The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-11-12
STAMPS AND LETTERS
Annual Reports Of Assistant
Postmasters General.
THE DEFICIT NEARLY $40. 900. 600.
Although the Receipts Are Decreasing,
the Departmens II Kxtravsxantiy
Managed, Increasing KxpsnssA

year ending June 80. 1894. shows falling
CT. while the expenditures have increased.
The deficiency for the fiscal year of lss3
Was s5,os6. 763 while the deficiency for
1894 10 50 243, $50 The decrease of receipts
was ssl6, 4S4 and the increase of expendi-
lures s., 25o, 4o9. Tho total expenditures
for 1894 were So "a Ala and the recel pts
SIS. 0So. <7a. The departments suffered
losses amounting to Sos. $50 by outstanding
bad debts and compromises with debtors.
The difference will be made up by appro-
priations.
Some Of the facts regarding stamps
issued. taken from the report Of the third
assistant postm aster general, are interest
ing. There were issued during the time
the order was in force 2ol4. rs. 100 Column
bian stamps; of these l. 64 SIS, $50 were ?
cent stamps and 449, 195, $50 were l-cent
stamps. The use of the Columbian stamps
necessitated . change in the color of the
special delivery stamps. as there was
great deal OF confusion over The similarity.
A review Of the transfer of the stamp
printing from the American Bank Note
Company to the bureau of engraving and
printing is made, and it il said that not
withstanding the complaints made OF the
character of the stamps issued by the
bureau, il has been successful. and that
there will be q saving to the government.
OF S342, pa for one year and 81, AS i56 for
four years Ii 10 now claimed at the de-
partment that the faults in the new stamps
complained of viii DO remedied. and that
the new issue will BE as good as those fur
nished by the American Bank Note Com
pany.
The third assistant postmaster general
criticises the act of July Is, 1894, which
allowed admission to the mails as second
class matter publications of benevolent
and charitable associations. mostly secret
society publications. lie says that since
that act forty-six publications. heretofore
excluded, have been admitted TO the malls.
whose annual aggregate circulation is
about $4,000 copies. The estimated
weight of this matter is about $40. coo
pounds. He says: MANY of these pub
locations are purely advertising sheets or
circulars, bat as they conform to the law
they cannot be excluded"
There has been falling of in registered
letters during tho year 1894 of O.s56. the
total pieces registered amounting 70 49,
csc, 524 There have been 1926 complaint
cases of registered packages lost during
By the chief inspector and 1897 are still
outstanding. OF those investigated there
was no loss IN :. 633 and loss in l. $50 cases,
with an actua. loss after being traced OF S2S.
First Assistant Postmaster General
Frank Jones has Submitted his annual
report TO the postmaster general. 1t is
review of the work in the department
under his charge for the year ending June
taf- IA
tons for improvement of the service.
He recommends legislation TO protect the
postmsrking stamp in use At the post
offices. as the stamp is now being used for
unlawful purposes. He reviews his recon-
mendation for legislation TO prevent the
boycot,ing 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. lie says:
There seems 90 be some Misrepresentation
among members of congress as 10 the scope
of the ranking privilege, which has re-
suited in rome postmasters declining TO
send speeches or other matter presented
for mailing. This department has been
called upon to give special instructions in
such matters. Instead Of the name being
handstarnp IL has been In some instances
Improperly printed thereon; and the
speeches therein contained have borne an
advertisement for the printer. which
formed no part of the Congregational Record,
and therefore are subject 10 postage as
third ciass matter. In addition 10 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 Congregational Record and
public documents. and are therefore
not frankabie 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 attached TO the misuse
OF the franking privilege. hence no action
can be taken by me further than 20 call
the attention OF the member 10 the matter.
As this department Is required 70 carry.
without one cent OF revenue. hundreds Of
tons Of ranked matter. additional limitz-
iions should be placed on the use OF the
frank, or penalty Of some kind imposed
for its unlawful use. and l respectfully
suggest thag The attention Of congress be
called 20 this matter for such action IS Il
shall deem proper"
Mr.. Jones recommends legislation al
loving the suspension without pay, not TO
exceed ten days. of employees violating
the postal rules: also that disabled EN-
ployes msy De granted leaves OF absence
with continued pay; also sons con-
gressional action in the classification OF
salaries which were heretofore recon-
mendei
The reports give details Of the different
divisions OF the FIRST assistants Office. IL
is shown By the salary and allowance
division that there are l49 first class
Offices, 465 second class and 2, 5S7 third
class The aggregate salaries OF these was
S. 7c9. 700 and the aggregate receipts $50
es5 GA The following estimates are made
for salaries, clerks. etc. for tie next year:
Compensation al postmaster. 81, $4,000
clerks IN Dostofces ..-......-.... &c, luos0Se
Rent. fuel and light first and second
Mlscsslansous. inesdeatals and fnrnl-
tnre. hTSt and second class post
Advert1sias, hrss ana second clas.
postotisees -. ....-...........-.. f&ooo
Rental c4reeiIiag machines ............ $500
Ny. Jones say. owing to the scant ap-
preparation the work Of the free delivery
system has been euEtailea. There have
been no new Offices u ade free delivery
during the year. There has been a slight
increase in the number OF carriers. There
has BEEN settlement OF many overtime
eIaiE.s of carriers during the year. Mr.
Jones condemns 50 heartily IS he did last
year the experimental free delivery and
the rural tree delivery tried 5y his pre8e-
eessor lie estimates the free delivery
service for the next year 10 cost 81. 81. es5
The estimate for supplies AZ the postoffiee
department is sf4s. so. decrease OF S.. 90
from ina present year. The money order
business shows that eco Offices we're con-
ssItnied money order Offices during tie