New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-12-04
Mr.. WANAMAKER'S REPORT.
INTERESTING REVIEW OF TIE WORK OF
WIS DEPARTMENT.
ERGrNG BETTER FACILITIES FOR NEW YORK
sr1Ty-A POSTAL TELEPHONE SYSTEM
IMPROVED CIVIL SERVICE.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TkBUSE.1

IMPROVED CIVIL SERVICE.
tBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rkBUNE.1
Washington, Dec 3.-The admirable impression
made by Postmaster General wanamaker's previous
annual reports is maintained and strengthened by tho
report Of this years work in the PostOfhce Depart
mont published to-day. Like those Of 1850 and l59o
the present report crisp, vigorous ana welwrleh
review of the condition and progress Of the postal
service during the last twelve months. with many IN
teresting suggestions of improvement existing lines
and several frank and spirited arguments for various
new departures in the way OF postal extension and
development Among the latter appear Mr. wanna
makers favore projects for establishing postal tee-
graph in conjunction with the mail service of orgnniz
Ing postal savings banks and of extending free delivery
into the rural dstIscts. An adduohsl feature
has been introduced into the postal telegraph scheme
In the proposed employment Of the telephone too as
an adjunct to the postal service. The Postmaster
Generals argument OF year ago for SO decided an in
novation in postal methods the postal telegraph Is
supplemented with fresh facts and illustrations, and
the engaging programme which he has now adopted
seems 10 be summed up in this sentence: " One-cent
letter postage, Scent telephone messages and 10cent
telegraph messages all possibilities under an
enlightened and compact postal system, using the
newest teegrphc inventions"
Onecent postage, Mr.. Wanamaker thinks, should be
postponed for few years certainly until the service
itself Is improved and postal employees receive fairer
and more liberal compensation for their work. A
would DO the consolidation OF third and fourth class
mail matter. The Government, he suggests, could
easily carry all newspapers free if so-called SERIALS
which are nothing less than books, be put level
viii other merchandise and made mailable at fourth
class rates An interesting section OF the report Is de
voted to the operation OF the Postal Subsidy act, and
the difficulty which has been mot in making mail con-
tracts owing to the relatively inadequate compensation
offered. Figures also gwen showing the gratifying
asst
keeping lottery matter out Of the mails.
good deal Of local interest attaches to the Post
master Generals view Of the needs OF the NewYork
Office. The present building, he says, is entirely In
adequate 10 the service which is necessarily being
carried under defective and wastefu conditions. De-
cided improvements are also recommended in the Chi
cago service in view Of the approach OF the time
FOR holding the Worlds Fair.
The Postmaster Generals report delivered
printed, yesterday at the newspaper Offices here with
notice that it TO be held in confidence until Friday
December 4. II is greatly regretted therefore, tina:
morning newspaper in NewYork fit to use to-day
that portion of the report referring the needs Of the
New York City Postorice. The same newspaper how
ever, only year ago violated the confidence of the
Secretary Of Agriculture and published a report from
his Department before it had beN released. Cabinet
officers will probably take hint from these unpleasant
Incidents in their future dealings with this newspaper.
PROMOTIONS EvERYwHERF FOR MERIT.
The Postma Ster-General announces that the extern
tlon Of the merit system of promotions 50 successfully
put in operation in the Department lately. to the
larger postOices and the railway mall has already
been begun. OF this system. no says:
1t reaches down to the lowest grade clerk, and
there is limitation of the time when the next pro
motion may take place It creates ne St OF egb s
promptly to the person winning it, and the same PEG
pie compete again for the next vacancy If they
like. The examinations do not 60 the same tests
that secured the appointment but take most largely
into account the ONCE record OF me applcant ana
that all may see the fairness and accuracy of it.
have for many years worked along these same bust
ness lines. Only their application TO this Department
Is new. From the beginning OF your term l nave, nave
70 the higher places Now the system is established
10 take out OF any one mans hands the arbitrary
social or political friendships This can be more
fairly and conscentiousy in great Department Ike
t nom MIMI man iron pno Lo tbat pSycaI
emnations of applicants should be made for the heavy
postOfces. Because the present system sometimes
gives us crpPIes or men win Imperfect slght or or
as practicable picked men from other parts OF the
classified service have also followed this course In
various departments with practical qualifications for
this peculiar service, who after the personal eXamna-
eesaSss %r the s.nea Of 20 Fl WhO
without experenc in postal work. and very likely have
no capacity for 1t.
sTEAM-TUG AND INDEMNITY.
Mr.. wanamaker reeounts the successes Of the sea
postoices, which quicken all incoming foreign mails
received at York from two hours to week, and
recommends tile employment OF POstonhce steam tug
TO ply Ia NewYor1 HaIbOr between arriving steamers
and the jersey City and uptown ferries that several
hours perhaps day in some cases, may be saved. He
recommends private indemnity for lost registered mall
showing how cheap would be to the Department from
the fact that only piece out Of every 1900 or more
OF registered mail is lost 1t is shown by figures that
nine enths of the why letters wrong are due
TO the careesness Of the public and Mr.. Wanamaker
not only shows how the work of the Dead Letter Office
mas be reduced, but recommends the establishment Of
a branch in san Francisco. He announces changes in
the Postal Guide which will make 1t contain popular
information and enable it 10 be sold for cent instead
OF five.
The Postmaster-Geneal renews his recommendation
for the division of the country ntO postal districts and
sdduoes many reasons WHY the reform would be bene
fetal. lie shows that the countyseat vsitatOns have
resulted In the submission Of . 100 reports out Of pos
sble $780, and that the condition Of $4,000 Offices is
covered. Two Of the most interesting items which
every county postmaster was asked to report upon
were the distance from the posofce to tho nearest tee
graph Office, and the distance to the nearest savings
bank. These distances reported in various terms OF
feet blocks, rods, yards and miles, have been reduced
TO common tenn and averages struck OF The various
pats of the country, with the following results:
New-England States-Ayerage distance 10 the nearest
telegraph Office four miles distance 10 the near
est savings bank, ten miles.
Middle SatAverage distance to the nearest telegraph
ONCE miles distance 70 the nearest savings
bank, twenty-five miles.
Souhen states-Ayerage distance to the nearest tele
graph Office nine miles distance TO the nearest
savings bank twenty five miles.
Western states-Average distance to the nearest tee-
graph Office seven miles average distance the
savings bank twenty-siX miles.
Pacific Slope States-Aversge distance 10 the
telegraph Office. Till teen miles; distance the
nearest savings bank, nfy-two miles.
Hundreds OF postmasters were willing TO incur great
personal expense and trouble, and almost every
submitted suggestions which are now receiving the
careful attention Of the proper Departmental officials.
POSTAL TELEPHONE AS WELL AS TELEGRAPH.
The Postmaster General recommends this year the
of the telenhnne well the telegraph