The sun., 1893-11-29
Mr.. BISSEb1S FIRST REPORT.
IScReAsED EFhCIENCT or TIE
POSTAL sRyICE.


the New TopE sss Chies, onc... and
Nsuss Eignt Othsr cities yyh.-. I'm
prove.ent r. eresty NseseGu.oc,, or
Nearly ss,oooIeeo for the Carr, Year.
wAsH1SaroS. Nov 26-The annual wort ot
Postmaster. General BisselL which was ,ade
public to-day. shows In the brlefest space M
sfstent with a proper understanding OF e
subjects treated the operations OF tho DE-
partment during the last fiscal year. The re-
bort indicates that the most has been made o'
the funds available. and 1t is also demonstra-
Ted that during the first year Of the Admins
tration. Notwithstanding the changes that
have been made the efficiency Of the service
in every department has actually been In
creased. Hitherto the frst year OF an admin
fstration has shown a material lowering Of the
standard OF efficiency from that OF the pre-
vious year.
The financial statement shows that the de-
fciency for the year ended June &c. 1893, was
e5.177. "a. instead Of Sl.5524231I, as es-
timated by Mr.. Wanamaker; and that, instead
Of q surplus OF $ST2.245.11 for the current
fiscal year. as estimated. there will DO an esti-
mated deficiency OF $3.50. .473OT. The POST
master-Ge eneral estimates the gross revenue
for the fiscal year ending June 30. 1899. at
So, 1854. and the gross estimated eN-
penditures at $50. 3O9. 4S5.33 leaving an esti-
mated deficiency OF $5.o71. 1889 which. how
ever will be decreased S1,250,OOO from funds
taken from tho unpaid money order accounts.
Although there are ninety-three additional
Post ofices now entitled TO tho free delivery
service. the absence OF appropriation for eX-
tension ronders impossible tho establishment
of the system in even one OF those towns. Tho
Postmaster General adopts the recommenda-
tions previously made public adverse to the
extsn sion OF the experimental free delivery
system. The estimated free delivery de-
ficiency amounts to S0S.O0O.
Claims for carriers overtime amounting to
nearly n million dollars were on file in tho de-
partment when Mr.. Bissell assumed his duties.
Under his order OF April 4. however. Post
masters have been held so strictly accountable
for the time OF their carriers that the making
OF overtime has practically ceased.
The Postmaster q on eral suG gests that postal
notes DO abolished. and that the rates charged
for all domestic money orders should be re-
duced and the form of order simpiiled.
Great improvem ent is noticeable in the star.
railroad. and steamboat transportation SER
vice. tho length OF routes being 453.S32.S3
miles. The amount disbursed for the trans;
portatiop OF the mails was Sl3.5Oi ,Hl7.55 and
the number OF miles travelled 3sl, 4@t OSo.lo.
BY 5.2li.aQ. miles. The fast mail service le-
tween the North and south has been recently
East and California has been materially short
ened. The Postmaster General Is IN favor
the % qSa eesro Snd ssSs sSs
that his desire is that wherever the
general service can be advanced use should
1e made OF rapid transit city and SUBURBAN
car lines. He nays particular attention to the
railway mail service. and the requirements OF
OF employees from 6,G45 men to 1000 mon.
He urges such legislation as will provide :
minor children OF railway mail clerks killed
while on duty. and estimates that $4,000 an
also recomn end. the formation Of an auxili-
airy corps Of clerks
Regarding ocean mail subsidy. the Post
master General says that he IS unable to as
certain that any positive advantages have ac-
crued. from ether a mail or commercial! point
in operation under the act OF March 3. 1891.
and that therefore no new contracts have been
veyance OF ocean malls under this act for tho
years 1888. 1904, lS,2; and iSS4 Ithe last two
says that the gains in the expedition Of the
mails have not been material. and the advan-
tages derived from tho Governments control
OF the ships are incommensurate with the cost
The depart ment carried last year 3O1. 100000
pounds OF second class matter. an increase OF
Ia per cent. Concerning this the Postmaster
Ger era! remarks that he is afraid that this In
Periodical literature OF the country as the sue
cess Of enterprising publishers In securing the
sntry q many tsd ls To t1 b SpIy
'offS; fKSe .mouu. Of free mall matter delivered
last year weighed S7.O0OOOO pounds, the total
number OF pieces aggreGating 4OI.totiS Soi
whieh;, omittine newspapers and periodicals
lication. and making no allowance for cases
whore excess over single rates might occur.
private matter. 81; I13.36I worth of postage.
this being about the amount OF the average
T Mr. Bisssil says that the financial depression
greatlysdiminished TIE volume OF postal re-
Sspts Hs does ,a not ihiSs; hoTsysr ttat G, the
upon the general development OF the service
nor induce an increase OF postal rates. Liberal
which, combined with strenuous efforts in all
branches OF the service. may bring it to high
The Postmaster. General notes the improve
IsSt In clerical % service TesIitiHg from mt the act
the salaries OF clerks in first and second
glass oillcss. and gsi urges an amendment am
clerical service. lie also recommends the
enactment q q law which viii permit Post
without pay for violation Of the rules, and OF
General TO grant leave of not more than three
months with full pay to any carrier or clerk
duty. The question Of the enIsrsemenf Of the
parcels post. so as TO have ltapply especially TO
Great Britain and European countries; Is soon
The Postmaster-G General comments on the |
necessity OF anew building for the department, |
Quoted in seven different buildings. for which |
the Government pays annually nearly S5uuOO |
rental. only one being owned by tho Govern |
ment. He says that the Busch building on T. |
street and the Annex building on Eighth street |
are not proper buildings for use. and that the |
apprehens lions for their safety may he renewed |
by the steady increase OF aecu m ulations OF |
documents and bles He recommends the |
OF modern fre-proot office
building.
ConcernIng the fixing OF Government tele.
graph rates. Mr.. Bissell reeites the protest OF /
the telegraph companies against the rates /
liked by his predecessor and the suits which
have been instituted against the Government /
% recover at the rates charged tho public.
fhe rates fixed by Postmaster General Bis
.sll were accepted by the companies. and are
bout eight per cent below those fixed by POST
master General Dickinson in lSSS
The Postmaster Ceneral deNotes consider
BILE space TO a discussion Of civil service re.
orm. There are ~. 324 employees in the
lassihed civil service in the Post once estab-
ishment OF the Government, He makes special
omment on the wholesale removals OF Demo-
ratio clerks in the railway nail service at the
'sginning OF the last Administration. Among
theE things he says:
II have long been a firm believer in the ap-
icAtion Of the merit system in the selection
Z employees Tor subordinate positions in the |
ubio service. Eight months Uf practical ex-
eTienes at the head OF the Post Onlcs Depart