Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-11-26
MIR. wANAMAKER.s REPORT.

The Postmaster Generals report IS
ready IL not quite completed, and the
general nature Of his recommendations
is well known. During the past year
the extension of postal facilities has
been very great; 16,5O0,O0O miles have
been added to the service, according 10
the New York World, ia the establish
ment Of new and ia the expediting OF
old routes. According 10 the recent
census there is now a postmaster for
every 1000 Inhabitants ratio which
shows how exceedingly easy IL IS even
for inhabitants Of remote parts of the
country to communicate with their
friends and to receive a daily newspaper.
The expenses OF the postoflice for the
past year were almost exactly 5000, 600
greater than the receipts; but this eX-
cess Of expenditures does not exceed,
relatively, the usual deficit. Both ex-
peuSeS and receipts increased during the
year by about S5,OOO,OOO.
As might be expected, a great part OF
Mr. WANANAKER'S report will be taken
up by discussion Of his fayorite pos
tai telegraph scheme. In its present
form, his project is not 10 create sepa-
rate department, not even TO use the
postofiices and poStmaSterS for tele-
graphic service, but 70 employ them as
agencies Of private telegraphic corpo-
rationS. II is proposed that the Post
maSter-General, with the concurrence
Of the Secretary OF the Treasury and the
Attorney-Gencral, shall contract for Il
period not exceeding ten years with one
or more telegraph companies for the
transmission by telegraph Of postal
kilograms or for the furnishing of the
lines. The function of the POstOilice
Department in this matter would be TO
receive postal kilograms, furnished with
the requisite amount Of stamps, aad
hand them over TO the telegraph COM
pany, and in like manner TO deliver tele-
grams sent in the same way. The plan
is to make all free delivery postal tele-
graph stations, the PoStmaSter-General
also having authority 20 designate
smaller Offices for this purpose, whom
ever, in his opinion, public convenience
SO requires A postal telegram would
be delivered like an ordinary letter, un
less it bore i special delivery stamp. II
might be forwarded by mail from any
postoflice i'm the United States TO any
postal telegraph Office, and thence trans
mitted by telegraph, the proper postage
being affixed or course there is moth
Ing in this scheme to prohibit telegraph
companies from performing general
service as they now dO-the only change
would be, practically, that kilograms
might be- sent by posting them, instead
Of handing them directly 20 the telc-
graph company, and that te.cgramS so
sent would be delivered in the same
manner. Mr.. WANAMAKEE also con-
Icontemplates postal telegraph money
order service. the details of which have
not transpired. II is reported that ne
would limit the charges as follows;
The charges in any one State not TO
exceed ten cents for messages OF twenty
words or less, counting address and sig
nature, nor twenty-five cents for any
distance under 1880 miles, nor fifty
cents for any greater distance"
II is pain that Mr.. WANANAKEE's
scheme is 4 ''fecler," almost timerOuS
one, and this is its chief recommends
ton. The best that can be said for it is
that il could not do much mischief if
put in practice. But conservative people
protestant wisely the aSSump-
ton Of new functions by the national
government. 1t is highly probable that
cheap service, such as he contemplateS,
would prove so inferior to the service
rendered directly by the telegraph COM
panies that il would be little awaited Of;
in that ease il would De Il Superiluity.
But il is quite possible also that wheth-
err il failed or succeeded it might be
made use Of rs an entering wedge to
open the way for further paternal fune-
lions ON the part Of the government.