The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-11-29
portation service. the length Of routes
haing 453. So. So milea.

portation service, the length Of routes
being 453, ,s32.S3 miles.
The postmaster general states that his
desire is that wherever the general
service can be advanced, use should be
made OF rapid transit city and sub
urban car lines. He pays particular at
tention to the railway mail service, and
the requirements OF this year will, he
estimates, call for an increase OF en-
ployes from 6,645 men to 1000 men. He
urges such legislation as will provide a
reasonable sum to be paid TO the wild
ows and minor children OF railway mail
clerks killed while on duty, and esti-
mates that $4,000 annually will be suti-
cient for this purpose.
There has been q marked increase in
the special delivery business, the entire
number OF such pieces of mail matter
delivered being 3,S75,693, an increase
over last year OF % per cent.
The department carried last year
30l ,O00, 900 pounds OF second class mat
tor, an increase OF II per cent. Con-
corning this, the postmaster general re-
marks that he is afraid that this indl-
Gates not 60 much healthy growth in
the periodical literature of the country
as the success Of enterprising publishers
in securing tho entry of many publica-
tions into this favored class that arc
really not entitled to the privilege.
While Mr.. Wanamaker estimated that
the profits from the sale Of tho Colum-
bian postage stands would be $500, 900,
Mr.. Bissell's estimate is only $l,00O,0 900
On June 20, 1898, there wero 6S,403
postoffiCes in the United States, an in
crease Of l,2S4 over the previous year.
There are $3.50 presidential postotiices,
q net increase OF 1853 Offices.
The postmaster general devotes con-
siderable space to the discussion OF civil
service reform. There are IS, 1924 en-
ployes in the classified civil service in
the postofiCe establishment OF the gov
eminent.
Probably the most important order
made by Mr.. Bissell is the one which
declares that postmasters shall devote
their time to the duties OF their Office.
In this connection he states that the
time has passed when q postoffice ap-
pointment should be held as political
sinecure.
APARTIsAN Wall.
In commenting on the 1882 removals
made by the last administration in the
railway mail service, Mr.. Blssell says:
"This action was the heaviest blow
ever dealt the civil service law, since
the effect OF it was to debar experienced
clerks from the service and to protect in
their positions large number OF mex
perienced new appointees.
ut ia not to be wondered at that the
employees thus eummarily dismissed re-
eardsd the law itself as ahateful OBJ
struction to fair treatment and justice.
This sentiment has recently been en-
phasized in the case OF many who hoped
for reinstatement upon discovering that
the intervening four years have so far
advanced their ages that they now are
ineligible even for examination under
the age limit. In this connection, how
ever, it is TO be observed that, of the
1882 persons appointed as / have stated,
less than one-half were in the service
on March Z, 1893"
The security OF the registered mail is
shown by the fact that OF the 10, $685. 37S
pieces CARRIED during the year, actual
loss was found in only l.346 cases OF the
1923 complaints investigated.
Notwithstanding lack OF needed ap-
propriatious to carry on the affairs OF
the service and the change OF admins
tration, the report shows that the stand
ard Of efficiency OF the service has not
only been maintained, but has been
actually raised over the preceding year.