The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1893-12-05
for the confinement of United States
THE Pcsr AT. SERVICE.

contains detailed Stdttlltclt Ol lilC
operations of the post Office depart
ment 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 certainty the
condition of the business of the coun-
try, and depression in financial affairs
inevitably and quickly reduce the pos
tai revenues. Therefore, larger dis
crepancy than usual between the post
office receipts and expenditures is the
expected and unavoidable result of the
distressing stringency which has pre-
vailed throughout the country during
much % the time covered by the post
master-generars report.
| At a date when better times were
anticipated. it was estimated By his
predecessor that the deficiency on the
10th day of June, 1888. would be but
little over sl,500,O00. 1t amounted
however, to more than 100000. AT
the same time under the influence OF
ike anticipations, estimates were made
for the current fiscal year ending June
! 80, 1894, which exhibited a surplus OF
| revenue over eADcHulluiC1 u FC'-f
| 245.1. But now in view of the actual
receipts and expenditures during that
part of the current fiscal year already
expired, the recent postmaster general
estimated that at it's close, instead OF q
surplus, there viii be 4 deficiency OF
nearly IS 900. 600 The postoiiice re-
ceipts for the last fiscal year amounted
to 1886 933. 10, and its expenditures TO
| $S1. 074, 104 go This pOStofnce deficiency
would disappear, or be immensely de-
| creased, if less matter was carried free
through the mails, an item of which IS
upward of 300 tons of seeds and grain
from the agricultural department. The
| total number of postofficeS in the united
States on the Both day Of June, 1879,
was 6S, 403 an increase of 1,2S4 over
the preceding year. OF these, 1850
were presidential. an increase in that
class of 204 over the preceding year
Forty-two free delivery offides were
| added during the year to those al
| ready existing, making total or GU
cities and towns provided with Tree
| delivery on June 30. 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 it's establishment. l
am decidedly of the opinion that the
provisions of the present law permit
las general an introduction of this fed-
ture of mail service as is necessary or
Unsuitable and that it ought not to
be extended to smaller communities
than are now designated. The ex-
pense of free delivery for the fiscal
year ending June 30. 1898, will be more
than S11,000,e00, and under the legis-
IlStion now existing there must be a
constant increase in this item of ex-
lpenditure. There were 6.101 additions
to the domestic money order offices
during the last fiscal year, being the
largest increase in any year since the
inauguration of the system. The total
| number of these offices at the close of
500, 1876 money orders issued from these
offices, being an increase over the pre-
feeding year of 1,240.290. and the value
of these orders amounted to S127, 576,-
1873. 65, an increase of 81 500 632. S. There
were also issued during the year. postal
tnotes amounting to $4,000, 076.53.
During the year 1876 International
money order offices were added to those
already provided, making a total of
2,407 in operation on June 30. 1893. The
number of international money orders
issued during the year was 1.055.999. an
increase over the preceding year of
72, SIS and their value was SIG, 341 1897. So
an increase of 81, POI. 5O6.31. The number
of orders paid was S0O.917, an increase
over the preceding year of 13 $685. and
their value was s.. 2SS. $3.50. an increase
of $94, 094.83. From the foregoing state
tments it appears that the total issue
of money orders and postal notes for
the year amounted to S156. 1921. 34S.24
The number of letters and packages
mailed during the year for special de-
livery was 3,3756O3, an increase over
the preceding year Of nearly % per
cent. The special delivery stamp used
upon these letters and packages
amounted to 1897 ,55S 90, and the mes
sengers' fees paid for their delivery
amounted to $3.50, 592 II. leaving a profit
to the government of $S0,976.59 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 small and
way places in the service on an equal
ity1in that regard with the larger and
terminal offices. This branch of the
postal service has, therefore, received
more attention from the postmaster
general and though it is gratifying to
know that it is a condition of high
efficiency and great usefulness, 7 am
led to agree with the postmaster-gen-
eral that there is room for its further
improvement There are now con-
Inected with the postofFice esta biishment
g. 24 employees who are in the classi-
fed service. The head of this great
department gives conclusive evidence
of the value of civil service reform.
when after an experience that renders
his judgment on the subject absolutely
reliable, he expresses the opinion that
without the benefit of this system ii
: would be impossible to corduct the
vast business intrusted to him. I de
Isire to commend as especially worthy oi
prompt attention the suggestions o.
, the postmaster-gener relative to :
more sensible and business-like organ
ization, and a better distribution of tn,
responsibility of his department
! THE NAVY.
The report of the secretary of tn.
navy contains a history of the opera
/ tons of his department during tn,
: past year and exhibits most graft
flying condition of the personnel of oul
! navy. He presents a satisfactory ac
/ count of the progress which has beer
t made in the construction of vessel.
and makes a number of recommen
dations to which attention is especial
ly invited.
u During the past six months the de
/ mands for cruising vessels have beef
irnanv and urgent rThe,-e l,o4-o hoo