The Coconino weekly sun., 1893-12-07
THE POST OFFICE.
Tho Postmaster -G Generars Annual Report
 The Mall Service Reviewed.


 WASHINGTON, Nov. 29.-The follow ing abstract of the annual report of Postmaster-General Bissell was given out yesterday:
 The postmaster-general, in his fnan- cial statement, shows the deficiency for the year ended June 30, 1893, was s5,- IF, I'll, instead of s1, 552, 423, as estimat- ed by Mir WanamalSer, and that instead of surplus of sS72 245 for the current fiscal year, as estimated by Mir Wana- maker, there will be an estimated de- felt of S7,S30, 473. He estimates the gross revenue for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1894, at $S4, 427, 74S and the gross expenditures at 800, ,399, 4s5, leav- ing an estimated deficit of s5.971, ,736, which, however, will be decreased s1,- 250, 900 from the fund taken from the unpaid money order accounts.
 Although there are ninety-three ad- ditional post offices now entitled to free delivery service, the absence of money renders impossible the estab- lishment of the system in these towns. After thorough trial of two and a half years the experiments in free de- livery tried in 460 towns of populations ranging from 900 to 4,000 have not proven the desirability of establishing the system, which the postmaster-gen- eral says would cause an annual outlay of s1O, 100000. The appropriation of s10,- GOO made for the trial of rural free de- livery has been found inadequate for a fair test and the plan is not approved.
 The postmaster-general, by one stroke, had settled the carriers over time question under the eight hour law. Claims for over time amounting to nearly s1, 1000, 900 were on file in the de- pertinent when he assumed his office. Under his order of April last, however, postmasters have been held so strictly accountable for the time of their car rieis that the making of overtime has practically ceased.
 He suggests that postal notes be abolished and that the rates charged for all domestic money orders should be reduced and the form of order sim | plified.
 Great improvement is noticeable in | the star railroad and steamboat trans portation service, the length of the routes being 453, s32. s3 miles. The post master-general states his desire is that, wherever the general service can be | advanced, use should be made of rapid transit, city and suburban lines. He | pays much attention to the railway mail service, and the requirements of | this year, will, he estimates, call for an increase of employees from 6,645 men to | 1000 men. He urges such legislation | as will provide reasonable amount to | be paid to widows and minor children of railway mail clerks killed while on duty, and estimates that S20, ,000 annu- ally will be sufficient for this purpose.
 Regarding ocean mail subsidy the postmaster-general is unable to ascer- tain that any positive advantages have | accrued from either a mail or commer- cial point of view by reason of the con- tracts thus far put in operation under the act of March 3, 1891, and that, therefore, no new contracts have been made.
 l There has been a marked increase in the special delivery business the entire number of such pieces of mail matter delivered being 3,375, 793, an increase over last year of 22 per cent.
 The department carried last year | S01, 1000, 900 pounds of second-class mat ter, an increase of IA per cent Con cerning this the postmaster-general re- marks he is afraid this indicates not SC much healthy growth in the periodi- cal literature of the country as the sue cess of enterprising publishers in secur' ing the entry of many publications into this favored class that are really not entitled to the privilege.
 While Mir. Wanamaker estimated the profits from the sale of Columbian stamps would be g, 800 900, Mir. Bisselr: estimate is only s1, 900, 900.
 Concerning the fixing )f government telegraph rates, Mr. Bissell recites tht against the rates fixed by Mir. Wana maker and the suits which have beer instituted against the government tt recover at the rates charged the public The rates fixed by Postmaster-Gepera, Bissell were accepted by the companies and are about per cent. below those
 
 fixed in 1888.
 On June 30, 1893, there were 6s, 40 post offices in the United States, an in crease of 1,2S4 over the p evious year There are S,60O presidential post offices net increase of 163 offices
 Mr. Bissell devotes considera able space to discussion of civil service reform There are 2s,Ss4 employees in the classi fled civil service in the post office estab lishment of the government. He make a special comment on the wholesal discharge of democratic clerks in tn railway mail service at the beginning of the last administration.
 MT. BisselPs rule that fourth-clas postmasters shall not be removed unti on the expiration of four years incum bency he thinks will dignify the offic by placing it on par with presidentia