The record-union., 1891-12-04

master General says: 1.-The dispropor-
ton of trials and convictions to the num-
Der OF arrests and indictments is ac-
counted for by the usual delays of the
law and not TO any lack of judgment on
the part OF the inspectors" He refers to
the actlo n of certain express companies in
carrying lottery mails and says he shall
report this question to the Attorney-Gen-
eral with the view of obtaining decision
upon the constitutional question involved.
Since the prohibition of Louisiana lot
terry mails foreign lottery companies
have sought to make capital out of the
fact, under the supposition that foreign
mails could not be subjected to a like sur
veillance with the domestic, and greatly
increased their mailing of circulars. etc.
The department is now struggling with
this problem, aud the evil is increasing.
The Postlnaster-Generalr recounts the
success of sea postofticeS in quickening
the incoming foreign mails received at
New I or<, and recommends the employ
ment OF poStolfice steam tug for New
York harbor.
1t is shown by figures that nine-tenths
OF the causes why letters go aStray is due
! TO the carelessness of the public, and
| Wanamaker not only endeavors to show
| how the work of the dead-letter Office
may be reduced, but recommends the
/ establishment of a branch in San Fran
cisco, to save time and expense of transfer
| anu IelIdlSIGI dCTNSS the continent
! The Postmaster-G General renews his
/ recommendation for a division Of the
| country into postal districts, and adduces
| many reasons why 1T would be of benefit.
! Mr.. W anamaker recommends this year
| the adaptation of the telephone, as we'll
as the telegraph, TO the postal system,
! showing that it is not only constltu-
| tional privilege. but the duty of Congress
! to utilize all means of modern science Tor
! qulckenlng the transmission of intelli-
! gence. He argues at much length on the
! point, combats the arguments against it.
and details his struggle with the Western
| Union, etc.
Wanamaker believes in the full parcel
! post, but does not recommend it at pres
ent. He urges the abolition of personal
| suretyshipS of PostmasterS, as they are
| too frequently under Obligations,
which damage the service. He proposes
to extend the money order system every
| where.
1t appears that nearly 5000 miles adj
ditional of railway Postoffice service has
been established-1.3 800 miles in the Pa
ciflc Coast States, $500 in other Western
States, 400 in the Southern States and
about 900 in the Northern States.
Wanamal<er describes the pneumatic
tube system of Berlin and London, and
strongly recommends their adoption in
this country. He insists that they would
pay, and records several attempts at be-
ginning such service.
Much space is devoted to the question
Of rural free delivery, which has been on
trial in fofty-SiX communities with sTr-
prlslngly gratifying results, an increase
OF receipts and service more than self
supporting, etc. Numerous arguments
are adduced why the service should be
enlarged, and a recommendation is made
for the passage OF bill providing for free
delivery in towns Of population be-
| tween 5000 and 10000. The special de-
| livery service in cities was increased this
! year one-third over the average of the
| last four years.
Speaking of the postal accommodations
| throughout the country, the Postmaster
General says the plan Of putting up ex-
pensive public buildings in certain
! places, and leaving other meritorious
towns without any, is not a good one.
Investigations of the year induce plenty
| of good reasons why it would be useful,
economical, and patriotic thing to build
small public buildings for postoffices.
The PostmaSter-Generala argues strongly
for q system of postal savings, reiterating
his plan Of last year and adding to it.
Bids under the Postal Aid Act are
treated at length, and after speaking of
the recent awards the report adds: ITO
accomplish the above schedule the Pacific
Mail Company will have to spend from
six to seven million dollars for new
Republic, if accepted, will require nearly
three millions for three new ships. Fort
nightly the service to China diSplaces an
English line, which has already arranged
to withdraw. 1t is stated with some
! credence that one or more of the verv few
American lines would have been obliged
to go out Of the business but for the pros
pect of assistance from the Government,
which now enables them to compete with
other subsidized lines, who otherwise
would have monopolized the trade for
other countries.
The Postmaster r-General recommends
the abolition of box rents at free deliy-
cry offices in small places, and on the
one cent postage question says: "There
is great need of wider transportation of
packages by mail, but / do not urge it
until greater and more needed improve
ments in the service are made. One cent
| postage, too, is not Immediately to be un-
dertal<en, but it can be made possible by
the ist of January, 1894, if desirable, be-
! fore the service is further perfected IT
| will come easier If we let the reduction of
! foreign rate wait while, if we simplify
! inland postage rates SO that all postages
may be rightly collected, if we consoli-
date the third and fourth-class matter.
aud if we secure credit for Government
mails and other losing business, which
the Department under the present law is
obliged to do."
The Postmaster General further shows
how newspapers may be transported free
from July l., 1898, saying in part: ''If
books alleged to be periodicals were
properly classified, and sample copies of
newspapers, except to a reasonable num-
Der, were classified as any ether mer-
chandse, the increased revenue would
more than equal the total amount now
collected from publishers for postage of
newspapers. In other words, the de-
n lyo
ing newspapers to actual subscribers free.
if it received just pay for serial and
sample copies"
tn o,d rr,,.,o I,1o4