The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-11-13

Report and Recommendations of Gen.
eraI Superintendent White.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 12.-General Super
intendent James E. White, of the railway
mail service, has made his annual report
to the Postmaster-general. Upon this branch
of service depends the rapid transportation
OF mails. AT the close of the fiscal year
mails were being carried on 166, 952 miles of
railroads, for which 1853 cars were used,
with 6,417 clerks. There were handled dur
ing the year 10, 236, 314, 915 pieces of mail mat
ter. This is an increase over 1883 of 9.6S
per cent, while the increase in the number
of clerks is but 1886 per cent. For clerks
salaries, the next year, S7,1S6, 900 is asked,
and an appropriation of s., O94.0 900 for postal
cars is recommended.
The Superintendent says the stagnation
of business has the effect Of decreasing the
mails. He refers to the number of railroad
accidents during the past year, and urges
that some provision be made for the fam
lilies of the postal clerks who are killed. He
also renewS previous recommendations that
the salaries of the clerks be increased, also
that there be a force OF auxiliary clerks of
$50. to be paid salaries of $3.50 a year in adj
dition to what they may be able to earn
as substitutes. He also wants the mail cars
and tenders of engines vestibuled for the
safety of employees.
A special feature of the report is the rec
concentration of a bill making it a misde-
meanor for an individual, association or or
ganization to interfere with the passage
of any train carrying the mails, and pro-
viding that any persons, or representative
or representatives CT an aSSocia ton or or
ganiZation obstructing the mails shall be
fined and imprisoned for each offense.
On the day of adjournment the House of
Representatives sent to the Postmaster
general an inquiry as to whether the claims
of letter carriers for compensation for
services in excess of eight hours are be-
ing received, and whether in the settlement
of these claims the services of attorneys
are necessary. Postmaster-general Bissell
has prepared a reply IL which he says
these claims are being received. Many
were on file and have been adiudicated but
have not been paid. He also says the
services of attorneys are unnecessary,
either in behalf of claimants or the gov
eminent.
Assistant Acknowledgement Thomas, of
the Postoffice Department, has had many
inquiries about the reports that the de-
partment had consented to let the bond
investment companies transact their bust
ness through the mails. General Thomas
says: THE department, as we'll as myself,
has been by these reports put in a false at
titude towards these companies. In the
consideration OF the questions involved in
the schemes of these companies / have per-
sistently refused to pass upon them as
schemes devised to defraud the public for
| the reason that / uniformly held them to
| be lotteries. But these companies are now
irving to modify their plans of business,
and if they succeed iE that 1 will be driven
TO the consideration of the question wheth-
er fraud is involved in them or not. /
wish TO say most emphatically that / have
not indorsed them, and l shall hesitate
| long before l give them, as now presented.
/ nv sanction