The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1893-12-08
POSTAL AFFAIRS.
Deficiency Due to Free Mail.

The report of the postmaster general
contains a detailed statement of the oper-
ations of the postofdce department. during
the last fiscal year and much in
portant branch of the public service. The
business of the mails indicates with abso-
Lutte certainty the condition of the bust
ness of the country and depression in
financial affairs inevitably and quickly
reduces the postal revenues. That there
is larger discrepancy than usual between
the postofhce receipts and expenditures is
the expected and unavoidable result of
the distressing striugency which has pre-
vailed throughout the country during
much of the time covered by the postmas-
ter generals report. At date when
better times were anticipated it was esti-
mated by his predecessor that the def
cheney on the 30th day of June, 1893, would
be little over 81, 800, 900. It amounted,
however, to more than s., DOC, 600. At the
same time and under the influence of like
anticipations. estimates were made for
the current fiscal year ending June 30,
1894, which exhibited surplus of revenue
over expenditures Of 1872, 24571, but now,
in view of the actual receipts and eXpendi-
lures during that part of the current fiscal
year already expired, the recent postmas-
ter general estimates that at its close, in
stead of a surplus, there will be deficiency
of nearly So, 100000.
The postofice receipts for the last fiscal
year amounted to $75, 1896, 933. 16, and its ex-
penditures to $61, 074, 1919 This post
office deficiency would disappear, or be i'm
mensely decreased, if less matter was car
ried free through the mails. an item of
which is upward of 300 tons of seeds and
grain from the agricultural department..
The total number of postofices in the
United States on the Both day of June,
1898, was 90, 403, an increase of 1884 over
the preceding year. Forty-two free deliv-
cry offices were added during the year to
those already existing, making total of
610 cities and towns provided with free de-
livery on June 80, 1898. Ninety-three
other cities and towns are now entitled to
this service under the law, but it has not
been accorded them on account of INSULT
cient funds to meet the expense of its
establishment I am decidedly of the
opinion that the provisions of the present
law permit as general an Introduction OF
this feature Of mail service as is necessary
or Unsuitable, and that it ought not to be
extended to smaller communities than are
now designated.
The railway mail service not only adds
to the promptness of mail delivery at all
Offices, but it is the especial instrumental
ity which puts the smaller and way places
in the service on an equality in that re-
gard with the larger and terminal offices.
This branch Of the postal service has there
fore received much attention from the
postmaster general, and, though 1T Is graf
flying to know that it is in a condition OF
high efficiency and great usefulness, am
led to agree with the postmaster general
that there is room for its further improve
ment. There are now connected with the
pOstoffice establishment q. 1874 employees,
who are within The classified service. The
head of this great department gives con-
elusive evidence of the value of civil serv-
ice reform, when, after an experience that
renders his judgment on the subject alb
solutsly reliable, he expresses the opinion
that without the benefit of this system 1T
would be impossible to conduct the vast
business intrusted to him.