The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1894-11-12
Special to the RECoRD-UNIoN.

WASHINGTON, Nov. ll.-Ihe revenue OF
{ the Postoffice Department for the year
ending June Both shows a falling of,
while the expenditures have increased.
The deficiency for the fiscal year of 1893
was $l,0S6, ,763, while the deficiency for
1894 is 1924 1888. The decrease of receipts
was SSl6,6l6 and the decrease of expendi-
lures some 100000 The department
suffered losses amounting to S6S, $50 by
outstanding bad debts and compromises
with the debtors. The difference will be
made up by appropriations.
Some of the facts regarding the stamps
issued taken from the report of the Third
Assistant Postmaster-General are inter-
esting. There were issued during the
time the order was in force 2,000,OUO Co.
lumbar stamps, and of these one and
half million were tWo-cent stamps and
449, $50, 900 one-cent stamps. The use OF
the Column Dian stamps necessltated
change in the color of the special delivery
stamps, as there was a great deal or con-
fusion over the similarity.
A review of the transfer of the stamp
printing from the American Bank Com
pany to the Bureau OF Engraving is
made, and it is said that notwithStand-
ing the complaints made OF the character
of the stamps issued by the Bureau, it
has been success, and that there will be
a saving to the country of $500, 900 for one
year, and 81, 10000 for six years. 1t is
now claimed at the Department that the
faults in the new stamps complained of
Will be romedled, and that the new issue
will be good as those furnished by the
American Banknote Company.
The Third Postmaster-Genera criti-
cises the Act of July l6. 1884, which al
lowed admission TO the mails as second
oil at n MT
and charitable associations, mostly secret
society publications. He says that since
that Act forty publications heretofore ex-
cluded have been admitted to the mails,
whose annual aggregate circulation is
about 64O0,00 copies. The estimated
weight of this matter is about 64O, 900
pounds. He says: MANY of these pub
lications are purely advertising sheets or
circulars, but. as they conform to the law
they cannot be excluded"
There has been a falling off in regis
tered letters during the year 1894 of 5I0,-
900, the total prices registered amounting
to ST., 900.
First Assistant Postmaster General
Frank Jones has submitted his annual
report to the Postmaster-General. 1t is
a review of the work in the department
under his charge for the year ending
June 80, 1894, and contains his recon-
mendatlOn OF the improvement of the
service. He reviews his recommendation
for legislation 10 prevent the boycotting
of POstmasterS by the mailing of letters
at places other than at the office, which
results in reducing the salaries OF the
Postmasters.
He calls especial attention to the frank
ing privilege. This department." he
says, "has been callen upon to give spe-
clal instructions In such matters. In
stead of the name being written or placed
on the envelope by the hand stamp. it
has been, in some instances, improperly
printed thereon. The speeches therein
contained have borne the advertisement
of the printer, which formed no part of
the Congressional Record. and therefore
are subject to postage as thlrd-class mat
ter. In addition 10 this, some packages
sent by mail under the frank of MEM
bers have been found after delivery to
contain printed matter outside of the
Congressional Record and public docu-
ments. and therefore are not trankable
under the laws above quoted. The
literature being sent under seal, the De-
partment is, OF course, unable to detect
every violation. There is no penalty at
tached to the misuse of the franking
privilege, hence no action can be taken
by me, further than calling the attention
OF the member"
The report gives details of the different
divisions of the First Assistants office
1t is shown by the salary and allowance
DIVISION LldI Iuero are 1fS HrSt-claSS OH
GERS, 466 Second-class and 1857 third-claSs.
The aggregate salaries of these was 3d.
709, 700, and the aggregate receipts S5S,-
1924.
The following estimates are made for
salaries, clerks, ETC., for the next year:
Compensation of Postmasters, Sic, 500, 600:
clerks in Postotfices, l0O0O. 600: rent. fuel
and light, first and second-class, $500, 900;
miscellaneous. Sl50,000; rental of cancel
ling machines, 60,000.
Mr.. Jones says owing to the constant
work the free delivery system has been
curtailed. There have been no offices
opened for free delivery during the year.