The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-12-04
fHE POSTAL SYSTEM.
|9snamaker Advises Building
of Offices Everywhere.
REPRESSION OF THE LOTTERY.
- Letter ONCE at San Francisco Rec
snmended-Fres Postage for News
papers, Not for Sample Copies.

srvne the past year the postal deficit of Sc 0o0-
4 n il surely disappearing. The extension of
u = a. merit system of promotion, so successfully
a 8. into operation ia the department lately, to
Il q larger postofhces ami railway mail, has be-
ri m and much is expected from it.
peferriue 10 the lottery matter, the postmas-
4 =, erneral says the disproportion of trials and
.oaysetions 70 the number of arrests and indict-
meuts ID accounted for BIZ the usual delays of
~ ~. Ia and not by any lack of judgment on the
,ert a inspectors. He refers to the action of
WY ssyair express companies In carrying lottery
1v ssls and says be shall report this question to
4 ~ attorney general, with q view of obtaining q
i decision upon the constitutional questions in
j voyed since the prohibition of the Louisiana
j rattefy mails, foreign lottery companies have
sousht to make capital out OF the fact, under
a the imposition that foreign mails would not be
4 INFECTED to like surveillance with domestic,
n and have generally increased their mailing of
circulars, etc. The department is now strug-
N ii dng with this problem, and the evil is decreas
TIC
fhe postmaster general recounts the successes
II "a postofices in quickenng the incoming of
n&fNsgn mails received at New YORK, and recon-
III Hpeuds the employment of postofice steam tug
iii No. New York harbor.
iIJt BIS shown by figures that nine-tenths OF the
80 3uses why letters 20 asrray is due to the care
II esness Of the public, and wanamaker not only
q esdeaSors TO show how the work of the dead
j letter Office may be reduced, but recommends
49, he establishment OF branch in San Francisco
1psAve the time and expense OF transfer across
- continent. The postmaster general renews
/ = recommendation for division of the country
10 postal districts, and adduces many reasons
vi III II would be benefit.
~ Nf Wanamsker recommended this year thu
l haptation Of the telephone well as telegraph
bths postal system, showing that it is not only
oorN constitutional privilege, but the DUTY of
IN HBgress TO utilize all means of modern science
k auickening the transmission OF intelligence
De argues at much length on the point, and
~. pmhats arguments against il. He details his
frnggle with the Western Union, etc wana-
nsfer believes in fun parcel post, but does not
Arommend il At present. He argues the abolf-
w. ten OF personal suretyships OF postmasters as
nsy are too frequently under obligation which
damage the service He proposes to extend the
money order system everywhere
Itnppears that nearly 5000 miles of additional
nilFoad postofice service has been established:
800 miles in the Pacific coast states, $500 In the
other western states, 400 in the Southern states
and about LOCO in the Northeastern states
Wanamaker describes the pneumatic tube sys-
- tns Of Berlin and London, and strongly recon-
unends their adoption in this country He insists
that they would pay, and records several at
Ikmpts at the beginning of such a service
Much space is devoted to the question OF rural
Rec delivery which has been on trial in forty
enGRI ~ communities with surprisingly gratifying
nsnlss The increase of the receipts OF the ser
nee make II more than self-supporting. Numer-
- nus Arguments adduoed why the service
nonld be enlarged. recommendation is made
hr the passage of the bill providing Tree deliv-
INnXtT IN towns OF population between 5000 aud
aa0o The special delivery service in cities has
Increased this year onethird over the average OF
H. he last four years
Speaking of the postal accommodations
NJ uongh the country, the postmaster general
~ the plan OF putting up expensive public
&Ndlngs In certain places and leaving other
u nefitorious towns without any is not good
~ Que The Investigations of the year indorse
y fenty OF good reasons why il would be useful,
eonomical and patriotic thing to build gener-
My small public buildings for postoffices The
pAsmsster general argues strongly for system
III postal savings banks, reiterating his plan of
nj year and adding to il.
Mr. Wanamaker devotes much space to COM
pants of fourth-eass postmasters, and refers to
ne agitation among them as due TO "the thrifty
Interest OF an attorney editor of a postal
Nloatnal" Until the importance of the fourth
fass postmasters is raised, and additional direc-
Euon or responsibility entities him, on BUSH
hess principles. to larger pay, any movement"
relieve him only fail Mr.
Nansmaker says the lourth-class postmaster
deserving Of better compensation and better
consideration than he receives, and the depart
msnt Ia striving to aid him. The postmaster
esnersl would give him chance for increased
compensation by extending TO him the manage
aai extension of the telegraph and telephone
8&eryiee into the country and the transfer of
- postal deposits
The bids under the postal aid act are treated
length, and after speaking OF the recent
awards, the report adds:
To accomplish the above schedule the Pacific
NAL Company will have TO spend from Sc $50 900
HhNWou0 for new ships The line to the Ar.
fentine Republic, If accepted will require
pearly sS,Vo,eo1 for three new ships. The fort
nlghtly service TO China dispiaces an English
ane, which has already arranged to with
mw' II is stated with soma cred
Hnee, that one more of the very
kw American lines would be obliged 10
Nko ont OF business but for the prospect OF as
Uzftsanee from the government, which now en-
HWY them TO compete with other subsidized
HIaas, VINO otherwise would monopolze the
.sae from other countries. II the contracts
sN complied with by all the companies whose
Ines seem in proper form, the service will
PROBABLY begin from the first of March. and the
sam necessary to he appropriated Tor the re-
.a.hlef oil the fiscal year will not DO more than
'sSsoi In addition to the appropriation for sea
~ hand postage already put into the esti-
lase lot this year. For the next fiscal year.
s sgn June 81, ls92, 10 June %. 1898, there
VII PROBABLY be needed s56l.5iS, for which
APPROPRIATION will he necessary, the esti-
mates for that year only include the amount of
"a aad inland postage. The exact amount
ahnot be ascer;ained until the contracts are
seealed IL is timaled that under this act
ssIe VIII DC shtps o 4 total tonnage OF 10000
ns carrying the American dag. in addition 20
We tonnage under the flag bat not under the
Hin oViV pl lue Oll SHIPS VIII give way TO
ses ahd additional SHIPS necessary for the in
weasel speed required. The companies VIII be
"assa 70 ouiid fifteen ships Immediately.
ahe postmaster general recommends the abo-
ason Q! box rents az free delivery Offices in
ten SAYS:
lhsfe u great need of wider transportation of
mNssss by mail, but do not urge IL until
~ anu more needed improvements IN the
rss.ses are made, One-ceat postage il not i'm
~~sstev 10 De undertakes, hut it can be made
.eis by the lst OF January, 1874. il DIES rs bic
"'e ihe service is further perfected II will
~sae easier u we let the reduction Of foreign
- Walt while; II We simplify inland post
HAAes 80 thar ali hostages may be rightly col
uS@.e.4, IL We consolidate third and fourth class
$50 and II We secure credit for government
49, sao other losing business. which the de-
haa ~ t'aN4' '""' :" ''''eSS
aas postmaster general further shows how
H@sspapers may be transported free from July
sNS, saying in part:
HHkaeooks sllcgcd % be periodicals. were proper
HIrs.sioed aud sample copies Of newspz psrs,
HIn..F1 70 reasonable number, were class fed
H. o,her merchandise. the increased RIVE
soaia more taau equal tire total amount
M.suieeted from publishers Ter the postage of
HIs..f2epers Ia other words, the department.
tar,s. s1rer ne ioss by carrying newspapers to
80 subscribers free II IL received just pay for
As and sample copies
WE'RE BLUNDERs ARE MADE.