The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-11-29
BISSELL'S ANNUAL REPORT
The Efficiency Of the Postal Service
Greatly Increased.

The Deficiency for the Year Ended
June 80, Sb,l77,171, Instead of
81 ,552, 423, as Estimated by MT.
Wanamaker-The Total Revenues
for the Fiscal Year Ending June 80,
1895, Estimated at $s4 ,427, 749,
and the Expenditures at sec, $780,
4S5-Abolition of the Postal Note
recommended.
Washington, Nov. 2S.-The annual re-
port of Postmaster General Bissell, which
was made public to-day, shows in the
briefest space consistent with a proper
understanding of the subjects treated
the operations of the department during
the last fiscal year. The report indicates
that the department has been conducted
on strictly business principles, and that
in this respect, as in others,
Mr.. Bissell's administration has been
very successful. The most has been
made of the funds available, and it is
also demonstrated that during the first
year of the administration, notwith-
standing the changes that have been
made, the efficiency of the service in
every department has actually been in
creased. Hitherto, the, first year of a
new ADMINISTRATION has shown a material
lowering of the standard of efficiency
from that of the previous year.
THE DEFICIENCY FOR THE YEAR.
The financial statement shows that the
deficiency for the year ending June 30
1898, was s., III III, instead of 81 ,552 ,423
as estimated by Mr.. Wanamaker: and
that instead of a surplus of 1872, pa for
the current fiscal year as estimated, there
will be an estimated deficiency of 81 800,
40. The Postmaster General estimates
the gross revenues for the fiscal year
ending June 30, 1895, at SS4, 427,74S, and
the gross estimated expenditures at 800
1895. 4S5, leaving an estimated deficiency of
&, 81 1916, which, however, will be de-
creased 81 $50 900 from funds taken from
the unpaid money order accounts.
The Postmaster General adopted the
recommendation previously made public
adverse to the extension of the experie-
mental free delivery system. The esti-
mated free delivery deficiency amounts to
SOS, 600.
POSTAL NOTES NOT A SUCCESS.
He suggests that postal notes be abol-
ished, and that the rates charged for all
domestic money orders should be reduced
and the form of order simplified.
Regarding the ocean mail subsidy. the
Postmaster General says he is unable to
ascertain that any positive advantages
have accrued, from either mail or
commercial point of view, by reason of
the contracts thus far put in operation
under the law Of March 3, 1891, and that
therefore no new contracts have been en-
tered into. The increased cost of the
| conveyance of ocean mails, under this act,
for the years 1898, "a '95 and 1896, the
last two years being estimated will be
81 ,250,404. He states that the gains in the
expedition of the mails have not been ma
terial, and the advantages derived from
the governments control of the ships are
incommensurate with the cost of the
service.
AFFECTED BY THE BAD TINES.
Mr.. Bissell states that the financial de-
preston greatly diminished the volume of
postal receipts. He does not think, how
ever that the large deficiency should
have deterrent effect upon the general
development of the service, nor induce an
increase of postal rates.
He recommends the enactment of a law
which will permit pOstmasters, with the
consent of the PostmaSter-Ge General, to sus-
pend employees for ten days without pay
for violation of the rules, and of an act
which will permit the postmaster-ge general
to grant leave of not more than three
months with full pay to any carrier or
clerk disabled. by casualty while in the
performance of his duty.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
The Postmaster General devotes CON
siderable space to a discussion of civil
service reform. There are 3, 1874 en-
plOyes in the classified civil service in
the postoffice establishment of the gov
eminent
He makes special comment on the
wholesale removal of democratic clerks
in the railway mail service at the begin
ming of the last administration. Among
other things he says: Il have long been a
firm believer in the application of the
merit system in the selection of employees
for subordinate positions in the public
service. Eight months of practical
experience at the head of the
postoffice department tends strongly
to confirm my belief in the
beneicence of the civil service law In
deed, so great have become the proper
tons of this department, and the magni-
tude of its operations, that in my jndg-
ment it would be a matter of practical
impossibility to conduct its affairs with
any near approach to its present degree
of efficiency without the benefit and pro
lection of this law"
The important rule establish ed by Mr.
Bissell that fourth class pOstmasters
shall not be removed before the expira-
tiOn of four years of incumbency, unless
for cause shown, will, he thinks, have a
tendency to dignity the Office by placing
it on par with presidential offices as to
tenure.