The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1893-12-01

ANNUAL REPORT OF POSTMASTER
GENERAL BlsSELL.

The Postmaster General Settles ths Car
rier Overtime Question = Urges such
Liquidation as win Provide sum For
the widows and Minors Of Railway Mall
Clerks Killed While ON Duty.
WASHINGTON. Nov. 2o.-The follow
ing abstract of the annual report of Post
master General Bissell was opened at
the postoffice department Tuesday. The
postmaster general In his financial
statement shows that the deficiency for
the year ended June 30. 1893 was
$5,177,17 instead of $1,552, 423 as es-
timsted by Mr.. Wanamaker and that
instead Of a surplus of $S72, 245 for
current fiscal year as estimated by Mr..
Wanamaker there would be an esti-
mated deficiency of $7,S30,473. The
postmaster has given estimates that the
gross revenue for the fiscal year ending
June 80, 1895 at $S4, 427.74S and the
gross estimated expenditures at $780,
300. 4S5. leaving an estimated deficiency
of So, 971 1886, which, however, will be
decreased $1.250, 900 from fund taken
from the unpaid money order accounts.
Free Delivery.
Although there are 90 additional
postoffices now entitled to free delivery
service the absence of appropriation
for extention renders impossible the es-
adjustment of the system in even one
Of these towns. There are now $40 free
delivery offices.
After q thorough trial of two and
half years the experiments in free de-
livery tried in 46 towns of populations
ranging from 800 to 1000 have not
proved the desirability of establishing
the system generally, which the post
master general estimates would neces-
state an annual outlay Of $40. 900, 900.
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.
Overtime Question Settled.
The postmaster general by one stroke
has settled the carrier overtime qIes-
ton under the eight-hour law. Claims
for overtime amounting to nearly
$1,000. 900 were on file in the depart
ment when he assumed his duties.
Under his order of April A, however,
postmasters have been held so strictly
accountable for the time of their car
riers that the making of overtime has
practically ceased. He suggests that
postal notes be abolished and that the
sales charged for all domestic orders
should be reduced and the form of
orders simplifed.
To Advance the Service.
The postmaster general states that
his desire is that wherever the general
service can be advanced use should be
made of rapid transit city and suburban
car lines. He pays particular attention
to the railway mail service and the re-
quirements of this year will, he esti-
mates, call for an increase of employees
from 6,645 men to 1000 men. He urges
such legislation as will provide q
reasonable sum to be paid to the
widows and minor children of railway
mail clerks killed while on duty. and
estimates that S20,0 900 annually will be
sufficient for thispurpose.
There has been marked increase in
special delivery business, the entire
number of such pieces of mail matter
delivered being 1875, 603, an increase
over last years business Of % per cent.
Second-C Glass Matter.
The department carried last year 301,-
10000 pounds of second-class matter,
an increase of IA per cent. Concerning
this, the postmaster general remarks
that he is afraid that this indicates not
so much healthy growth in the
periodical literature of the country as
the success of enterprising publishers
in securing the entry of many publica-
lions into this favored class that are
really not entitled to the privilege.
While Mr.. Wanamaker estimated
that the profits from the sale of Co
lumbar postage stamps would be
$500, 900, Mr. Bissell says the estimate
is only S1,000,000.
Discusses Civil Service.
The postmaster general devotes con-
siderable space to discussion of civil
service reform. There are 28,324 en-
ployes in the classified civil service in
| the postoffice establishment of the gov
eminent. The important rule estab.
lished by Mr.. Pissell that fourth class
| postmasters shall not be removed be-
fore the expiration of four years of in
cumbency unless for cause shown, will,
he thinks, have tendency to dignity
the office by placing it on par with
presidential offices as to tenure.
Probably the most important order
made by Mr.. Bissell is the one which
declares that postmasters shall devote
| their time to the duties OF their office.
In this connection he states that the
time has passed when postoffice APP
pointment should be held as political