The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1894-11-22
THE LETTERS MAILED
Business of the Postoffice
Department
FOR THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 80.
Extracts Taken From the Reports of tho
First and Second Assistant Postmas-
ters- General - Recommend ations for
Improvement Of the Service.


First and Second Assistant Postmas-
s-General - Recommendation for
Improvement OF the Service.
WASHINGTON, November 13.-First As
sistant Postmaster-GeneralF Frank Jones
has submitted his annual report to the
Postmaster-General. 1t is a review of
the work in the department under his
charge for the year ended June 80, 1894,
and contains his recommendations for
improvement of the service. Mr.. Jones
recommends legislation to protect the
post-marking stamp in use at postoffices.
as the stamp is now being used for un-
lawful purposes. He reviews his recon-
mendations for legislation to prevent the
boycotting of postmasters by mailing of
letters at places other than the Office,
which results in reducing the salaries of
the postmasters boycotted. He calls
especial attention to the misuse of the
ranking privilege. He says:
There seems to be some misappre-
hension among members of Congress as
to the scope of the ranking privilege,
which has resulted in some postmasters
declining to send speeches or other
matter presented for mailing. This de-
partment has been called upon to give
special instructions in such matters.
Instead of the name being written or
placed on the envelope by the hand
stamp it has been in some instances i'm
properly printed thereon; the speeches
therein contained have borne advertise
ments OF the printer, which formed no
part of the congressional record, and
therefore are subject to postage as third
class matter. In addition to this some
of the packages sent by mail under the
frank of the member have been found
after delivery to contain printed matter
outside of the congressional record and
public documents and therefore not
frankable under the laws above quoted.
The literature being sent under seal, the
department is of course unable to detect
every violation. There is no penalty at
tached to the misuse of the ranking
privilege; hence no action can be taken
by me further than to call the attention
of the member to the matter. AS this
department is required to carry without
one cent of revenue hundreds of tons of
franked matter, additional limitations
should be placed on the use of the frank
or penalty of some kind imposed for
its unlawful use, and l respectfully sug-
gest that the attention of Congress be
called to this matter for such action as
it should deem proper"
Mr. Jones recommends Legislation. al
lowing the suspension without pay. not
to exceed ten days, of employees violating
the postal rules also that disabled en-
ployes may be granted leaves of absence
with continued pay; also some changes
in the classi6cations of salaries which
were heretofore commended. The report
gives details of the different divisions OF
the First Assistants Office. 1t is shown
that there are 149 first-class offices, 466
second class and 1857 third-class. The
aggregate salaries of these was S., 700. 700
and the aggregate receipts s5S,650, O24.
The following estimates are made for
salaries of postmasters, clerks, etc., Tor
the next year:
Com pensatiOn of SIG, SOC. 900
Gle ks in postofic. 49, 900
Rent, fuel and light, rrst and second
Miscellan eous, incidentals and furni-
ture, first and second-class.. 10000
Advertising, first and second-class....-. 10 600
Renting of canceling machines ........ 5000
The revenue of the Postoffice Depart
ment for the year ending June 80, 1894,
shows falling off, while the expendi-
lures have increased. The deficiency for
the fiscal year of 1898 was S. ,0S6, 763,
while the deficiency for 1894 is So, 243 933.
The decrease of receipts was 1915, 434,
and the increase of expenditures was
IS, 250, 400. The total exI enditures for
1894 are sS4, pa, Ala and receipts $7h, $780,
479. The department suffered losses
to SOS, $3.50 by outstanding bad
debts and compromises with the debt
ors. The difference will be made up by
fiona