St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-11-26

for cent for the ladies, a yellow barn
door at the same price for the big bust
ness man, and middle-SiZed card for
general use. 1t has cost considerably
more to make the three different styles
than one, and the postmaster general
has decided to use but one card, and the
one fixed upon is of the size used by the
International Postal union, and postal
cards will now be the same all the
world over. We use such an immense
quantity of these cards that the saving
in the new contract amounts to $4,000 a
year. The contract is made for four
years. and the total saving will thus be
S2S0,000. 1t is a one-cent business, but
the saving means fortune.
MILLIONS IN LOST ORDERS.
1t will be surprising to many people
that the postal service of the United
States by no means pays its own eX-
penses. Uncle Sam has for years been
carrying letters and mail below cost,
and it is estimated that the postoffice
department will need about S5.000,000
every year from the appropriations of
congress. This is so Notwithstanding
that the mails are carried over the Pa
cific roads without any cash outlay on
the part of the postoffice. These roads
owe the government, and the amount of
money due for carrying the mails is
credited to their account. If it were not
out about 100000 additional every
year, so that it really costs $4,000 a
year more than it brings in. The most
expensive part of the business is the
carving of Second-clasS matter, which
pays only cent pound, and which
costs OIL an average about seven cents a
pound to deliver. All of these items
are being closely looked into during
these hard times, and every bit of postal
revenue is being scrutlniZed. The post
master general, in fact, has been mate
rally helped through the money order
fund. We have had money order Sys-
TEN since 1864, and during all this time
orders have been issued and paid for,
but the money has not been called for
at the other end. Either the orders
have been lost or stolen, or the parties
receiving them have
FAILED TO COLLECT THEM
These sums have accumulated until
they have now between two and three
million dollars of such money in the
treasury department. From this fund
there was recently credited to the post
Office department $3.50. 900, and this is
now being applied to the deficiency of
the current year.
| made some inquiries at the depart
ment as to whether any improvements
were contemplated in the postal service,
and | find that it is the postmaster gen.
erals idea not to attempt any expert
ments at the present time. He is a
great advocate of thorough organization
and of complete development. He be-
lieyes that the postal service can be
improved by investigating its needs,
strengthening its weak spots and per-
| tectlng Its present system. He is not
at present seriously considering any
matters connected with the postal tele-
| graph, postal telephone or tue pneu-
/ matte tube system for cities, evidently
| believing that such experiments, neceS-
| stating the expenditure of great sums
of money, should be left to more pros
porous times.
BISSELL AND CIVIL SERVICE.
During my call | had few words
with him about the service, and find
| that he is thoroughly in favor of civil
! service rules, ana thinks that these
! should be enforced as far as possible
! He told me that these rules had been
extended to fourth-class postmasters
| and that these are now allowed to re-
main in office for tour years, whether
! they are Republicans or Democrats. I'M
less good reasons are given for their re-
moval. The appointments of postma as
tiers are now made almost entirely OIL
| petition from the people, and the post
master general cited case of a city il
| which there was delegates convention
| called by the members of the Demo
cratic party of the city, where the dele
gates elected their postmaster. Th'
different candidates came before it, ant
one of the defeated ones moved that III,
nomination of the successful maj
should be made unanimous. This wa
carried, and The name Of the successful