The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1893-11-30
OUR POSTAL SERVICE.
INTERESTING REPORT OF POSTMASTER
GENERAL BIssELL.
shows the Fallaey Of Some Of Wannamakar'i
Wild Estimates - Beneficial Changes
Made by Mr.. Bissel-Marked In
crease in Postal Business.
POSTMASTER GENERALS REPORT.

POSTMASTER GENERALS REPORT.
WAsHINeToN, Nov. 2S.-The follow
ing abstract OF the annual report OF
Postmaster General Bissell was given
out today. The deficiency for the year
ending June &c. 1893, is $5,177,l7l in
stead of $l,552,423 as eetimated by
Wannamaker, and instead Of a sur.
plus of $s72,e45 for the current fiscal
year, as estimated by Wanuamaker,
there will be an estimated deficit OF
1880, Alb; estimated gross revenue for
the fiscal year ending June 30, 1874, 49,
74S; gross expenditures, 800, ,4S5,
leaving an estimated deficiency OF
$5,971, 1856. There are now 61O free
delivery offices. After thorough
trial of two and a half
years, experiments in free de-
livery tried in AGO towns OF popula-
lions ranging from 900 to 1000 have not
proved the desirability of establishing
the system generally, which the post
master general estimates would neces-
state an annual outlay OF $4,000, 600.
The appropriation Of $4,000 for a
trial OF rural free delivery was made
uuate for fair test and the plan is
not approved. Under the order OF
April last postmasters have been held
so stritly accountable for the time of
their carriers that making of overtime
has practically ceased.
He suggests that postal notes be
abolished and rates charged for all do
mestc money orders be reduced and
the form of order simplitied. A great
improvement is noticeable in star, rail-
road and steamboat transportation
service, the length of routes being
453, 639 miles, The postmaster general
states that his desire is that
whenever the general service
can be advanced use should be
made of rapid transit city and subur-
ban car lines. He urges such legisla-
tion as will prove a reasonable amount
to be paid widows and minor children
of railway mail clerks killed while on
duty and estimates that $4,000 an.
nually would be sufficient for that
purpose.
Regarding ocean mail subsidy, the
postmaster general says he is unable
to ascertain any positive advantages
have accrued from either a mail or
commercial point of view by reason of
contracts thus far put in operation
under the act of March g. 1891, and
therefore no new contracts have been
entered into.
There is marked increase in the
special delivery business, the entire
number of such pieces Of matter de-
Givered being 3,375.693, an increase
over last years business OF % per cent.
The department carried last year 30l,-
000,0 900 pounds of second class matter,
an increase of ID per cent, Concern
ing this, while Wannamaker estimated
the profits from the sale of
Columbian stamps to be $2,500,00,
Rsselrs estimate is only 100000. On
June 80, 1893, there were 6S, 403 post
offices in the United States, an increase
of /, 1924 over the previous year. There
are 8, 800 presidential postoflices, net
increase OF 1863.
The postmaster general devotes con-
siderable space to the discussion of
civil service reforms. There are %, 324
employees in the classified civil service
in the postoffice establishment OF the
JSONtTulu6nt, IlC oppNiol SOAh
ment on wholesale removals of Demo-
cratic clerks in the railway mail SER
vice Mt the beginning of the last ad.
ministration. An important rule has
been established by Bissell that fourth
class postmasters shall not be removed
before the expiration of four years of
incumbency, unless for cause shown,
which will, he thinks, have tendency
to dignity the office by placing it on a
par with presidential offices as to ten
ure.
Mr.. Blssell makes special mention of
the needs of the 10 largest postoffices
TO the country, to wit, New York, Chi
cago, Philadelphia, Boston, st. Louis,
Cincinnati, Brooklyn, San Francisco,
Baltimore and Pittsburg, which yield
one third the total postal revenues,
and recommends that these offices be
placed in class by themselves and APP
preparations made for them by con-
gress direct without the Intervention
of rules and methods properly applica'