Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-08-12

NO MONEY FOR CARRIERS.
One Branch of the Postal Service Whose
Growth is Checked.
Demands From Many Cities for Ad-
the Estimates Were Cut Down.

Just now the postal facilities Of the coun-
try are not spreading. This stop of in the
march Of progress is due to an inadequate
appropriation. Rigid economy is the watch
WORD at the Post ONCE Department. 1t is
necessity. When the dividing line Of the
nscat years was crossed the expenditures
were not in due ratio to the appropriation
for the present fiscal year. The daily ex-
penses were In excess Of what they ought
to be. and If the then rate Of expenditure
should prevail throughout the year a we'll
developed deficiency would result. The free
delivery service is the hardest sufferer by
this money famine. Each one of the 61O
free-delivery offices in the United States
have filed application for extension Of de-
livery service. In no case can the applica-
ton be granted. Many postmasters report
that their needs are dire. New York city
wants an increase of 12S men. San Fran
cisco is clamoring for fifteen, and scores of
the great cities are wearing out their plead
Ing faculties and lungs in yells for addi-
tional letter carriers good many cities
entitled to carrier service are denied ii by
the poverty Of the department. A city whose
mum. or whose population exceeds TO- ZOO, has
the right to file application for thA creation
OF the carrier attachment to its post Office.
The department then refers the matter to
an INSPECTOR, on whose report the depart
ment bases its action.
A number of applications Of this kind are
also hanging fire at headquarters. They
have not even been referred to the inspec-
tors. Then the operation of the eight-hour
law has still further embarra ssed the free
number of men might do the usual work in
fewer hours there has been an enormous in
crease In car fare and horse hire.
The Reduced Estimates.
The whole trouble seems to have resulted
from the fact that when the estimate of the
Post Office Department was submitted to
Congress after November 15 1892. the esti-
mate for the free-delivery division was
Topped off to the tune of s556.67O Here's
the rub.
The following table tells the story:
Free Delivery Service.
Estimate of W. j. Pollock,
chief of free-delivery divis-
ion, submitted to the Post
Office Department October
Estimate submitted to Con-
gress by the Post Office De-
partment after November
10, lSS2. Observation-Disclosures. u,254043 W
s55667O 90
Annual rate Of allowance for
the free-delivery service for
the entire country June 80.
1893 lend OF fiscal year)...... $ll,322916 OS
Or ........................ $6S 016 03
in excess Of the appropriation. and hence no
surplus for additional free-delivery allow
ance to meet increased business.
No Extension Here.
Washington also wants an extension Of
free service. Little Anacostia. that sleeps
peacefully in the lap of the eastern hills
has been raving for long time on the
subject of carrier service. Investigation
at the department shows that even II the
appropriations were in tiptop trim there
would be niIcn doubt about 4nacostfa
getting what she wants. 1t appears that
there is diversity Of opinion on that side
of the river as to the desirability of the
extension. The Citizens Association has
been advocating the plan for long time
and has put forth some mighty strokes in
that direction. There Is. however, so tie
record reads. very determined resistance
to the project by those who aspire 70 be
postmaster OF the town. Opposition comes
also from the stables, grocery stores and
feed establishments that thrive on the
country trade These merchants, It is
stated, argue that a large part of the said
travel Is stopped in Anacostia by the at
traction of the post office. Were the post
office not there, these country people would
continue on to the city and there spend
their money.
Then a good many people want a post
office located in their village and carriers
too. They are crying for the moon. But
even II the department was inclined to ex-
tend the service of Washington to Ana
costa there are no funds.