The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1894-12-07


tracts arranged by Postmaster-General
Wanamaker, thus avoiding an expendi.
ture. characterized by Mr.. Bissell as
useless" of sii.43i, 325, and through
, other means the total amount saved
was brought up To si6.6l9,0f7. MIR.
Bissell explains that the efficiency Of
the postal service was in no way re-
tarded or restricted through this re-
| trenchment
The most important topic in the re-
port is treated under the explanatory
caption: Abuses connected with Sec
ond-class matter" Mr. Bissell states
without reserve that advertisers. book
publishers and others have taken adj
vantage of the broad construction
OF what constitutes matter of the
second class, by sending out
their advertisements and pubica-
tions, under the technical disguise Of
newspapers and periodicals. and have
thus secured the benefit of the lower
rate Of postage. lie has discovered
that the abuse has grown so great that
II now costs the government eight
| times as much to carry second-class
matter as the revenue derived from il.
The volume of second-class business
grew from isi 900, 900 pounds in 1855 to
s56, 600 900 in 1898. nearly doubling in
six wears.
''Of course" says Mr.. Bissell mo
one can believe that such an increase
is legitimate and he adds that it is
estimated that during the fiscal year
ended June so, 1894. out OF about 451.-
| 600, 600 pounds of mail matter of all
classes carried pos. 100000 or nearly
two-thirds, went under the second
class rates, leaving a net loss to the
government in its transportation Of
Sl6,973,000.
believe that one years experience
under such limitations. with the frauds
and abuses checked, would demonstrate
that we have already reached the time
and conditions when all such legiti-
mate newspapers and periodical maya
zines may be transmitted through our
mails from publishers into the hands
of subscribers free of all cost"
Regarding civil-service reform in the
post office department. Mr.. Bissell con-
tends that it should be extended
wherever practical, and suggests that
the lower grade-thc fourth class of
postmaster-might be included within
the benefits Of the civil service law.
lie states that for more than a genera
ton the American people have been
trained to regard the post Office as in
separable from the varying fortunes Of
the two great political parties, and.
after deploring this fallacy. he adds:
The intelligence Of our people has
long outgrown the notion that any one
political party enjoys a monopoly OF
administrative talent"
The postmaster generals attention
is too much cngro>sed by appoint
ments. says Mr.. Bissell. and he main
tains that the improvement of postal
facilities is retarded by the present
spoils system. Various Devices" he
continues, ''have been proposed for re-
lieving the postmaster general Of
his cvcr-increasing burden Of RESPONSE
bility with regard TO appointments.
Only one measure. however, SO
| far as am aware. has yet
taken the form CT Legislative bill.
That provides for the division of the
whole country into postal districts,
each under the supervision of an in
spector. who is to investigate the an
teccdents. experience. reputation. etc,
of all applicants for vacant fourth
class postmastersliips in his own dis
trict, and report the results to the
acknowledgement. The postmaster
general is then TO appoint the candi
date who, on the face OF the report.
appears to be the best qualified in all
respects. Once appointed. post
master may not be suspended or re-
moved for political reasons.
Whether such plan is or is not
the best that can be devised. it is at
least the formulation Of plan which
is entitled to most careful and imme-
date cons ideraticn. and may become
foundation upon which to build"
Upon the subject Of postal telegraph
Mr.. Bisscll disagrees with his prede-
cessor, Mr.. Wanamaker.