The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-11-12
MAILS AND STAMPS
ANNUAL REPORTS OF POsTOFFICE
DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS.
Receipts Decreasing and Expendi-
of First Assistant Jones.

The deficiency for the fiscal year OF 1883
was s5.066. 76S. while the deficiency for 1894
is s9.24S. SS5. The decrease Of receipts was
ssh. 454 and the increase OF expenditures
s., 250, 309. The total expenditures for 1894
is SS4, 234, 414 and receipts SIS, 0S0, 479. The de-
suffered losses amounting to $685.
S2 by outstanding bad debts and com
with debtors. The difference will
be made up by appropriations.
Some facts regarding tho stamp issues,
taken from the report of the Third Assist
ant Postmaster-general, are interesting.
There were issued during the time the
order was in force 2,014, 233, 100 Columbian
postage stamps. OF these 1.46l. 5SS, $50 were
two-cent stamps and 449. 195, $50 one-cent
stamps. The use Of Columbian stamps
necessitated a change In the color OF the
special delivery stamps. and there was a
great deal OF confusion over the similarity.
A review of the transfer of stamp print
ing from the American Bank-note Company
to the Bureau Of Engraving and Printing
is made, and it is declared that, notwith
standing the complaints made of the char
acter OF the stamps issued by the bureau,
it has been successful, and that there will
be a saving to the government OF $342. 266
for one year and 81, AZ, 156 for four years.
1t is now claimed in the department that
the faults in the new stamps complained of
will be remedied and that the new issue
will be as good as those furnished by the
American Bank-note Company.
The Third Assistant Postmaster-general
criticises the act of Congress of July 16.
1894. which allowed admission to the mails,
as ~second-class matter. of publications of
BENEVOLENT and charitable associations.
mostly secret society publications. He says
that since that act forty-six publications
heretofore excluded nave been admitted to
the mails. whose annual aggregate circula-
ton is about 6, 100000 copies. The estimated
weight of this matter is about $4,000
tions are purely advertising sheets or cir
culars. but as they conform to the law they
cannot be excluded"
letters during the year 1894 of 80. $50. the
total pieces regists red AMOUNTING to 1889.
cases registered packages lost during the
year, OF which 1868 were investigated by
the CHIEF Inspector, and 1;s57 are stin out
no loss ia 2,A3. and loss in 1,S26, with an
actual loss after being traced of 923.
MR.. JONES'S RECOMMENDATIONS.
First Assistant Postmaster-general
Frank Jones has submitted his annual re-
port to the Postmaster-general. 1t is a
review Of the work of the department I'M
der his charge for the year ending June
80, 1894. and contains his recommendations
for the improvement of the service. Mr..
Jones recommends legislation to protect
the postmarking stamp in use at post
offices, as the stamp is now being used for
unlawful purposes. He reviews his recon-
mendation for legislation to prevent the
boycotting Of postmaSters by mailing of
letters at places other than the office.
t GaiG pos fesalss ln bo 5seoslaSf me mr. s Joaes sai e
especiol attention to the misuse of the
seenkin g b. eri roms m,sa ne SAYS; .T There
members OF Congress as TO the scope OF
the ranking privilege, which has resulted
speeches or other matter presented for
mailing, and this department. has been
such cases. Instead of the name being
written or placed upon the envelopes by
the hand stamp. it has been. in some AZ
speeches therein contained nave borne the
advertisement OF the printer. which
ord, and, therefore, are subject To- postage
as third-class matter. In addition to this
some of the packages sent by mail under
the frank or the member have been found,
after delivery, to contain printed matter
outside OF the Congressional Record and
frankable under the laws above quoted
The literature being sent. under seal, the
department is, Of course, unable to detect
the matter has been delivered to, and COM
PLANT made by, the addressed. There is
no penalty aIIScntq 10 the misuse of the
franking privilege, hence no action can be
taken by me further than TO call the at
tention OF the member to the matter. As
this department. Is required to carry, with
out one cent of revenue. hundreds Of tons
or franked matter, additional limitations
f fno1sa OF 9e p pIass8 O upon som the kI 1se ,% of tas
Tor Its unlawful use, and / respectfully
suggest that the attention of Congress be
It shall deem proper"
Mr.. Jones recommends legislation allow
Ing the suspension without pay. not to ex-
coed ten days. of employees violating postal
rules; also, that disabled employees may be
granted leaves of absence with continued
pay; also, some changes in the classification
or salaries which were heretofore recon-
mended.
ent divisions OF the First Assistants office.
1t Is shown by the salary and allowance
4s second class and ISL third class. The
and aggregate receipts SIS. $50. O24. The fol,
lowing stimate are made for salaries,
clerks, etc, for the next year: Compensa-
ton OF poStmasters, 1855 900; clerks in
postofices. $40. 100. 600; rent. fuel and light,
first and second class, $500, 900; miscellane-
Gus, incidentals and furniture, first and sec
first and second class postofflces, $15,0 600,
rental canceling machines, $4,000.
MT; Jones says that owing to the scant
system has been curtailed. There have been
nc new Offices made free delivery during the
the number of carriers. There has been q
settlement of many overtime claims OF car
riers-durlng the year.
OPPOSED TO RURAL FREE DELIVERY
Mr.. Jones condemns as heartily as he did
last year the experimental free delivery
and the rural free delivery tried by his pre-
decessors. He estimates for the free de.
livery service for the next year s12, SS7, 6ss
an increase of $462. 598 over the current year
The estimate for supplies at postofice de.
partments is sA4, 500. a decrease of SCI. OoC
from the present year.
Tn money order business shows that Sa
offices were constituted money order office:
during the year. The amount of order,
issued was s13S, I9S, $40; amount paid. SI3S
1929; receipts, Sl,212, 33S: expenses. $5S6. 7f7
The issue OF postal notes was SO. GAO Ogi
postal notes paid. sl2,6A. S4. The posta
notes have never been discontinued by acI
OF Congress. The amount OF lnternafiona
money orders issued was S13. 753. 40. foraigr
issued paid. $6.56S, 1873.
OF the operations OF the dead letter office
Mr.. Jones says: The number of Dieces az
original dead mail matter received Snr,ne
the year for treatment was 7.I01, Oh. a de-
crease. OF 1888 pieces from preceding year
instead of an annual increase of this class
OF matter. which in 1898 amounted TO 349. s47
OF the last year over the preceding one
OF 379.S20 and indicate a larger degree %;
! efficiency on the part OF the general postal
service. 1t Is believed also that this de.
| crease is attributable in part to the efforts
of this office 10 insure a more speedy re-
turn of unclaimed mail matter TO the send
erS BY poStmaSterS without the unneces-
sary delay Of having il sent to the dead
letter office for treatment. In addition t
the regular duties or the office an ~eficiea,
ard competent force of Clerks from rnfS