The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1894-12-15
The Post ONCE Department.

REVENUE AND OUTLAY.
The report of the postmaster-general pre-
Sents a comprehensive statement Of the opera
tons of the post office department for the last
fiscal year. The receipts of the department
the Expenditures to ss4. 22i4i4.15. The transac-
lions of the postal service indicate with
barometrlc certainty the fluctuations of
the Business of the country. has
lions continued to exist throughout
the las: year to an unforeseen extent it is not
meet the expenditures Of the post office de-
partment. which was estimated in advance at
about So, 900, 900, should be exceeded by nearly
81 ,95O,OOO. The ascertained revenues Of the
last year, which were the basis Of calculation
for the current year, being less than estimated.
the deficiency for the current year will be cor
respondingly greater. though the postmaster
general states that the latest indications are
SO favorable that he confidently predicts an
increase Of at least 8 per cent. in the revenues
OF the current year over those of the last year.
EXPENDITURES.
The expenditures increase steadily and nee
essarily with the growth and needs of the coun-
try, so that that deficiency is greater or less in
any year depending upon the volume OF re-
ceipts.
The postmaster-general states that this de-
fciency is unnecessary, and might be obviated
at once il the law regulating rates upon mail
matter Of the second class was modified. The
rate received for the transmission OF this sec
ond-claSS matter is one cent per pound. while
the cost OF such transmission to the govern
menI Is eiBnI times Inat amount. In the gen.
eral terms of the law this rate
covers newspapers and periodicals. The
extensions OF the meaning of these
terms from time to time have admitted to the
privileges intended for legitimate newspapers
and periodicals q surprising range of publica-
tionS and created abuses the cost OF which
amount in the aggregate to the total deficiency
OF the post Office department.
DISTRIBUTION OF THE NAILS.
The total number of post Offices in the United
States on the 3Dth dly of ,Junp- 1894. WAS 80 S5
an increase OF 1,403 over the preceding year.
or these 3,i2S were presidential, an increase
In that class OF 6s 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 de-
livery for the current fiscal year will be more
than s12, 0 1000, and under existing legislation
this item Of expenditure is subject to constant
increase. The estimated cost OF rural free de-
livery generally is so very large that it ought
not to be considered in the present condition Of
affairs.
MONEY ORDER OFFICES.
During the year $50 additional domestic
money orGer offices were established. The to-
tai number OF these offices at the close of the
year was 1924. There were 14,3Oi. Oi1 money
orders issued during the year. being an increase
over the preceding year OF 1874. 306. The value OF
crease OF Sll ,2l7 1854.
There were also issued during the year pos
ual notes amounting 10 Sl2,b4e U94.95. During
the year 28 international money order offices
were added to those already established, max
ing a total of 2,625 such Offices in operation
June 80. 1894. The number OF international
money orders issued during the year was 9l7.-
S2s, q decrease in number Of l3s, l76, and their
value was Si3. 792, i55. 81, q decrease in amount
Of s. $40, 1923 The number of orders paid was
1851 100 an increase over the proceeding year Of
6O.263, and their value was 1866, 1913 IS, an in
crease of 1926, 1856. From the foregoing
statements it appears that the total. issue Of
money orders and postal notes for the year
amounted to sizes. 235, 129. IS.
SPECIAL DELIVERY.
TIL number of letters and packages mailed
during the year for special delivery was 49,
436,970. The special delivery stamps used up
on these letters and packages amounted to
S3i3.G57. The messengers fees paid for their
delivery amounted to 1851 .s09.70. leaving q bal
ance in favor OF the government of S., 4s7.S0.
q POSTAL UNION.
The report also contains a valuable contribu-
tion to the history OF the universal postal
union, an arrangement watch amounts prac-
tically to the establishment OF one postal sys-
TEN for the entire civilized world. Special at
tention is directed to this subject at this time.
in view Of the fact that the next congress Of
the union will meet in Washington in 1897, and
it is hoped that timely action will be taken in
the direction Of perfecting preparations for
that event.