The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-12-04

iluster Gcnerul y annuul report, maze
PUBLIC to-day, shows that, in spite OF
tho fact that we 81, OO,o 900 worth OF
lottery revenue has been lost during
tho past year, tho postal deficit OF &c.
100000 is surely disappearing, provided
tho same rate OF revenue and expenses
obtains on July l, 1893.
OF tho creation OF the fourth assistant
postmaster general, and tho consequent
reorganization Of the department; Mr..
Wnnamadicr says:
The most satisfactory phase OF this re-
organization is the postmaster generals
own opportunity to address himself to
large problems really affecting tho i'm.
provement OF the postal system. He is
not Obliged any longer to 60 over cases
with persons who might better have
seen somebody else in the first place.
His time is not taken up with the con-
sidcration OF papur which others can
pass upon with knowledge more special
than his own. lIo is able, rather, to
confer with people who really ought to
see him, to study ideas submitted to
him for decision. or, perhaps, originate
ones, and to devise some plan now and
then by which something important
may DO done.
rIoMorIoSn FOR MERIT.
The PostmasterLGcuersl %pronounces
that the extension OF the merit system
Of promotions, so successfully put in
operation in the Department lately, to
the larger postotliceN and the railway
mail, has already boon begun. OF this
system he says:
!. reaches down to tho lowest grade
clerk, and there is no limitation Of the
time when the next promotion may
take place. 1t creates mo list OF eligibics
10 be worn out with waiting, but gives
the place promptly to the person Win
ming it; and tho same people can COM
pete again for the next vacancy ii they
like. The examinations do not 20 owe
the same tests that secured tho appoint
ilicnt, but take most largely into account
the office report OF tho applicant, and Il
part OF the record is open every day in
each division that all may see tho fair
ness and accuracy OF it. l have for
many years worked along these same
business lines. Only their application
to this Department is now. From the.
beginning o your term I have steadily
advanced officials and clerks from the
lower to the higher places. Now the
system is established to take out OF any
one mans hands the arbitrary settle
mcnt OF these questions under tho III
iluence Of social or political friendships.
This can be done more fairly and con-
scientiously in 4 great Department like
this from within than it can from the
outside.
recommended in my last report that
physical examinations OF applicants
should be made ior the heavy work OF
the railway mail and for porters in the
large postolIiccs. Because tho present
system sometimes gives us cripples, or
men with imperfect sight, or weaklinss
wholly untitled for the work, l have so
far as practicable picked men from 9th
er parts OF tho classified service.
LOTTERY RECEIPTS AND INDEMNITY.
1t appears that all the lottery mail
has practically been driven from the
mails, and the fidelity OF the depart
ment in trying to enforce this almost
unanimous wish OF congress is shown
by the following table:
Total number Of arrests from September 10,
1890, thc date the law went into effect to
Total number of indictments bygrand jurics
during the same period rs
Total number ont on bail awaiting action OF
GRIND juricS. IS
Total number OF convictions. Sc
To,nl number discharged from custody (uo
we iiH" AMOUNT Of bali required Iircm$3c6
- IN e. OGO In pnCh On Il. SiOW1
For period from July ], ls9l, TO October %,
1851:
Total number of arrcsts......................... 40
Total number O! indictments by grand iuries us
Total number out on bail awaiting action OF
grant 10
Tolal, numbcrconvicted Cincd from Sol S@90
Average amount Of bail required irom SiOo
10 5000 Id each case, SS0J. -"
''Thc ~disproportion OF trials and con-
victions to tho number OF arrests and
indictments" says Mr.. Wanamaker, lis
accounted for by the usual delays of'tho
law 1.-THE failure to reach the cases on
tho dockets, the postponements OF the
trials 10 subsequent dates ortermis, etc.) |
and not to any lack OF judgment OF tho
inspectors. We have been cautious not
to make the law odious."
$4,000 OFFICES REPORTED UPoN.
1t appears that 375 postmasters wrote
reviews OF the last annual report. Two
hundred and sixteen OF the postmasters
discussed postal biography, pa favor
ably and . unfavorably. One hundred
ard scvcnty-ci.ht discussed postal say
ings banks, iGG 10 favor them, II to OPP
pose them. One hundred and iorty-iour
discussed once 81 postage, Is to favor
it, l3l to Oppose Tor the present. l
consider these ..sa:cs very Significant,
first, rs illustrating the relative inter
est which these three leading topics cx.
cited among tho persons most likely to
think OF them and discuss them from
practical standpoints; and, second, as
showing in another way the differing
degrees OF favor with which tho proper
tions are received by the same well-in. |
formed and inquiring minds.
The postmaster general renews his
recommendation for tho division OF the
country into postal districts, and ad-
duccs many reasons why the reform
would be beneficial. He shows that tho
c%ounty.scnt visitations have resulted in
the submission OF 2.10O reports out OF n
possible $500, aud that the condition OF
$4,000 offices is covered.
POSTAL TELEPHONE AS. WELL As 4 POSTAL
TELEGRAPH.
The postmaster general recommends
this year tho adaptation OF tho tole.
phone, as we'll as tho telegraph, to tho
postal system, showing that it is not
only the constitutional privilege, but
the duty OF congress, to utilize all tho
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