St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-12-05

and expenditures is the expected and
unavoidable result of the distressing
stringency which has prevailed through
out the country during mnch of the
time covered by the postmaster gen.
erals report. At a date when better
times were anticipated it was estimated
by his predecessors that the deficiency
on the S0th day of June, 1893, would be
but a little over 81, 500, 900. Ii amounted,
however, to more than So 0O, 900. At
the same time. and under the influence
or like anticlpstionS, estimates were
made for the current fiscal year ending
June 81, 1894. which exhibited a surplus
OF revenue over expenditures of SS72,-
245.71: but now, in view of the actual
receipts and expenditures during that
part.o the current fiscal year already
expired, the present postmaster general
estimates that, at its close, instead of a
surplus, there will be a deficiency of
nearly So. 600, 600. The p~ostofice receipts
for the last fiscal year amounted to
SIS, 500, 933. 16, and its expenditures to
SS1.074, 104. &c. This p~ostoffice deficiency
would disappear, or be immensely de-
creased, If less matter was garfield free
through the mails, an item of which is
upward or 800 tons of seeds and grain
from the agricultural department.
The total number ofs.postoffices in the
United States on the Both day of June,
1898, was 6S,403, an increase of 1924
over the preceding year. OF these, 1850
were presidential, an increase in that
class of 204 over the preceding year.
Forty-iwO free delivery offices were
added during the year to those already
existing, making a total of Clio cities and
towns provided with free delivery OIL
June 80, 1898. N~inety-three other cities
a mr. on ~ nrn ~ ILL 90
under the law, but it has not been ac-
corded them on account of insufficient
FUNDS to meet the expense Of its eStab-
liShment.
L am decidedly of the opinion that the
provisions of the present law permit as
general an Introduction of this feature
OF mai service as is necessary or justi-
fable, and that it ought not to be ex-
tended to smaller communities than are
now designated. The expense of free
delivery for the fiscal year ending June
so, 1894, will be more than SI1, 900. 900,
and under legislation now existing
there must be a constant Increase in this
item of expenditure. There were G, 1O1
additions 70 the domestic money order
offices during the last fiscal year, being
the largest increase in any year 81 nee
the Inauguration Of the system. The
total number of those offices at the
close OF the year was Is, 434.
There were 1S,309. 1856 money orders
issued from these Offices, being an in.
crease over the preceding year OF $780,
$50, and the value of those orders
amounted to S127, $40, ASS. IS. an increase
of S7,509, $685. {. There we're also issued
during the year postal notes amounting
to S12, 903. 076. 73.
During the year 1876 international
money order nfipos vuprn oddad IN thoca
already provided, making a total of
2,407 in operation on June 80, 1898. The
number Of international money orders
issued duriAg the year was 1,O55, 999, an
increase over the preceding year of r.
525, and their value was SIG, 341, $3.50,
an increase of 81, 221. 506.31. The num-
bsr of orders paid was 300. 917, an in
crease over the preceding year of Ii, SOB.
and their value was S., 1888, 375. 70, an ill.,
crease of 1874, 094. 50. From the foregoing
statements it appears that the total
issue of money orders and postal notes
for the year amounted TO S156, S21, 3d. 2
The number of letters and packages
mailed during the year for special de-
livery was 1885, 93, an increase oyer the
preceding year Of nearly22 per cent.
Inc special delivery stamps used upon
these letters and packages amounted TO
1887, 500. 30, and the messengers fees
paid for their delivery amounted to
1856, 1927 l leaving a profit TO the gov
eminent of $50, 976.50.
The railway mail service not only adds
to the promptness of mail delivery at
all offices, but it is the especial instru-
mentality which puts the smaller and
way places in the service on an equality
In that regard with the larger and
terminal offices. This branch of the
postal service has. therefore, received
much attention from the postmaster
general, aud though it is gratifying to
know that it is in a condition Of high
efficiency and, great usefulness, | an
led to agree with the postmaster gen
eral that there is room fur its further
Improvement.
There are now connected with the
postoffice establishment %, 324 employees
who are in the classified service. The
head or this great department gives con-
elusive evidence of the value of civil
service reform when. after an expert
ence that renders his Judgment on the
subject absolutely reliable, he expresses
the opinion that without the benefit of
this system it would be impossible to
onduc the vast business entrusted. |
desire to commend, as especially worthy
OF prompt attention, the suggestions of
tue postmaster general in relation to a
more sensible and buSinesslike organi-
cation and a better distribution of re-
Sponsibility in his department.