Omaha daily bee., 1893-07-21
HoLuAS EcoyoMr ExsMpLiFiEp.


The statement from Washington on
the authority OF the acting postmaster
general, that the postal service OF the
country is being crippled and its eff
cheney impaired in consequence OF the
parsimonious policy Of the last congress
furnishes an interesting and instructive
lesson to the country. 1t seems that
many postofiices throughout the country
are in need OF additional carriers and
clerical help, but the department is un-
able to supply this demand because con-
gress did not make a sufficient
appropriation to meet the increas-
ing wants of the service. Although
safe and conservative estimate was
made by Postmaster General Wana-
maker of the requirements for the fiscal
year OF 1894, the Holman economists in
congress thought it was too high and re-
duced the figures. 1t was part of the
general policy of 'retronchment' by
which the democracy expected to make
political capital and possibly did make
some, Notwithstanding the fact that the
aggregate of all the appropriations of
the Fifty-second congress was in excess
OF tho total appropriations of the bill
lion-dollar" congress.
There was every reason to antici-
pate an exceptional increase in the
postal business of the country this
year. The greater number OF peo-
pie than usual absent from their
homes in attendance at tho Worlds
fair was reasonably counted upon
to add materially to the domestic corre-
spondence, and besides this tho large
number OF foreigners coming to the
country would mako IL further increased
demand upon mail facilities. Doubtless
the growth has not been so large as was
anticipated, but the evidence is that it
has been sufficient to overtax the facili-
ties of the service at many points, and
this being the case, the efficiency OF the
service is necessarily impaired The
revenues of the department arc being
increased, but they are not available
beyond the appropriations of congress,
and while it is quite possible that there
may be considerable surplus at the
close OF the fiscal ycar-thc last post
master general estimated that it would
amount to 1872, ,OOO-the people can get
no present benefit from it.
All classes and conditions of the peo-
pie have a greater interest in the postal
service than in any other department of
the government, and n liberal policy
with respect to that service, 80 that its
efficiency shall be maintained at the
highest standard, will always be ap-
proved by the people. 1t is one of the
most creditable features in the record
Of the Harrison administration that the
postal service was made more efficient
in every branch than ever before, and
the good effects of a liberal and business
like policy We're shown in the unprece-
years of over $T000O,0O0, an amount
more than 1000. OO0 in excess Of the
entire revenue of the department for the
last year of the first Cleveland adminis-
tration. The department promises to do
what it can toward meeting the present
demand for increased facilities, but il Is
plain that it will be able to 40 very
little, and unless the coming congress
shall make early provision for the urgent
needs that cannot be met out of the ap-
preparations now at the command of the
department n deterioration of the SER
vice would seem to be inevitable The
condiuon of affairs is an exemplification
of the working of the Holman principle
of economy which ought to be instruc-
tive