The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1893-12-08
THE POST OFFICE.
The Postmaster -Generars Annual Repove
The Mail Service Reviewed.


The Mail Service Reviewed.
WASHINGTON. Nov. 29.-The follow
ing abstract of the annual report of
Postmaster-General Bissen was given
out yesterday:
The postmaster-general. in his finan-
cial statement, shows the deficiency for
the year ended June so. 1893, was So
1T. III, instead of 81. .552, 423. as estimat-
ed by Mr.. Wanamaker, and that instead
of a surplus of sS72, ,245 for the current
fiscal year. as estimated by Mr.. Wana-
maker. there will be an estimated de-
felt of 81, $780, .473. He estimates the
gross revenue for the fiscal year ending
June 30, 1894. at SS4, ,427. 74s and the
gross expenditures at 800, ,399, 4S5, leav-
ing an estimated deficit of So 97l. 736,
$50. 600 from the fund taken from the
unpaid money order accounts.
Although there are ninety-three ad-
ditional post offices now entitled to
sree 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 ago towns of populations
ranging from 900 to 1000 have not
proven the desirability of establishing
the system. which the postmaster-gen-
eral says would cause an annual outlay
of $40, 900, 600. The appropriation of s10,-
600 made for the trial of rural free de-
livery has teen 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 81, 200. 900 were on file in the de-
partment 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
riers 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
DOl tdbtOh SCINACCs bhC 1ChS Sh VI oiAO
routes being 453, S32 SO 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 a reasonable amount to
be paid to widows and minor children
of railway mail clerks killed while on
duty. and estimates that $40, 900 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 mail or CONNER
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.
There has been a marked increase in
the special delivery business, the entire
number of such pieces of mail matter
o.OHO, 100, dill IuCEcISo
over last year of % per cent.
The department carried last year
sol 900, 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 so
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 Mr.. Wanamaker estimated the
profits from the sale of Columbian
stamps would be 81. 500 900, Mr.. Bisselfs
estimate is only 81. 100000.
Concerning the fixing If government
telegraph rates, Mr.. Bissell recites the
protest of the telegraph companies
against the rates fixed by Mr.. Wana-
maker and the suits which have been
instituted against the government to
recover at the rates charged the public
The rates fixed by Postmaster-General
Bissell were accepted by the companies
and are about per cent below those
fixed in 1883.
On June 30. 1895. there were 6s, 4O3
post offices in the United States. an in
crease of 1,2S4 over the p evious year.
There are 5000 presidential post offices,
a net increase of 163 offices.
Mr.. Bissell devotes considerable space
to discussion of civil service reform
There are 2s,3s4 employees in the classi-
fed civil service in the post office estab-
lishment of the government. He makes
special comment on the wholesale
discharge OF democratic clerks in the
railway mail service at the beginning
of the last administration.
Mr. Bisselrs rule that fourth-class
postmasters shall not be removed until
on the expiration of four years incum-
bency he thinks will dignity the Office
by placing it on a par with presidential
offices as to tenure.