The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-11-26
MAIL STATISTICS.
An Interesting Report by POST
es, master General BisBell.
OPPOSING THE POSTAL TELEGRAPH.

OPPOSING THE POSTAL TELEGRAPH.
He Believes IL Would EnormousIy Increase
the Defcit-Opposes Rural Free Deliv-
cry. but Favors It's Extension in Cities
THAT Now Enjoy 1t.
I WASHINGTON, Nov. .26.-Postmaster Cen
sral w. s. Bissell has submitted to the
president his annual report for the year
ending June 30, 1894. He briefly outlines
the policy Of the department in the follow
ing.
I'm general would recommend that
I'D Nrst and most important thing to be
done to revise the law as to second class
malta 70 as to place the postoffice depart
menth imedlately upon self sustaining
basis. AVOID expensive experiments like
the postA telegraph, rural free delivery,
etc Devki N the postal service on existing
limos of adriinistration, viz: Extend free
dcliveryfr cities that now enjoy it. Ac-
cord IT. to towns entitled to 1t under the
law. Quicken railroad transportation.
Revise and reclassify the organization of
the railway mail service and reclassify
clerks in the postofiices. Provide for dis
trict supervision of all postal affairs by
appointment of expert postal officials from
oAhooihtu StTNlCt, as TtCOlnlltnueu III lily
last annual report"
Mr.. Bissell first discusses the effect of
che continued depression upon the postal
revenues and says:
"When adverse business conditions pre-
vail an ordinary business establishments
may overcome them i'm part by economics
of management and retrenchment in ex-
penditures. Not so, however, with tho
postoflicc establishment of the govern
ment. 1t cannot and should not stop to
consider little economies. 1t must needs
exert itself to the utmost to secure the
best possible results in the way of celebrity,
accuracy and security in the dispatch of
the mails, and without sparing any reason
able expenditure in that behalf
Accidental delays in mail transmits
sion, always vexatious. become unbear.
able at such times. 1t might happen that
the delay of one hour in the delivery OF a
letter containing remittance of money
would work ruin to o business institu-
tion."
The revenue for tho year was s75, ,OSO, 479;
expenditures, Ss4,324, ,414, leaving de-
fciency of $9,a4S935. The estimate for
She current year June 30, 1895, are: Rev
snue, sSi, 427 74S; expenditures 800, 300 4s5;
deficiency, $5,97l, ,737. Tho estimates sub
mitted to the secretary of the treasury for
the next fiscal year are Revenue, 1885,
BOZ ,4Oe; expenditures, SOL, ,059, es3, defic-
iency, 81, ,S76.
This annual deficiency, the postmaster
general says, could be overcome by an in
crease of postal rates, but he does not be-
lieye this advisable. 1t could be cancelled
by readjustment of rates on second class
matter, question which he treats at con-
siderable length in another part of the re-
port. Economy has been practiced, but
W.uxr rsft ft.aIs,
not TO effect the efficiency of the service
OF the obstruction Of mails by strikes
the postmaster general says:
In my last annual report called atten-
Zion to the necessity for legislation such as
Chen WINS and is now, recommended by the
superintendent of the railway mail service
for the punishment of train wrecking and
for legislative determination and defini-
ton Of mail train. Such legislation
would be of great advantage to the postal
service, and during the past year would
most likely have prevented the embargo
placed upon the mail trains of the Great
= Northern railway by the strike which
practically tied up that system from April
Is to May 1. 1t would also have lessened
the loss of life, destruction to property,
loss of revenue to the department. and
Jother great evils incident to the greater
strikes that paralszed all business to n
greater or less extent from June "a until
Juy "A of this year.
Mr.. Bissell conmends the international
postal union, but gives some forgotten
history connected with it, showing by n
letter written by Postmaster General
Montgomery Blair, to Secretary Seward,
In 1858, that Mr.. Blair was Its originator,
although DR.. Won Stephan, of Germany,
did a great deal toward securing its per-
kection.
The postmaster general does not favor
the postal telegraph, system advocated
by his predecessor. The conditions in this
country, he says, are such as would enorm-
ously increase the large deficit. He also
points out that the division of the postal
Telegraph system throughout different sec
tions would be productive of endless sec
tional jealousy and disagreement.
[. Mr, Bisseli gives the following daily
average business of the department., which
shows the vastness of the postal service:
Number of miles of post route run, !, 1,1O0,-
900, number of stamps manufactured,
$4,000 number of envelopes manufac-
turcd, 100000; number of postal cards
manufactured, 800 900; number of pieces
mailed, 1b,100,000; number of letters
mailed 100000; number of pieces of mail
matter distributed and redistributed by
railway postal clerks, "a 900 900; number
gIof pieces handled in dead letter Offices "a ).
900; daily transactions in money order
business, 81, 1O0, 600; daily expenses, s23l,
100
The postmaster general believes in civil
service in the postoflice department. AT
the close of the fiscal year there were 80, ,8li
employees In the classified service, an in
crease of 300 over 1898 With those added
by recent extension orders there will be a
total of B., ,661