Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1893-12-07
THE POSTMASTER'S REPORT
ANNUAL. REPORT OF THE POSTMAS.
FER GENERAL.

Mr.. Bissclr Recommends the Aboli-
tton Of Postal NotSs-An Estimated
Deficiency of Something Like Six
Millions. ef Dollars,
Washington, Nov. 2S.-Thc following
abstract of the annual report of Post
master General Bisscll was given out to-
day. 1t shows that the deficiency for the
year ended June so, 1888, was $5.117.111,
instead of $1.552, 4233, as estimated by
Mr.. Wanamaker. and that instead of
surplus of $S72,245 for the current fiscal
year, as estimated by Mr.. Wanamaker,
there will be an estimated deficit Of ST.
S3O.4I3. The postmaster general es-
Inmates the gross revenue for the fiscal
year ending June 30. 1895, at .$S4 49,
14S, and the gross expenditures at $780,
%D.4So, leaving an estimated deficiency
of $5,971.7 1856, which. however. will be
decreased S1,25O,OOO from the fund taken
from the unpaid money order accounts.
There are now 61O free delivery Of
fees. After thorough trial of two and
Il half years, the experiments in free
delivery tried in AGO towns of
populations ranging from 800 to
1000 have not proved the de-
STABILITY of establishing the system gen
orally, which the postmaster general es-
Inmates would ncceSsitate an annual out
lay of S1O,OO0,OOO. The appropriation of
$4,000 made for the trial of rural free
delivery has been found inadequate for
a fair test, and the plan is not approved.
The postmaster general by one stroke has,
settled the carrier overtime question I'M
der the eight-hour law. Claims for over
time amounting to nearly Il million dol
lars We're on file in the department when
he assumed his duties. Under his order
of April last. however. postmasters
have been held so strictly accountable for
the time of their carriers that the making
of overtime has practically ceased. He
| suggests that
Postal Notes to Be Abolished
and that the rates charged for all do
nestle money orders should be reduced
and the form of ord " simplitied.
Great Improvement is noticed in the
star, railroad and steamboat transport
tation service, the length of the routes
being 453, $50. SO miles. The postmaster
| general states that his desire is that
wherever the general service can be adj
vanced, use should be made of rapid
transit city and suburban car lines. He
pays particular attention to the railway
mail service, and requirements Of this
will, he estimates. call for an increase of
employees from G.G45 men to 1000 men.
| Hc urges such legislation as will provide
IL reasonable amount to be paid widows
| and minor children of railway mail clerks
| killed while ON duty, and estimates that
| $4,000 annually will be sufficient for
| this purpose.
Regarding ocean mail subsidy, the post
| master general says that he is unable to
| ascertain that any positive advantages
have accrued by reason of the contracts
| thus far put in operation under the act
of March 3. 1898. and that therefore, no
new contracts have boon entered into.
| There has been Il marked increase in the
| special delivery business. the entire
number of such pieces of mail matter
delivered being 3,375,G93. an increase
over last years business of - per cent.
| The department carried last year 3O1.-
100000 pounds of sccond-class matter,
this. the postmaster general remarks that
he is afraid that this indicates not so
much 4 hea lthy growth in the periodical
literature of the country as the success
of cntcrprising publishers in securing
the entry of many publications into this
favored class that are really not en-
titled to the privilege While Mr.. Wana-
/ maker estimated that the profits from the
sale Of Columbian postage, stamps would
be $2,5OO,OOO. Mr.. Bissclfs estimate is
only $1,0O0,OUO.
| Concerning the fixing of government
telegraph rates, Mr.. Bsscll rectes the
protest of the telegraph companies
against the rates fixed by his predcces-
sor and the suits which have been insti-
tuted against the government to recover
at the. rates charged the public. The
rates fixed by Postmaster General Bis
sell We're accepted by the companies, and
| On June 80. 1893. there were GS. -!U3 post
| offices in the United States. an increase
| of 1.2S4 over the previous year. There
are 3.3GO presidential postotliccS, Il net
| increase of lG3 Offices