The Monticellonian., 1894-12-07
The Post onicc Department.


 REVENUE AND OUTLAW
 The report of the p0StmaSter-reHera pre- seats Il comprehensive statement of the opera ton of the pa.,t office department for the last during tHe wear amounted to 500 ffF 64 and Inc expenditures To SHf 2y44lLl5 The traus4c- {33As CT the posta! service indicate with 5aiemelfle certainty the fluctuations of 5ae 5, 9a55agsS of the country. Iaas= t25a5 taaG9s lhaLgi2Eei .#.i as business complieaz the last year to an unforeseen extent if fs not surprising that the deficiency of revenues tn Aeet the expenditures Of the pest office de HHfimeat which was estimated iu advance at a69at sS ooH.99. should be exceeded by uearlv sle-3a-H'1 he aecertalued revenues of the 5Hzf 5eaf winch were the basis of calculation taE Ae current year being less than estimated, the deficiency for the current year VIII be cor feHPeHdih@lf greater though the postmaster general states that the iattSt indications are so favorable that he confidently predicts an increase If at least per cent. in the revenues of the eurreu year over those Of the last year.
 INCREASED EXPENDITURES.
 The expenditures increase steadily and nee essartlE witll the growth and needs ef the eaan- try. SC that that defeiencv iS greater or less If any year depending upon the volume of re- The astmaster-Feueral states that this de- aeteaey is unnecessary, and might be obyiated al eaee f tae Ia" regulating rates upon mail matter of the second class was modified The Tate received f1r the transmission of this sec oHd-ela>s matter is one cent per pound while the cost of such transmission 10 the govern inent k eight times that amount. In the gen. raj atal 1etiAs et the law this rate covers newspapers and periodicals. The extensions Of the meaning of these terms from time to tune have admitted to the privileges intended for legitimate newspapers and periodicals surprising range of publica- lions and created abuses the cost of which of the post ofice department.
 pIsTRIBUrIoN OF THE MAILS.
 The total numbero post offices in the United states on the @'th day of June, 1s9f was 6q so5 FIT fTfHf .f ff,T.fs Of these 3.f-, were presidential. an increase Ill that class 0f 6s over the preceding year six hundred and ten cities and towns are provided With free delivery. NinVty-thrce other cities and towns entitled to this service under the law have not been accorded it on account of insufficient funds. The expense of free de livery for the current fiscal year will be more than SI2.3oo e04 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 il ought not 10 be considered in the present condition of affairs
 MONEY ORDER OFFICES.
 During the year $50 additional domestic money order offices were established. The to- tal number of these offices at the close of the Ne4f was l".26t There were ll,304oIl money orders issued during the wear. heinz an increase over the preceding wear of ggi3p@. The value of these orders amounted 10 SI3s,793579.49, an in crease ef tll2ld.li5.Sl.
 There We're also issued during the wear pos tai notes amounting to Sl2,649 0gHq5. During the Aear @ls international money order offices
 
 Ing total of 2G25 such offices in operation June 31- ls4 The number of international money orders issued during the year was qI7- s@s. decrease in number of l3s l16. and their value Was sl3 1g2. .i55.3t, a decrease in amount oi + 3,2t3, The number of orders paid was 35l. SD an increase over the proceeding wear of do2h3, and their value was S6.563 ig3.1 1s. an iu- crease of Sl.2s5lls05, From the foregoing statements II appears that the total issue of money orders and postal notes for the year amounted to il65 .335 129.35.
 SPECIAL DELIVERY
 The number of letters and packages mailed during Jhe year for special delivery was s3,- f3b,a1n Ehe special delivery stamps used up eu these letters and packages amounted to a343taf. The messengers fees paid for their delivery amounted to S36l .2O9.10. leaving a bal auce in favor of the government Of ss2 ,is7.30
 THE POSTAL UNION.
 The report also contains a valuable contribu- uou to the history of the universal postal union, an arrangement which amounts prac- ttcaltY to the establishment of one postal sys= tenn for the entire civilized world Special at tentiun k directed to this subject at this time iH view of the fact that the next congress of the union will meet in Washington in 1s97, and II k hoped that timely action will be taken in the direction of pertectng preparations for that event.