The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-12-13

| however, 10 more tnan I'VE millions
at the same time and under the infiu
ence of like anticipations. estimates
were made for the current fiscal year
ending June 30. 1894, which exhibited
g surplus OF revenue over expenditures
of S872, 2,245 II; but now, in view Of the
actual receipts and expenditures dur
| Ing that part of the current fiscal year
already expired, the present P0stmas-
ter General estimates that at It's close
instead Of a surplus there will be de.
hclency Of nearly eight million dollars.
The postolice receipts for the last hs-
cal year amounted to S75, 1896, ,933.16 and
its expenditures to $81, on, ,104.99. This
postOff1ce deficiency would disappear
or be immensely decreases If less mat
ter was carried free through the mails,
among which is upward Of three hun
dred tons Of seed and grain from the
Agricultural Department. The total
number Of postoffices in the United
States on the Both Of June, 1893, was
68, ,4O3, an increase Of 1884 over the
preceding year. OF these 1850 were
Presidential, an increase In that class
OF 2O4 over the preceding year. Forty
TWO free delivery Offices were added
during the year to those already exist.
Ing, making total OF six hundred and
ten cities andtowns provided with free
delivery on June 80, 1893. Ninety
three other cities and towns are now
entitled to this service under the law,
but 1t has not been accorded them on
account Of insufficient funds to meet
the expense of It's establishment. am
decidedly of the opinion that the pro-
visions Of the present law permit as
general an introduction of this feature.
of mail service as Is necessary or just-
fable, and that 1t ought not to be ex-
tended to smaller communities than
are now designated.
The expense Of free delivery for the
fiscal year ending June 80, 1894, will be
more than $11, 100000, and under legis.
lation now existing there must be 8
constant increase in this item Of expen-
diture. There were 6401 additions to
the domestic money order offices during
the last fiscal year, being the largest in
crease In any year since the inaugura-
ton of the system. The total number
Of these cMcss at the close Of the year
was 18,424 There.w IL. .309, ,7S5 mon.
ey orders issued from these offices, be.
ing an increase over the preceding year
Of 1,240,293 and the value Of these or
ders amounted to $127, ,276, 1885, an In.
crease of S7,5O9,632.5S. There were al
so issued during the year postal notes
amounting to $12O93,076.73. During
the year 1875 international money or.
der offices were added to those already
provided making total Of 2, ,407 In 0p.
Grafton on me 30, 1893. The number
of international money orders issued
during the year was l ,055, ,999, an in.
crease over the preceding year Of 1880
and their value was SIG, ,A1, ,837.86, an
increase of 81 ,221, ,5O6,31. The number
of orders paid was 30O,9l7, an increase
over the preceding year of 1868. aud
their value was $5,283 $3.50, an To-
crease of 1914 4,093.83. From the forego.
ing statements it appears that the to.
tai issue Of money orders and posta.
notes for the year amounted to $156l-
821,348.24.
The number of letters and packages
mailed during the year for special de-
livery was 3,375.693, an increase over
the preceding year Of nearly 22 per
cent. The special delivery STAN ps used
upon these letters and ackages
amounted to 1897 $50 30, and the mes
senger fees paid for their delivery
amounted to $256,592.71, leaving q
profit to the government Of $50, ,976 30.
The railway mall service not only adds
to the promptness of mail delivery at
all offices, but 1t Is the especial instru.
mentality which puts the smaller and
way places in the service on an equality
In that regard with,t the larger and tet-
minal offices. This branch Of the pos,
tai service has therefore received much
attention from the Postmaster General
and though it is gratifying to know
that it is In condition Of high eficien.
cy and great usefulness, I am led to
agree with the Postmaster General
that there is room for Its further I'M
provement. There are now connected
to the postoffice establishment 28,3N
EMPLOYEES who are In the classified SER
vice. The head of this great depart
ment gives conclusive evidence Of tie
value of civil service reform, when at.
ter an experience that renders his
Judgment on the subject absolutely re-
liable, he expresses the opinion that
without the benefit Of this system 1t
would be impossible to conduct the
vast business intrusted to him.
desire to commend as especially
worthy Of prompt attention the sug-
gestions of the Postmaster General re-
lating to q more sensible and BUSINESS
like organization, and better distri.
button of responsibility In his depart
ment.
The report of the Secretary of the
Navy contains history Of the opera
tions of his department during the past
wear. and exhibits a most gratifying
condition Of the personnel Of our navy.
He presents q satisfactory account or
the progress which has been made IN
the construction OF vessels, ana makes
number Of recommendations, 10
which attention Is especially invited:
During the past six months the de.
mands for cruising vessels have been
many and urgent. There have been
revolutions calling for vessels to pro-
tect American interests In NicarauRua
Guatemala, COSTA Rica, Honduras, ar.
oentine and Brazil, while the condition
of affairs in Honolulu has required the
constant presence Of one or more ships,
With all these calls upon our navy it
becomes necessary in order to make up
a sufficient fleet to patrol Berhing sea
under the modus viVendi agreed upon
with Great Britain, to detail to that
service one vessel from the fish com.
mission and three from the revenue
marine.
Progress in the construction of new
vessels has not been as rapid as was an:
ticipated. There have been delays IN
the completion of unarmored vessels,
but for the most part they have been
annh areas constantly occurring even In