The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-12-05
THE POSTAL DEPARTMENT..


Tho Large Dehcit-
The report OF the postmaster general
contains q detailed statement of the oper-
atoms Of the postoffice department during
the last fiscal year and much interesting
information touching this important
branch OF the public service. The business
of the mails indicates with absolute GER
tainty the condition of the business of the
country, and q depression in financial af-
fairs inevitably and quickly reduces the
postal revenues. Therefore larger DIS
crepancy than usual between the post
Office receipts and expenditures is ex-
pected, the unavoidable result. of the dis
tressing stringency which has pre-
vailed throughout the country during
much of the time covered by the
postmaster generals report. At . date
when better times were anticipated il was
estimated oy his predecessor that the de-
ficiency on the 30th dav of June. 1893,
would be but little over 81. 500. 900. II
amounted, however. TO more than So CO.,
GOO. AT the same time and under the in
nuence OF ike anticipaiions. estimates
were made for the current fiscal year end
ing june 30. 1894. which exhibited . sur
Plus OF revenue over expenditures of
sS12.240.7L But now, in view of the actual
receipts and expenditures during the first
part OF the current fiscal year, the post
master general estimates that at its close,
instead OF surplus, there will DO de-
ficiency OF nearly SS.0O0.0o0. The post
office receipts for the last fiscal year
amounted to $50. 500, 933.15 and its ex-
penditures to $Si, 074, 1of.90.
This postoffice deficit would disappear
or be immensely decreased if less matter
was carried free through the mails. AN
item OF which Is upward of 800 tons of
seeds and grain from the agricultural de-
partment.
The total number of postoffices in the
United States on the 30th day of June,
1888, was 6S. 403. an increase of l .2S4 over
the preceding year. OF these 1880 were
presidential, an increase in that class of
20i over the preceding year. Forty-two
free delivery Offices were added during the
year to those already existing, making
total of Clio cities and towns provided with
FREQ delivery on June 80, 1893. Ninety
three other cities and towns are now en-
titled TO this service under the law. but it
has not been accorded them on account of
insufficient funds to meet the expense of
its establishment. / am decidedly of the
opinion that the provisions of the present
law permit the general introduction of
this feature of the mail service as neces-
sary or justifiable and that it ought not to
be extended TO smaller communities than
now designated. The expense of free de-
livery for the fiscal year ending June 80,
1888. Will be more than Sill, 600 COO and
under the legislation now existing there
must be constant increase in this item of
expenditure. There were 6, 10l additions
to the domestic money order Office during
the last fiscal year, being the largest in
crease in any year since the inauguration
of the system. The total number
of these offices at the close of the year
was 1913 There were I2,309. 735
money orders issued from these offices,
being an increase over the preceding year
LAO, 290 and the value Of these orders
81 49, 49, 70 Oe q
$7,5O2. 6S25S. There was also issued during
the year postal notes amounting to $12,-
9O9,076. %. During the year 1876 inter
national money order Offices were added
to those already provided. making a total
OF :. 497 in operation on June 80, 1898. The
number OF international money orders
issued during the year was /, 0o5, 800. an
increase over the preceding year of 72,524,
and their value was $l3, 34l ,s37 So, an in.
crease of l,22l .506.3l. The number of
orders paid was 300,9i7, an increase over
the preceding year of Is. 503, and their
value was 50, 2S3 $3.50. an increase of
$94, 094.Sa From the foregoing statement
it appears that the total issue of money
order and postal notes for tho year
OF letters and packages mailed during the
year for special delivery was 1915, 603, an
increase over the preceding year of nearly
80 per cent. The special delivery stamps
used upon these letters and packages
amounted to $685., $50 80, and the messen-
gers fees paid for their delivery amounted
to SIS. 5927l, leaving q profit to tho
government of $S0,9T6.5 50.
The railway matt service not only adds
to the prom ptness of mail delivery at all
offices, but il is the special fundamentally
which puts small and way places in the
service on an equality with regard to the
larger and terminal offices. This branch
OF the postal service has, therefore. re-
ceived much attention from the postmas-
ter general and, though il is gratifying 10
know that it is in condition OF high
efficiency and great usefulness. ! am led
to agree with the postmaster general that
there is room for Its further improve
ment.
There are now connected with the post
Office establishment 2s34 employees.
who are in the classified service.
The head of this great depart
ment gives conclusive evidence of
the value of civil service reform when.
after an experience that renders his judy
ment on the subject absolutely reliable. he
expresses the opinion that without the
benefit of this system IL would be impos-
sible 10 conduct the vast business intrustcd
TO him. i desire to commend as especially
worthy OF prompt attention the suggestion
OF the postmaster general in relation to
more sensible and business-like orgsniza-
ton and n better distribution OF the re-
anon slhfifty of fhta Aar<artu.ent