The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1893-12-08
Post Osice De partment.

of such prison and reformatories as may be
necessary for the confinement of United States
convicts.
Post Office De partment.
The report of the postmaster-general con-
tains q detailed statement of the operations OF
the post office department during the last q s.
cal year and much information touching this
important branch OF the public service The
business OF the mails Indie ite with absolute
certantg the condition of the business Of the
country, and depressons in financial affairs in
evitablv and quickly reduces the postal reve
nues Therefore larger discrepancy than
usual between the post office receipts and eX-
penditures is the expected and unavoidable re-
suit of the depressing strlngency which has
prevailed throughout the country during much
of the time covered by the postmas:er-gener-
ais report.
At date when better times were anticipated
ii was estimated by his predecessor that the
deficiency or the 3Dth dar OF June, 1898 would
be but little over sl.5O.0)0 II amounted,
however, TO more than stOOD,OO At the same
time and under the influence of like anticipa-
tion estimates were made for the current fiscal
year ending June 81, 1924. which exhibited a
surplus of revenue over expenditures of ss72,-
2i5 a. but now in view of the actual receipts
and expenditures during that part OF the cur
rent fiscal year already expired the present
postmas asier-g general est ma es that at its close
instead OF a surplus there will be deficiency
OF nearly S8.o0)OOI
The post Office receipts for the last fiscal year
amounted to So $50, ,a3S Ii and its expenditures
to ssl.074, Ia 30 This post office deficiency
would disappear or be immensely deere Ised IL
less matter were carried free through the mails.
an item of which is upward of three hundred
tons OF seeds and grain from the agricultural
dep ,rtment The total number Of post cffceS
in the United States on the 3)th dav of June
% ~ of 4 hfa
preceding year. and of these 8, 81 were
presidential an increase in that
class of "a over the preceding
forty-two free delivery Offices were added
during the year TO those already existing.
making total of CD and ten cities and towns
provided with free delivery on June 3D. 1893,
ninety-three other cities and towns are now
entitled TO this service under the law, but it
has not been accorded them on account of in
sufficient funds to meet the expense of its es-
tablshment 1 am decidedly of the opinion
that the provisions of the present law permits
as general introduction Of this feature OF mail
service as is necessary and justihable and that
1t ought not to be extended to smaller COM
mUnities than ar now designated
The expense OF free delivery for the fiscal
year ending June 30, 1884, will be more than
ST. 90, OJ0 and under the administration now
existing there must be a constant increase in
the item of expenditures. There were "a l ad-
ditions to the domestic money order offices
during the last fiscal year, being the largest in
crease in am year since the inauguration Of
the system. The total number Of these offices
at the close of the wear was is, i3i. There were
1 1919, T35 money orders issued from these Of
fees, being an increase over the preceding
year of 2i0, 993. and the value of these orders
amounted to Sl21, 16 i33 D., an increase of -S1,
500. .6j2 So There were also issued during the
year postal notes amounting TO Sl2.9O3, tId13
der offices were addei to those a ready pro-
yided. making to al of 2.4J7 in operation on
June % 1893 The number of International
mo ey orders issued during the year was l,D55,-
99l. an increase over the preceding year OF ~,
52a ami the value was $40 Sil g. So, an increase
of 81, ,2sl sos. 81. The number of orders paid wa
.OO9iL an increase over the preceding year Of
35O3 and their value s. 2S3. 3I5, an in
crease S9l J9ts3 From the foreg ing state
ments it appears that the total issue OF money
ord rs and uostal n ties for the ear amour ed
| 10 $685. 3iS ~
Tn c number of letters and packages mailed
during the year for special delivery was $780,
693 an increase over the preceding year of
nearly - per cent The special delivery stamp
used upon these letters and packages amount ted
to 49,. $50 20 and the messengers fees paid for
their delivery amounted to sex 20 al, leaving
profit TO the government off, $40 50 The rail
way mail service not onlv adds to the prompt
ness OF mail ueHNeTy al Dut IL II tuc
especial instrumentaity which puts the smaller
and way places in the service on an equllity in
that regard with the larger and terminal offices.
This branch of the postal service Ia there
fore received much attention from the post
master general, and though 1t is gratifying TO
know tn 1t IL is in condition of high efficiency
and great usefulness. L am led to agree with
the postmaster-general that there IS room for
| it's further improvement There are now con-
necied with the post office establishment 25.3II
employees who are in the classified service. and
the head Of this great depart ent gives con
elusive evidence of the value OF civil service
reform when, after an expert ence that renders
his Judgment absolutely reliable, he expresses
the opinion that without the benefit of this
system IL would be impossible to conduct the
vast business intrusted to him.
The Interior Department..
The secretary OF the interior has the super
vision of so many important subjects that his
reports are Of special value and interest On
the 80 h day of June, 1893 there were on the
pension rolls 956 0l2 names an increase of 80 =
81 over the number on the rolls June SO, 1892
| OF these there were seventeen widows and
daughters Of revolutionary soldiers, the sur
vivors of the war of 1872, "A = widow of soldiers
of that er, 81. als survivors and widows OF the