Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-29
A POSTAL TELEGRAPH
The Postmaster Generals An
nuaI Report Strongly Fa-
vorS the Scheme,
ONE CENT POSTAGE ASKED.
The Lottery Question Touched Very
Briefly but Strongly.
ONE-STORY POSTOFFICES ASKED,
And Expensive Buildings Where Not Needed
Are Condemned.
ONE CENT POSTAGE ASKED.
ONE-STORY POSTOFFICES ASKED,
And Expensive Buildings Where Not Needed
Are Condemned.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM is INDORSED

master General, in his annual report, re-
views the legislation of Congress for the
Improvement of the postal service, and
dwells at some length upon the changes for
the better during the past year in the ad-
ministrative efforts OF the department. In
connection with the subject, he says:
over 500, 900 has been saved on the contract
for postal cards, which, though they were
properly criticised at first. were quickly
brought up to the required standard by the
contractors Four hundred thousand dollars
has been saved on the contract for stamped
envelopes: 500. .OU0 more has been saved on
certain lettings of contracts for carrying the
mails and at the time the mail routes
have been extended over almost 100000 miles
of railway, steamboat and stage lines. The in
spectors have treated ST,73i cases during the
yer against $500 treated last year, or an av-
eraGe oi !, rs per man this year. against SSS
last year.
ANTI-LoTTERY LEGISLATION.
The total number OF cases on hand July l,
1899. was q 637. against 2S, ,o40 on hand July !,
ls>3. This means an increase OF IS per cent in
cases treated, and decrease of 2 per cent on
hand. The anti-lottery legislation has entailed
much extra labor upon the inspector force, but
OF the other hand the temptation to thievlng
among the employees of the department has
been much diminished by the same means The
past year has been made very disagreeable TO
the green goods swludlers.'
Negotiations with the German authorities
looking to the establishment of sea postothces
lave been successful. A commission of eX-
pert accountants has been appointed to thor
oUghly examine the postal system and estab-
lIsh uniform and similar system OF accounts
iur postOtfces. Estimates indicating the effect
OF 4 reduction 10 cent postage are included.
A commission of postmasters has examined 200
models, designs and suggestions for house let
ter boxes 10 ind something, which, If univer-
sally adopted, would save quarter part of the
time OF the carrier force of the department.
FAMILY LETTER BOXES.
Several times postmasters, inspectors and
railway mail superIntendents have been called
10 Washington TO group and exchange ideas of
benefit to themselves and to give the Post
master General the encouragement of their
experience.
The gross revenue is nearly 5000, 900 larger
than 1t ever was before. Almost 5000 new
pOstOfices more than in any one year before
have been established upon the petitions of
communities which have needed them.
A decreasing limit for the extension of the
free delivery has permitted the employment of
letter carriers in over 90 towns. Three times
IS many sub-StationS and stamp agencies, which
soon pay for themselves. were established than
during the previous year. Over 1900 miles of
railway postoffice service, called (where
travelling DostOtfices distribute the mails for in
slant dlspatch), have been put on The 5000
transportation schedules have been examined
and adjusted or extended where it has been
possible.
SOME POSTAL STATISTICS
Thirty-six per cent more of city mails have
been distributed on the trains for instant dis
patch than during the previous year. The star
route mileage has increased over 81 600 miles,
and the railroad mileage over n,OOO,OOO miles.
The railway postal clerks have reduced the
number OF pieces usually sent to the dead letter
office 10y 100000.
I}v encouraging postmasters in free delivery
cities 20 prepare supplementary directories and
nv general sugges ions to the public through
the newspapers TO take greater care in the
direction of matter. the dead letter office ex-
poets a reduction of its labors by at least one
third.
The Postmaster General says the swiftest
mail Is not fast enough in these days for all the
needs OF commerce and social correspondence.
POSTAL TELEGRAPHY.
The conviction steadily grows upon me that
the postofice shoGld do more than employ fast
mails and stage coaches, and that the electric
wires should carry letters; that the people who
nav in postage rates the cost of the postal
system have a right to the use of the postal
plants rs a means OF reducing the cost of tele-
graphic c0rresp .ndence and for the instant
transmission of postal money orders.
Ne strain every muscle and nerve trying to
gain an hour or two on this collection or that
delivery. We worry the railroads with impor-
tuuIties for new trains or faster ones that snail
save perhaps three or four hours. All the while
Its quickest service, by which electric letters
might he transmitted and whole days or whole
nights be gained and saved, is kept out of the
reach Of the COuntry'S postal service. The
p0s-al service has proved its ability to manage
successfully the telegraph business IN cou-
nectiou with the postal system, and as part
OF j..
CHEAPER TELEGRAPHY DEMANDED.
In one form OF another the public impera-
flvely demands cheaper telegraphy, and the
I'ystcfice Department can supply it at less
cost than the corporation, unless the latter has
rent, light and fuel free and carriers and clerks
ws;hoat pay. The postal service is the Govern
ueat's kind hand, protecting and promoting
she correspondence of its people, and commu-
nlcatiou by telegraph. as well as by mail, is
essential to its best development.
Iac plan proposed for postal telegraph is
familiar 20 the public. There would be no out
lay Of money. appointments Of clerks and finan-
Ciai liability. The persistent misstatemunt of
the facts At the outset led 10 some misunder-
standing ON the part of a small portion of the
public. The actual plan is surely entitled to
2 Just statement and a fair consideration. Ii
there IS better one it Will be quickly discov-
cred and adopted.
Under tie head, "a new plan for postal
savings banks, the report says:
POSTAL SAVINGS BANKS.
recommend that the Postoffice Department
be authorized 10 establish postal savings banks
uuder regulations formulated by the Post
master General; that the said banks be located
g. follows:
First-In States having no laws regulating
savings banks.
Sccond-Iu any other States upon petition of
. considerable number OF residents of any one
LEGALITY. and third. net more numerouslv than
one possofice bank for every ten miles of
area.
That the interest to be paid depositors shall
be fixed by the Secretary Of the Treasury at
tie beginning of each year. and being x per
cent less than the average rate paid TO dem
itors by private bankers; that all postal saw
lnCs received within a State shall be placed on
deDosit with the national banks of that State
on application, in such amounts and at such
interest IS the Secretary of the Treasury shall
prescribe, and that all such deposits be de-
clared by special enactment preferred claims
srs:ust the banks holding them.
have examined Senate bill No S7Sq now
pending in the House, 70 provide ocean mail
service and believe it IL be for she interest of
the postal service TO nave such bill become a
law.
STATISTICS OF REMOVALS.
Il appears from the report that 14.O72
postrlasters were removed during the past
two wears and &c $50 appointed in the same
titnA The appointments for the past wear
numbered II, 46S and the removals 6,274
Tic number of postofices at the close OF
tie fiscal wear, June 80, 1890, was So, 401.
The number of new offices established in
1899 was 4. .236. The number of offices en-
larged to rec delivery Offices in 1890 was So.
The Postmaster General hopes that the
way NAV soon be clear to connect the Execu-
tive Departments and the Senate and House
Of Representatives with the Washington