St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-11-29
BISSELL'S FIGURES.
Some of the leading Points of His
Annual Report.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 2S.-The follow
ing abstract of the annual report of
Postmaster General BisselI was given
out at the postoffice department today:
The postmaster general, in his tinan-
clal statements, shows that the def
cheney for the year ended June 80, 1898,
was S., III, III, instead of 81, ,552, ,423, as
estimated by Mr.. Wanamaker, and that
instead OF surplus of SS72, ,245 for the
current fiscal year, as estimated by Mr..
Wanamaker, there will be an estimated
deficit of $3.50, 473. The postmaster
general estimates the gross revenue for
the fiscal year ending June 80. 1895, at
SS4, 427, ,74S, and the gross expenditures
at $50, ,399. .4S5, leaving all estimated de-
fciency of $5.971, 736. which, however.
will be decreased S1,250.0O0 from the
fund taken from the unpaid money
order accounts.
Although there are ninety-three addi-
tionai poStOfficeS now entitled to the
free delivery service, the absence of ap-
preparation for extension renders i'm
possible the establishment of the sys-
tenn in even one of these towns.
There are now 6l0 free delivery
offices.
After thorough trial of two and
half years the experiments in free de-
livery tried in 400 towns of populations
ranging from 900 to 1000 have not
proved the deSirabiliIy of establishing
the system generally, which the post
master general estimates would neces
state an annual outlay of Sl0,000,000.
The appropriation of $4,000 made for
the trial of rural free delivery has been
found inadequate for fair test, and
the plan is not approved.
The postmaster general by one stroke
has settled the carrier overtime ques-
tion under the eight-hour law. Claims
for overtime amounting to nearly a
million dollars were on file in the de-
partment when he assumed his duties.
Under his order OF April 4 last, how
ever, pOStmaSterS have been held so
strictly accountable for the time of
their carriers, that the making of over
time has practically ceased. He sug-
gestS that postal notes be abolished and
that the reteS charged for all domestic
money orders should be reduced and
the form of order Simplifed.
In commenting Oh the 1913 removals
made by the last administration in the
railway mail service, Mr.. Bissell says:
This action was the heaviest blow ever
dealt the civil service law, since the
effect of it was to debar experienced
clerks from the service and to protect
in their positions large number of in
experienced new appointeeS.
"lt is not to be wondered at that the
employees thus summarily dismissed
regarded the law itself as hateful OBJ
struction to fair treatment and Justice
This sentiment has recently been en-
phasized in the case of many who hoped
nrit
that the intervening four years have so
far advanced their ages that they now
are Ineligible even for examination un-
der the age limit. In this connection,
however. it is to be observed that of the
1882 persons appointed, less than one
half were in the service on March 7,
1892"
Notwithstanding lack of needed ap-
preparations to carry on the affairs of
the service and the cnange of admins
tration, the report shows that the stand
ard of efficiency of the service has not
only been maintained, but has been
actually raised over the preceding year.