand dollars were
saved in stamped envelope contracts
and $4,000 on certain mail carrying. AT
the same time the mail routes have been
extended over almost 100000 miles OF
galway, steamboat and stage lines.
The gross revenue is nearly $4,000
larger than ever before. Almost i've
thousand new postofiices more than any
one year before have been established
upon petitions Of communities. Sub-sta-
ton and stamp agencies service, railway
postoffice service. free delivery and other
matters have been greatly extended dur
inc the year. The Star route mileage is
mileage over 100000.
The work Of the dead letter Office has
been greatly reduced during the year.
Touching on the postal telegraph
scheme, the postmaster general says the
swftest mail is not fast enough in these
days for all the needs Of commerce and
special correspondence. In one form or
another the public imperatively demands
cheaper telegraphy and the postoiiice de-
partment can supply IL at less cost than
any corporation unless the latter has
rent, light. fuel. carriers and clerks free.
The plan proposed for a postal tele-
graph involves no ostlay of money, no
appointment Of clerks, no financial liza
blity. II is surely entitled TO fair con-
sideration.
Under the head of "A New Plan for
Postal Savings Banks" the report recon-
mends that the postofiice department be
authorized 10 establish postal savings
banks under regulations formulated by
the postmaster general. These are to be
located in states having no laws regulat-
ing savings banks; in any other state
upon the petition Of a considerable num-
ber of residents in any one locality, and
not more numerously than one postofflce
for every 10 miles of area. The interest
rate is 10 be fixed by the
secretary of the treasury at the
beginning Of each year and bear one
half Of one per cent less than the average
rate paid depositors by private bankers.
All postal savings received within a state
10 be placed on deposit with the national
banks of that state on application, in
such amount and at such interest as the
secretary OF the treasury prescribes, such
deposits to be declared preferred claims.
Touching the anti-lottery act, the report
says the press has aided the department
by a very general approval and the pub
lie at large seconded its efforts TO make
the new law effective.
The report shows IA, or postmasters re-
moved during the past two years, $3.50
appointed during the same time. The
postmaster-general hopes the way may
soon be clear 10 connect the executive de-
partments and senate and house with the
Washington postoffice by the pneumatic
system, and that il may then be extended
TO sub-stations and postotlices Of the large
cities. lie would especially like to see
the pneumatic system working perfectly
in Chicago when the worlds fair is in
progress, so the postal exhibit there would
really show this high devopment Of SER
vice. He favors wherever practicable one
story inexpensive buildings for post
Offices and says that TO move out of six
hundred dollar rented room, safe and
ample for postal business. into hundred
thousand dollar building, where the jan
| itor alone gets more salary than the rent
Of the former place, cannot be justified on
any business principle.
Regarding the reduced postage, the
postmaster general says in part "In
point Of fact there is clear gain Of
nearly thirty millions Of dollars
from the letter postage. This large
profit with the annual deficit, which
last year amounted TO 1913, 800 Is all
swallowed up by losses on other classes Of
mail matter carried at less than cost Of
distribution and handling. The amount
received from letter postage last year was
about S36 10000. reduction 20 the I
cent rate would bring this dowS TO $40,
CO., The deficiency for the cur
rent year is about A,5Oo,Ooo, which
would make the total deficiency
s23,5o0,0oo. This deficiency would be
reduced by a natural increase Of business
due to the.stimulus. of a low rate and by
the competition of pending legislation TO
collect proper postage from sample copies
of so-called newspapers and from paper
covered books. The sample copy busi-
ness amounts to over one million dollars
annually which is lost TO the revenue, aud
in the transportation Of paper covered
books considerable more than one million
dollars is kept out of the postal income
for the bene O OF certain book publishers.
The deficiency under the one cent rate
might be still further reduced by the
adoption Of improved devices from time
10 time, which would save time anc
money. The most formidable item. how
ever. is $4,000 worth of work Der
formed annually without pay for the ex
ecutiye departments. IL they had 10 pa,
postage, the revenue would be ss 200, 90,
more annually than now. The revenue,
ofthe department for the fiscal year wers
$50. .s5s, ,7s3 and expenditures and liabih
ties s65.6i5,0s3. A deficiency for the year
therefore, of S5,Tss, 800.