New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-04
TUESDAY,
|DEcEM Der 4. 1894

cOnslderat tons which make an lmpregnape case
In favor of the ownership and management BY
the Government Of the penal institutions In which
Federal prisoners are confined. ! simply desire
to again urge former recommendations on the
subject and to particularly call the attention Of
the Congress to that part Of the report Of the
Secretary Of War In which he states that the
Military Prison at Fort Leavenworth. Kan. can
be turned over to the Government as prison for
Federal convcts without the least difficulty ana
with actual saving Of money from every point
Of view.
Pending more complete reform. ! hope THAI
by the adoption Of the suggestion OF the eecre-
tary OF War this easy step may be taken IN the
direction Of the proper Of Its convicts by the
Government Of the United States.
THE POSTAL SERVICE.
The report of the Postmaster-General presents
a comprehensive statement Of the Operations o.
the Postoff1ce Department for the last nscal year,
The receipts OF the department during the yeer
amounted to SIS $780, 40 o. and the expenditure 81
$S4X441<15.
The transactions Of the postal service indicese
with barometrc certainty the fluctuations IN tns
business Of the country. Inasmuch, tneresosss
as business complications continued to ex,os
throughout the last year to an unforeseen extent
Il is not surprising that the deficiency OF rsvsnus
to meet the expenditures Of the Postofi1ce Depart.
ment which was estimated In advance AZ aoouE
sSOooooo. should be exceeded oy neary S.s 49,
The ascertained revenues OF the last year wnlcn
were the basis Of calculation for the curreus
wear being less than estimated. the denciency
for the current year will be correspohointv
greater though the Postmaster-General states
that the latest indications are so favorape tnas
he confidently predicts an increase OF AZ iss.s
per cent In the revenues OF the current yeo' o'e'
those Of the last year. go -.
sarily with the growth ana neeos OF the cou -
try so that TIE deficiency Is greater OF iess ~
any wear. depending upon the volume OF re-
ceipts The Postmaster General states tnat tns
deficiency is unnecessary and might De opsI.se 49,
t,lnf ING
matter of the second class was modlhed: IN
rate received for the TRANSMISSION Oh tn.S ~
ond-cass matter Is cent per pounu, WIZ, VINE ts
cost OF such transmission to the Government ~
eight times that amount. In the generai teIm.
of the law this rate covers newspapers anu
periodicals The extensions of the meaning OF
these terms from time to time nave aomitteQ
To the privileges intended for legitimate news
papers and periodicals surprising range os
publications and created abuses the COSY OF
which amount in the aggregate 10 the t0tes
deficiency Of the Postoffice Department. IT.
tended newspapers are started py pusneso
houses for the mere purpose OF aovert'SM!
goods complying with the law in form only ana
d,scontinuing the publications as soon az the
period Of advertising Is over. Sample copIes
Of pretended newspapers are issued In great
numbers for a like purpose only. The result u
a great loss OF revenue to the Government, DC.
sides its humating use as an agency 20 ..oi
in CARRYING out the scheme OF business nousc
TO advertise its goods by means OF trick upon;
both it's rival houses and the regular andI
legitimate newspaper uove,s to ma
extent Of many thousands OF tons. IS sent
through the malls at cent per pound wniie tne'
publishers Of standard works are required y
pay eight times that amount In sending NEW
publications Another abuse consists IN the free
carriage through the mails of hundreds OF tons
OF seed and grain uselessy distributed throusn'
tho Department Of Agriculture. The Postmas-
ter-Cieneral predicts that II the law De so
amended as to eradicate these abuses not only
will the Postoffce Department show no oe.
fciency. but he believes that in the near future
all legitimate newspapers and periodical maya.
zines might be properly transmitted through
the mails to their ,ree Of this
1ect and fully indorse the views OF the row
master General.
AGAINST FREE RURAL DELIVERY.
The total number Of postofices in the United
States on the Goth day Of June. 1894. was 6S.so6s
an increase Of l.4o3 over the preceding year.
OF these s42S were Presidential, an increase In
that class OF IS over the preceding year. Six
hundred and ten cities and towns are provided
with free delivery Ninety-three other cities
and towns entitled to this service under the
law have not been accorded 1t on account OF
insufficient funds. The expense of free delivery
for the current fiscal year will be more than
sl2 300 900 and under existing legislation this
item OF expenditure Is subject to constant In
The estimated cost OF rural free delivery
generally is very large that II ought not 10
be considered in the present condition or anairS.
During the year $50 additional domestic money
order offices were established. The total number
of these offices at the close OF the year was
1924 There were HSo404l money orders is-
sued during the year being an increase over the
preceding year of .306. The value Of these
orders amounted to Sl3S 1858 49, an increase Of
sl1.217145 81. There were also issued during the
year postal notes amounting to SCISSORS D.
During the year 2lS international money -order
offices were added to those already established.
making a total Oh ? 625 such offices in operation
June so 1894 The number Of International
money -orders issued during tho year was 9l7..
s2s decrease in number OF 1876 and their
value was sls, 7s2.455 81, decrease in amount or
s25493 S2 So The number OF orders paid was
s6l $50 an increase over the preceding year OF
Go 26S and their value S.. 56S 493 Is. an In
crease OF 2S5 lis 0S. From the foregoing state
ments II appears that the total issue OF rooney.
orders and postal notes for the year amounted
TO Sl65 1923 80. The number Of letters and PACK
ages mailed during the year for special delivery
was 3436s7c The special delivery stamps 9sed
upon these letters and packages ANNOUNCED 10
s34S69i The messengers fees paid FOR the1r De-
livery amounted to s2sl2Os 10. leaving balance
in favor Of the Government OF $s2.4S7 30
The report shows most gratifying results IN the
way OF economies worked out without Affecting
the efficiency OF the postal service These con-
sis in the abrogation OF steamship SUBSIDY con-
tracts. reetting OF mall transportation contracts
and In the cost ard amount of supplies ussd In
service amounting in all to sl6.6l9041 AZ This
report also contains a valuable contribution 10
the history OF the Universal Postal Union an arr
rangement which amounts practically to the
establishment of one postal System for the entire
civilized world. Special attention Is directed %
this subject this time In view or the fact tnat
the next congress Of the Union VIII meet ~
Washington in 1897. and it Is hoped that umey
action will be taken In the direction OF perfectng
preparations for that event.
The Postma tier General renews the suggesuon
made in a previous report. that the departments
organization be increased to the extent or Great.
ing direcr district supervision OF all postal
AFFAIRS and in this suggestion l fully concur.
There are now connected with the Postomcs
| establishment 32,66l employees VINO are In tne
ciass,6ad service This includes many who have
been classified upon the suggestion OF the POST
| master-General He states that another years
h, haad N
only TO strengthen the conviction as to the ex-
celient working OF the Civil Service law 10 TINS
| branch of the public service.
PROGRESS ON NEW SHIPS
Attention is called to the report of the secrs-
tarv If the Navy. which shows very gratify.