Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-11-29
Free Postoffice Delivery System
Cannot Be Extended
FOR LACK or APPROPRIATION
PossmA@ser Bi-seii Opposed 90 Extend
ing the sersice--Re>ume er the
fostonsce Department Work.

that the department n As been conducted
on the strictly business principles and
that in this respect. a. in others Gen
eral Bisselfs administration has been
successful The most has been made of
the funds available. and IL is also dem
onstrated that during the first year q
the administration the efficiency OF the
service in every department has been
increased Hitherto. the tirst year OF an
administration has shown q falling off
Of the efficiency % the departments
from that OF the preceding year. The
postmaster general estimates the gross
revenue for the fiscal year ending June
ID. 1896. at ssi i.i27 .7is.i4. and the gross
estimated expenditures az so 80 1888.
leaving an estimated deficiency OF
s5.91l. i;sds9. which, however. will be de-
creased Al ..2,50.o00 from funds taken from
the unpaid money order accounts.
No Funds Available.
Although there are ninety three addi-
tional postofices nov entitled 10 the free
delivery service. the absence Of a2pro-
priatlon FOR extension renders inpos-
sible the establishment Of the system in
even one OF these towns. The postmas
ter general adopts the recommendation
previously made public adverse 10 the
extension of the experimental free de-
livery system. The estimated free de-
livery deficiency amounts to e6s, 900.
Claims for carriers over time amounting
10 nearly million dollars were on file
in the department when Mr.. Bissell as
sumed his duties. Under his order OF
April 4. however. postmasters have been
held strictly accountable for the time Of
their carriers. so that the making OF
over time has practically ceased. He
suggests that postal notes be abolished
and that the rates charged for all domes-
tic money orders should be reduced and
the form OF order simplitied.
Railroad ana Steamer service
Great improvement is noticeable in
the Star railroad and steamboat trans
portation service. the length Of routes
being i;l3 50 miles. The amount dis
bursed for the transportation OF mail
was I3.i97. .997.55 and the number OF
miles travelled 3sl.ii905975 The
length OF routes was increased last year
by 6.2il.90 mile. The fast mail service
between the north and south has been
recently much enlarged. while the mail
time between the east and California
has been materially shortened. The
postmaster general IL in favor OF utili
zation OF local electric car lines for mail
transportation and states that his desire
is that wherever the general service can
be advanced use should be made OF
rapid transit city and suburban car
lines. He pays particular attention to
the railway mail service and the require
ments OF this year will. he estimates
call for an increase OF employees from
6.6i5 men TO 1000 men. He urges such
legislation as will provide a reasonable
sum TO be paid to the widows and minor
children OF railway mail clerks killed
whileou duty. and estimates that $4,000
annually will bo sufficient for this pur-
pose. He recommends the formation of
an auxiliary corps Of clerks aud that
early provision be made for rectification
Of employees.
Ocean Mail Subsidy.
Regarding ocean mail subsidy, the
postmaster general says that he is un-
able to ascertain that any positive ad
vantages have accrued from either a
mail or commercial point OF view by
alton under the act of March 3. 1891,
have been entered into The increased
cost of the cohveyance OF ocean mails.
under this act. for the years 1893. 1894.
lSsJ aud 1896. the last two years esti-
mated. will be si.2J0.4 0.40i-52 He states
that the gains in the expedition OF the
mails have not been material and the
advantages derived from the govern
ments control OF the ships arc in
commensurate with the cost Of service.
Mr. Bissell stated that the financial de
precision greatly diminished the value OF
postal receipts lie does not think.
however. that the large deficiency
should have q deterrent effect upon the
general development of the service nor
induce al increase of postal rates. The
question of the enlargement OF the par
GELS post. so a. 10 have il apply espe-
cialiy 10 Great Britain and European
countries. ~ soon to receive the post
master generals attention.
New Boiiding Needed.
The postmaster general comments on
the necessity Tor new building for the
department. the transactions OF which
are conducted in seven different build.
in-s Tor which the government pays
annually nearly $4,000 rental. only one
being Owned by the government. Con
cerning the fixing Of government tele
graph rates. Mr.. Bissell rcriies the pro
test ~ the telegraph companies against
the rates tixet by his predecessor and
the suits which have been instituted
against the government 20 recover Al
the rate charged the public. The rates
fixed by Postmaster General Bis@ell
were accepted by the companies aud arr
about per cent bciow tb~sc fixed by
Postmaster Dickinson IN ISIS The
postmaster general devote- considerable
space - a discussion ~ civil service re
form. commeniiug the beoehcience ot
the present law. lie makes special CON
ment % the wholesale removal ~ demo
crai clerks in the railvsy mail service Al
the beglnning - the last administration
Removals Prom orice
TIE Important rule established hy
PostnastHr General Riss.l that fourth
class pos:ofice@ snail not - removed
before thu expiration q four years ~
incnmhcecy. unless for cause shova
vil ne thinks haze tendency 20 diR
uify the cs6ce Uy piscirE 4 on rsr
rifh presidential efsces - to tenure
The postmaster general mace spe-cisl
uerfion q the seesis = Tho ter iarR-
postofices - tire coGntry - Wit. Nes
lnrs Chicago. Phila8eiphia Boston
81 Louis Cincinnati brooslyn. Sar
i ranclero. Haltulore su3 Pttsburg
ebich weld 0ne thi = - the tofsi pozis
revpnue aei Ne recommends that thess
offres - ; scef ~ = cisss for them
serves Concerning tae w0Fi1a fsi
rs-fn.iirr tae s.nasfer zeae-s. *
psesses hisassf - highly grsnsei 81