The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-11-26

enue, ss4. i27. 74s; expenditures, 500, ,S9e.-
ass; deficiency, 8. 79l. 49,. The estimates
submitted to the secretary OF the treasury
for the mex. fiscal year are: Revenue.
SIS. .sO7. .4o7; expenditures, $91. .059. 2s3; de-
ficiency. si.l5l,sT6. This annual deficiency.
the postmaster general says. could be
overcome by an increase of postal rates,
but he does not believe this advisable.
Economy has been prscticed. but never
theiess great care has been taken that IL
should not affect the efficiency of the
service. The economies have consisted
mainly in re-letting contracts for mail
transportation and in the cost and amount
OF supplies; also in the abrogation of seven
of the eleven steamship subsidy contracts,
which will mean a total saving in the ten
years Of the contracts life of sl4i,4s ,325.
Mr.. Bisseli recommends that the expert
ment with the free delivery project should
be discontinued, and thinks that free de-
livery in the rural districts is not needed
or desired by the people. Both of these
projects were originated By his prede-
cessor.
He refers to the war made bv the de-
partmen. on lottery schemes passing un-
der the name of bond investment
companies," and says that IL has been
waged successfully. He recommends the
enactment Of laws covered in bills now
pending before congress for the further
suppression of lotteries
OF the obstruction o; the mails by strikes
The postmaster general says:
.sIn nay last report called attention 10
the necessity for legislation such IS then
was and is now recommended By the
superin tendent Of the railway mail service
for the punishment of train wreckers and
for legislative determination OF the detini-
ton Of mgl train. Such legislation
would be of great advantage 10 tie postal
service.
one Of the mos: important and interest
ing features of Mr.. Bissell's report is lis
discussion OF class msttsr. In his last re-
port be referred 10 the great disproportion
in the growth of sscond-clsss mail matter.
he has made thorough investigation
anrine the wear, upon which be says;
s.The effect OF all this upon my mind Is
a convection that the statutes and she
y-eceaenfs mpon which the business now
rests are detective: ihss they emeody the
only great abuse at present existing IN the
rostai service. and that as the business Is
growing all ths time, some remedy should
Re spplied.
He gives figures for the past SIX years.
showing thar in issS the weight 0f second
class matter carried was l43 0oa ooo poands.
whfle in IssS IL wss SSS0occo Daring
the veSr lssa there wss carried 45l 600 co
rounds of 81 mail matter, OF which "a e
90 00o rounds vas second-claSs matter.
the total cosl being SS6 2o7 .572, az average
Of : cents = poand. Returns from post
masters show that the amount upon which
hostage. az the rate of l cent psr po8nc
was psd. vas s54 coo 40 pounds, the re-
naming 10000 pounds esing matter
carried free IN the co1nty OF publication
The cost Of carving the second-clAss mat
ter was So 81. .osn. while, 81 the rate OF
cent a round. the collections we're s. 80. =.
90 and Sso, ,0ssl for special local rates N
carrier cities. lea SanS net less 20 tie gov
.rnnsnt of *ts. So CO.. After giving these
+ fwarss the postmaster general continues;
"This calculation applies to transport
{nr alone. The separate cost 81 dlstrteu-
tisse and delivery ! wla net attsngs 30
estimate. .sut any oae eAa see iAas iaose
ITEMS O. cxFeaditGres wonld largely sNeat
tie .osa. l do Lot advocate . change OF