Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1891-12-08
POSTOFFlCE DEPART MENT,
Rec ON M ond ations in DIR. Iyanamaler's
Annual Report.

shows that, in spite OF the fact that over
81, 900, 600 worth of lottery revenue has
been lost during the past year, tho postal
deficit of SO, 600, 600 is surely disappearing,
provided the same rate of revenue aud OK
pen ses obtain on July l, 1898.
The postmaster general pronounces that
the extension of the merit system of promo
tons, 80 successfully put in operation i'll the
department lately, to the larger postoflices
and the railway mail, has already boon be-
gun. 1t reaches down to the lowest grade
clerk and there is no limitation of the time
when the next promotion may take place
1t creates no list Of eieibles to be worn out
with waiting. but gives the place promptly
to the person winning it. From the begin
ming of your term l have steadily advanced
officials and clerks from the lower to the
higher places Now the system Is estab-
lished to take out of any ono mans hands
the arbitrary settlement of these questions
under the influence Of social or political
friendships This can be done more .a.rly
and conscisntously in a great department
like this from within than it can from the
outside.
Lottery Receipts and Indemnity.
1t appears that all OF the lottery mail has
practically been driven from the mails, and
the fidelity of the department in trying 10
enforce this almost unanimous wish of Con.
gress is shown by the fact that $50 arrests
were made from Sept. 10, 1890 (thc date the
| law went into effect TO June 30 1891, OF
| whom sc were convicted.
The postmaster-gencra renews his recon-
mendation for the division of the country
into postal districts, and adduces many rea-
| sons why the reform would be beneficial.
He shows that the county seat visitatIons
have resulted in the submission OF POO re-
ports out of possible $500, and that the
condition of 40, 600 offices is covered. Two
of the most interesting items which every
county seat postmaster vas asked to report
upon were the distance from the postollics
| to the nearest telegraph oillcc, and the dis
tance to the nearest savings bank. Hun
dreds of postmasters were wiling TO incur
great personal expense and trouble AID al
most every one submitted suggestions, which
are now receiving the careful attention OF
the proper departmental officials.
Postal Telephone as VI ell rs Postal TeIe-
graph.
The postmaster-gene recommends this
year the adaptation Of the telephone, as
well as the telegraph, to the postal system,
showing that it is not only the constitution
al privilege, but the duty OF Congress, 10
!
quickeniug the transmission Of intelligence.
One-cent letter postage, three cent tce-
phone messages, and 10 cent telegraph mes
sages all near possibilities under
| ightened and compact postal system, using
the newest teleeraphic inventions. The ad-
vantage Of tying the rural postotice by
telephone wire requiring no operator to the
! railroad station must be obvious. The bene
fits arising from telephone connections
| with the postoces Will easily suggest them
selves in a hundred ways to those who want
the entire people to share in common priv
| ileges. The rural population would be the
greatest gamer.
1t is not chimerical to expect a three
cent telephone rate; tho possibilities of
cheapening the management of these new
facilities are very great. Al account keep
ing could be abolished Dy use Of stamps o.
''niCkel-in- he slot" attachments. Collection
boxes every where in the cities, and many
places in the country towns, would receive
telephone and telegraph messages written on
stamped cards like postal cerJs. Old sol
diers and others could find employment u.
collectors, and frequent collections would
abolish the present expensive messeuzer-
boy system, that adds two cents 10 the cost
OF 80 per cent OF city tcleCrams.
The delivery by letter carriers held to
strict account would also be an Improve
ment over tne present system of messen-
| gers, who rarely hurry except ia pictures.
No one will doubt, in the iigut OF tie
events Of the day the wisdom OF the gov
eminent exercising some authority over the
! trans tlantic cables, whose ri ut TO land on
our shores is only ~ government consent.
Mr.. Wanamaker believes in the full par
GELS post, but does not recommend 1t a; pres
ent. lie urges the abolition of persona
suretyships Of postmasters, as they too
frequently under Obligations, which damage
the service, aud proposes to extend tue
money order system everywhere.
In speaKing of the railway service the
postmaster general says: Much time is
saved by an improved system Of separation
in railway pustoiiices OF city mail Tor large
commercial centres. During tie year end
ed June 80, 1891, 2J3, J6G, 4jG letters Tor
city delivery were thus separated; en- in
crease over the previous year Of 20. 0O5, 900,
or 12i PER cent.
Mr.. WaDamaker describes the pneumatic
tube system of Berlin and Lonlon, an
strongly recommends their adoption in tai.
country. He insists that they would pay.
and records several attempts at beginning
such service as means Of saving the car
riers time. A letter box Mt every door is
recommended ana Inc postmaster general Is
confident that the time Ok house to
house collection we'll as house
to house delivery is near at hand
OF the wonderful success of rural free de-
livery the report says: The rural free deiv-
cry experiment Is on trial in 4G communi-
ties. and the financial showing in the dis
trcts where it has been tried Is excellent
Numberless arguments why this service
ought to be continued and enlarged are ad-
duced, and it is shown how much similar
efforts to extend the free delivery into the
country are to be made along star routes
and by means of suburban electric roads
| Mr. Wanamaker recommends the passage of
a bill to entite towns Of population be-
tween 5000 and 999J TO ths free delivery,
and shows that the special delivery service
in cities has increased one-third this year
over the average Of the last tour years.
He argues strenuously for postal savings.
He reiterates his plan of last year, an Il
adds: Another plan, quite simple and thor
oughly practical, would be to issue at the
postoflice non neg otieble certificates of pos
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