The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-12-04
The MERIT SYSTEM OF PROMOTION,

NNSe'@NA
sion of
THE MERIT SYSTEM OF PROMOTION,
so successfully put into operation in the de-
partment lately, to the larger postoffices and
railway mail has begun Much is expected
from IL.
Referring to the lottery matter. the post
master-general says the disproportion of trials
and convictions to the number OF arrests and
INDUCEMENTS is accounted for by the usual de-
lays of the law, and not to any lack of
Judgment on the part of inspectors. He refers
TO the action OF certain express companies in
carrying lottery mails and says he shall report
this question TO the attorney general with
view to obtaining decision upon the constitu-
t>onallty of the question involved. Since the
prohibition OF the Louisiana lottery mails,
foreign lottery companies have sought to make
| capital out OF the fact, under the superstition
that foreign mails are not to be subjected to
like surveillance with domestic mails, and
greatly increased their mailing of circulars,
etc. The department is now struggling with
this problem and the evil is decreasing.
! The acknowledgement Tecounts the sue
cesses Of sea postofices in quickening incoming
foreign mails received at New York and recon
mends the employment of a postoffice steam
tug for New York harbor. 1t is shown by fig
| ures that nine-tenths of the causes
WHY LETTERS GO AsTRAY
are due to the carelessneSs of the public, and
| Wanamaker not only endeaVors to show how
| Inc Work OF the dead letter office may be re-
| duced, but recommends the establishment of q
branch in San Francisco to save time and the
expense OF transfer and re-transfer across the
continent
The postmaster general renews his recon-
mendation for the division OF the country into
postal districts and advances many reasons
why it would be beneficial
| Wanamaker recon mends this year the auop-
ton OF the telephone, as well as the telegraph,
to ths postal system, showing IL is not only
constitutional privilege but the duty OF Con-
greSs to utilize all the means OF modern science
| o
He argues at much length on the point; com
| bats the arguments against it; details MS
| struggle with the Western Union, etc. Wanna
maker believes in a full parcels post but does
not recommend 1t at present. He urges the aboll-
| ton OF personal sureTyships OF poStmasters as
| they are too frequently under obligations,
which damage the service. He proposes to ex-
| tend the money order system everywhere. 1t
| appears that nearly eight thousand miles of
additional railway fast office service have been
| established; 1910 mileB in the Pacific coast
| states; $500 in other western states, and 24OO
in the southern states and aboat 1000 in the
north eastern states.
SPECIAL ATTENTION GIVEN THE PACIFIC STATES
in recognizing old routes to meet the rapidly
| changing centres of business and population.
Wanamaker describes the pneumatic tube
systems of Berlin and London and strongly
recommends their adoption in this country. He
insists they would pay, and records several at
| teInpts at beginning such service.
Much space is devoted to rural free delivery,
which has been on trial in forty-siX commune
ties with surprisingly gratifying results; in
crease of receipts; service more than self-sup-
porting, etc. Numerous arguments are adduced
| why the service should be enlarged and q
recommendation is made for the passage of a
bill providing free delivery in towns of popu'
latiOn of between 5,000 and 10000. Special de-
livery service in cities increased this year one
| third over the average of the last four years.
Speaking of
POSTAL ACCOMMODATIONS THROUGH THE
COUNTRY,
the postmaster general says the plan Of put
ting up expensive public buildings in certain
places and leaving other meritorious towns
without any is not good one. The investiga-
lions of the year adduce plenty OF good reasons
why it would be useful. economical and patri
otis thing to build generally small public build
ings for postoftices. The postmaster general
argues strongly for system of postal savings
reiterating his plan of last year, and adding
to it.
Bids under the postal aid act are treated al
length, and after speaking Of recent awards the
report adds: "To accomplish the above schedule
the Pacific Mail company will have to spend
from six to seven millions for new ships and
the line to the Argentine republic, If accepted
will require nearly three millions for three new
ships. Fortnightly services to China splaces
the English, which have already arranged tC
withdraw. 1t is stated with some credence thai
one more of the very few American lines
would have been obliged to go out OF business
but for the prospect of assistance from the gov
eminent, which now enables them to compete
with other subsidized lines who otherwise
would monopoliZe the trade for other countries
II contracts are completed with all the com
service will probably begin from the 1st o
March, and the sum necessary to be appropri
ated for the remainder of the fisca
year must be more than S2,447, 345, il
addition to the appropriation for SET
and inland postage already put int
the estimates for the year. For the fiscal yea
from June 80, 1892 to June 80, 1893 will probably
be needed 1851 ,57S, for which appropriation will
be necessary, as the estimates are for that yea
include the amount OF sea and inland postage
The exact amount cannot be ascertained unit
the contracts are executed. 1t is estimated
under this act there will be ships of total ton
mage of 100, 600 tons carrying the American flag
in addition to the tonnage under flag but no
under act. Some of the old ships will give wa,
| to new, and the additional ships necessary TO
the increased speed required the companie
will be obliged to build fifteen ships immedi
ately The postmaster general
RECOMMENDS THE ABOLITION OF BOX RENT
at free delivery offices in small places, and Oh
, the one cent postage question, says: There
I great need of wider transportation of packages
= by mail, but don't urge it until greater an
more needed improvements in the service ar
, made. One cent postage too, is not immedi
ately to be undertaken, but it can be made pos
sible by the lst of January, 1894 If desirable be
fore the service is further perfected. 1t wi
come easier if we let the reduction of the for
t eign rate wait awhile. II we simplify milan
postage rates, so that all postage may b
=, rightly collected; If we consolidate third an
~ fourth class matter, and II we secure credit 10
G government mails and other losing business
, which the department under the present law
:, obliged to do"
!, The postmaster general further shows no,
y newspapers may be transported free from Jul
l. 1893, saying in part: III books alleged to b
periodicals we're properly classified, and san
pie copies of newspapers, except to a reason
able number, were classified as any other me
- chandise, the increased revenue would MOI
s than equal the total amount now collected frol
It publishers for postage of newspapers. In otht
e words the department would suffer no loss
IS carrying newspapers to actual subscribers fire.
if it got just pay for serials and sample copie
only. Mr. Wanamaker devotes much space
the,
COMPLAINTS OF FOURTH GLASS POSTMASTER
, and refers to the agitation among them as dr
. to the thrifty interest Of an attorney or
!, editor of a postal Journal Until the impor
! ance Of the fourth class postmaster is raise
7, and additional work or direction or respons
IS bility entities him on business principles
II larger pay, any movement to relieve him ca
r only fail. Mr.. Wanamaker says the fourth-cla
: postmaster is deserving OF better compens
y ton and better consideration than he receive
10 and the department is striving to help hir
e The postmaster-general would give him
t. chance for increased compensation by exten
ing to him the management of rural free d
livery, and more gradually the extension of Il
telegraph and telephone service into the cou
+ try and the transfer OF postal deposits.
a Commodore Folger's Report.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 3.-Commodore Folge
chief of the bureau Of ordnance, in his annu
~