New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-11-29
THE POSTAL SERVICE.
ANNUAL REPORT OF POSTAIASTER-GENERAL
WANAMAKER.
A YEAR OF DECIDED PROGRESSIVE ESTABLISH
MENT OF POSTAL TELEGRAPH SYSTEM
oNECENT POSTAGE, AND POSTAL saw
INGs BANKS URGED-NEED OF
NEW PoSTOFFICE BUILD
ING IN THIS CITY.

INGS BANKS WED-NEED Of
NEW PosToFFICE BUILD
ING IN THIS CITY.
Washington, Nov. 28.-The POstmaster-Gcnerai' !"
his annual report. reviews the legislation OF Conse
for the Improvement Of the Postal Service ana o"cii
at length upon the changes for the better ous
tho last year in the administrative methods OF inc
Department In relation to the latter subject nc say
over 100000 has been saved the contract ior
postal cards. which, though they were properly oi
cised at first were quickly brought up 10 s se ayed
the contract for stamped envelopes SSoo,oo -
more has been saved on certain Lettings Oa tho mail
for carrying the mails and at the same tnle Ilc s
routes have been extended over almost aooOgVo in'
Of railway and steamboat and stage lines rue drInS
number Of inspectors have treated oIf3o cases u az
the year. against 66,384 treated last year, or an a
erage of 1,2l3 per man this year. against 700 500
year. The total number of cases on hand July es0
was 21637 against - 04O hand July !, lsoy
This an Increase Of 33 per cent In cases The
anti Lottery LEGISLATION has entailed extra labor
upon tho Inspector force but on the other ~, De
parnent has been much diminished by the sane means
The last year has been made very disagreeaoie " '
green goods" swindlers
ADVANCES MADE BY THE POSTAL SERVICE
Negotiations with the German authorities looking u
the establishment OF sea postoflices, nave Deeh s"'
cessfu A commission Of expert accountants mas peo
appointed thoroughly to examine the pos'ai sy stem CIV
establish uniform and simpler system Oh accounts
for postoiccs An accurate counting and weighing Oh
mail matter at all the postoices Of every gradc has
been made and exact data gathered thereby toucnhs
the amount Of free matter and matter Oh eae d,iins
s ear by e Of to one cent
Included A commission Of pOstmastes mas exami,ncu
SoS mG 20 a dssh ae wSe Il
would quarter part of the time OF ,ne
inspectors s"T and railway mail superntendents have
been called to Washington In groups TO excaagg e.
Cam no urQp their
The gross revenue Is nearly IS 100000 larger tnan
before Almost sUo nsw pssn e
she upon the petitions Of communities which have
needed @ Se ss
letter-carriers in nifty towns Three times a.
and stamp agencies G %hcs S1S e P p
vous year. over 5000 miles of Railway pos2iIee
Service socaled where travelling Postolces distribute
The 5000 transportation schedules have been ex
amined and adjusted extended where it has been
psen dsbntsG on ss frnS for dispatch
than during the previous year The star rGq tbe p
road mileage over II 100000. The Railway Postal
clerks have reduced the number Of pieces usually sem
ing posmasters in free delivery cities to prepare sup
Elementary directories, and by general SUGGESTIONS
care in the direction of matter the Letter Office
expects reduction of its labors by at least onethu
THE NEED OF POSTAL TELEGRAPH.
The Postmaster General calls particular attention
to the quickened and enlarged postal service, and
the added facilities on the Railway Posoilce lines,
and continues:
The swiftest mail is not fast enough In these days
for all the needs III commerce and social correspond
ence The conviction steadily grows upon me ihat
the posoce should DO more than employ las' sb ni
rates the cost of the postal system nave right to
the of the postal plants, as means OF reducing
the cost Of Geographic correspondence, and for the
instant transmission OF postal money orders. we
mn n Ia nd
or two on this collection that delivery We worry
the railroads with importuuitlcs for new trains, or
hours to The business men or the letter-writng
masses. All the while its quickest service by which
or whole nights be gained and saved, is kept out OF
the reach Of those who doing days work.
new states and thny settled parts Of the older
try where every mile entails certain loss to me De
BY post is maintained, though other channel Of
intercourse is closed The postal service Win All s
the cost Of doing without charge the mailing business
Of all the other branches OF the Governments loaded
carries w at about Of the actual cost
theless nearly sefsupporting II has therefore proved
ness in connection with the postal system. and
part Of it, In one form or another the public I'M
peratiyey demands cheaper teegrapny ana me POST
corporation, unless the latter has rent, light and
fuel free and carriers and clerks without pay.
OBJECTIONS TO THE PLAN ANSWERED.
II has been argued that it IS not the business OF the
to operate the telegraph but the Govern
ment of this and every other country controls the mall
service and stouy claims that the general welfare is
promoted by managing the transmission OF cor
Iespondence In pursuing that object it puts Off mails
at great cost cheapens postage and constantly adds
facilities for ready communication The general vel
fare will be similarly promoted by going one step
further and giving the quickest Of all modes Of cOU
namely, cheap Geographic facilities as II
does mails at points not profitable for private capital
to reach we'll at all other points. II mails were
only to sefsustaining or proft-makng points the
extent of the service would be cut off 40 per cent
The postal system is not scheme for profit If ii
were newspapers and books would pay their proper
Tomato cost and either large annual surplus would
appear in these reports the free delivery would be
extended universally The postal service IS the Gov
ernment's kind hand, protecting and promoting the
of It's people; and communication by
telegraph well by mail, is essential to its best
development.
graph business by the Is that the telegraph
would be in the hands OF the party In power and liable
IS more specous than sound The postal service is
in the hands of the party in power and liable to the
arouSd the postal system, jealous eyes watch IT, and
it is open to public observation and inquiry THO
telegraph business in the hands Of private individuals
is not hedgcd about and Is much more likely To he
used for corrupt purposes.
10 the public. There would be no outlay Of money.
no appointments of clerks, and no financial liability.
Tie persistent misstaemcnt OF the facts at the outset
led TO MISUNDERSTANDING OH tie part of small
portion of the public The actual plan is surely ell.
fitted to Just statement and fair consideration. II
there is better il will be quickly discovered and
adopted. Many boards of Trade Chamber, of Com,
rnerce trades and labor organizations throughout
the country have during the last year passed rcso-
tons demanding postal telegraphy In this or some
other form. TIE subject was considered by the Com
mittec rostoniccs and Post Roads Of the House.
but not acted upon beyond granting hearings to
the parties interested. The Committee on Postoices
and Post Roads of the Senate reported the bill unahl-
mously.
NEW PLAN FOR POSTAL SAVINGS BANKS.
Under the head, A New Plan for Postal Savings
Banks" the report says:
I recommend that tho Postofice Department be
10 establish postal savings banks under
regulations formulated by the Pos master(enera. thai
the said hanks he located as follows ~ In states
having laws regulating savings banks. (2 in any
other states, upon petition Of considerable numocr
Of residents of any locality; and (3) not moe
than postOfce for every miles OF
hat he 10 be- dor ~