The Dickinson press., 1894-12-08
POsTOFFICE AFFAIRS
Change I'm Second-Class Rates II
ReCommQ Qndod


The report of the postmaster general pre-
sents a comprehensive statement of the
operations of the postofhce department for
the the, last last. fiscal year The receipts Of the
$3.50 47s.oa and the expenditures ss4, 4,324,
,,I The transactlons tran. Of the postal service in
tions In the business Of the country. Inas-
much, therefore. as business complications
continue to exist throughout the last year
that the deficiency Of revenue to meet the
expenditures of the postoffice department.
which was estimated in advance at about
nearly one and one quarter million dollars.
The ascertained revenues Of the last year,
which We're the basis Of calculation for the
deficiency for the current year will be cor.
respondingly greater, though the postmaster
general states that the latest Indications
diets an increase Of at M least ers per cent TIN In
the revenues of the current year over those
Of the last year. The expenditures increase
needs OF the country, SO that the deficiency
Is greater or less in any year depending upon
the volume OF receipts.
Unnecessnry Deficiency.
The postmaster general states that this
Waited Mt once II the law regulating rates
upon mail matter Of the second class was
modified. The rate received for the trans
mission of this secOnd-cluss matter Is per
cent per pound, while the cost of such
transmission to the government Is eight
times that amount. In the general terms Of
periodicals. The extensions Of the meaning
Of these terms from time to time have ad-
mitted to the privileges intended for legiti-
Ing range Of publications. and created abuses
the cost Of which in the aggregate to the
totG, deficiency OF the postofiice department.
Pretended newspapers are started by buSi-
q nf nd
@ Using % goods. ~ complying With the " law 'th in
formality and disseminating the publications
as soon as the period of advertising is over.
| "Sample copies" of pretended newspapers
are issued IL great numbers for like pnr-
pose only. The result is a great loss to the
government, besides Its humlliating use as
Of business house to advertise Its goods
by means. Of trick upon both Its rival
houses and the regular anl legitimate news
Ing mainly Of trashy novels, to the ex-
tent of many thousands Of tons, il sent
through the mails at one cent per pound,
required to pay eight times that amount
in sending their publications. Another
abuse consists in thu, free carriagc through
partment OF agriculture. The postmaster
general predicts thnt If the law he so amend.
ed as to eradicate these abuses not only Will
the pOstOffire department
Show no Deficiency,
but he believes that in the near future all
legitimate newspapers and periodical mag, mag;
| azincs might be properly transmitted
| through the mails to their destination free
| Of cost. l invite your prompt consideration
Of this subject and fully indorsc the Views
| Of the postmaster general.
The total number of p0stOfilces III the
United States on June 80. 1894, was G9,sO5.
an increase of / ,4O3 over the preceding year.
OF these 3.426 were presidential, an increase
in that class Of C8 over the preceding year.
" h,,nf pOIID ton at tfn0n md NV 81
provided with free delivery. Nincty-three
other cities and towns entitled to this srrv-
ice under the law have not been accorded 1t
on account of insufficient funds. The ex-
pense Of free delivery for the current fiscal
year will be more than l2,3OO. 900. and un-
| der existing legislation this item of cxpcnd-
estimated cost of rural free delivery gen
| orally is 80 very large that 1t ought not to
| be considered In the present condition OF
AFFAIRS
During the year $50 additional domestic
money order offices were established. The
total number of these offices at the close Of
the year was l9,264; There were 14,3o4,041
money orders issued during the year, being
D!,4,3O The value of these orders amount
cd to S13s, ,198,579.49, an increase of Sill
Eli, ,145.S4. There were also issued during
Ss.x 81 gear postal notes amounting to *'2'S'''-
During the year 21s international money
order offices were added to those already
CsluUlEsutu, uldhluS lOlil VI s,Oso VI suCu
offices in operation June 20. 1904 The unm-
Der Of internal money orders issued during
the year was 917 SOB, q decrease Of 1888, ,11G,
and their value was sl3.792. .455.31. u de-
crease in amount of S2.5i9,3s255. The
number of orders paid was 35l,1S0, an in
and their value was $6.56S, ,493.7s. an In
crease Of 81, ,2s5. 11s.Os From the foregoing
statements 1t appears that the total issue
Of money orders and postal notes for the
year amounted to S1G5235 1906
The postmaster general renews the sug-
gestion made in previous report that the
department organization be increased to the
extent Of creating direct district super
vision Of all postal affairs, and In this
suggestion / fully concur.
There are now connected with the post
Office establishment 32.B61 employees wko
are in the classified service This includes
many who have been classified upon the
states that another years experience at the
head Of tn" d"rn"'m""t Srrva-: nnIv te
strengthen the conviction as to the excellent
working Of the civil service law In this
branch Of the public service.