The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-11-26

master General w. ;. bissel mas SUI
mitted TO the President his annul report
for the year ending June 80, 1891 lie
briefly outlines the policy Of the de-
partment in the following:
"First-In general l would recon-
mend that the first and most important
thing to be done is to revise the law as
second class matter so as to place the
postofice department Immediately upon
a self.sustaining basis.
"Second-Avoid expensive expert
ments, like the postal telegraph, rural
free delivery, etc.
"Third-Develop the postal service
on existing lines of administration, viz:
Extend free delivery in districts that
now enjoyit.
"Accord 1t to towns already entitled
to it under the law.
Quicken railroad transportation.
"Fourth-Revise and re-classify Or
ganization OF the railway mail service
and re.classify clerks In postotiices.
'Fifth-Provide for district supervi-
sion Of all postal affairs by appointment
OF expert postal officials from classified
service, as recommended In my last
annual report"
The revenue for the year was SO 5,OSO,-
40; expenditures $S4,324.4l4. leaving a
deficiency OF 50, 243,e35. The estimates
for the current year ending June 80,
1895 are: Il
Revenue sss,427,74s; expenditures
500. 800, 4S5; deficiency s5,9Tl, 1877.
This annual deficiency, the postmas'
ter general says, could be overcome by
the increase OF postal rates. but he does
not believe this advisable. 1t could be
cancelled by readjustment OF ratea on
second-class matter, a question which
he treats at considerable length in an
other part OF the report
MIR. Bissell recommends that the OK.
perimental free delivery projects should
be discontinued, and thinks that free
delivery in rural diatricts is not needed
nor desired by the people. Both OF
these projects were originated by his
predecessor.
He refers to the war made by the dc.
partment on lottery schemes passing
under the name OF bond investment
companies" and says ithas been waged
successfully. He recommends the en-
actment Of laws covered in bills now
pending before Congress for the further
suppression Of lotteries.
OF the obstruction OF mails by strikes,
the postmaster general says:
In my last report l called attention
to the necessity for legislation such as
then was and Is now recommended by
the superintendent OF the railway mail
service for the punishment Of train
wrecking, and Tor legislative deter
mination and definition OF q mail train.
One OF tho most important and inter.
esting features OF Mr.. Bissells report is
its discussion OF class matter In his
Inst report, he referred to the great dis.
proportion OF growth Of second-class
mail matter and intimated that he did
not believe it was due to tho growth OF
genuine newspapers and periodicals, so
much as the enterprise OF merchants,
manufacturers and others taking advan-
tage OF the law to secure entry Of adyer-
tising matter into this favored class.
He has made thorough investigation
during the year, upon which he says:
"The effect OF all this upon my mind
ia a conviction that the statutes and the
precedents upon which the business
now rests are defective; that they en-
body the only great abuse at present
existing in the postal service. aud that
"a this abuse is growing all the time
some remedy hould be applied"
Continuing, the postmaster general
says:
81 do not advocate change OF rates
now upon legitimate newspapers and
periodical magazines. My purpose is to
urge the withdrawal OF low postage
rates from the large cities aud the pro-
tended periodicals that are now i'm
properly enjoying them; not only on ac-
count OF the Inherent propriety OF that
course, but because l am almost hope
less OF ever seeing the financial COLI
dition OF the department properly estab-
lished until this withdrawal is brought
about"
"rhe bogus trade paper, not devoted
to the advertising OF any particular
house, is another illustration OF the
same abuse OF the mails.
"Of great moment in connection with
the abuse l am discussing is the privi-
lego given to publishers OF newspapers
and magazines-the 1rst bestowal Of
which was under the act OF March 3,
lSS5,-to mail sample copies thereof at
tho pound ratio OF postage.
"But for this too liberal privilege l
am inclined to think that the very few
really illegitamate trade papers would
ever have been admitted 10 the maIls
as second.claHs matter"
After commenting on the great in
crease in tho mailing Of frator9al insur-
anco publications Us second class matter,
aud showing the enormous increase OF
them since tho act Of Congress ad.
mitting thom, Mr. Bisaol suggests the
remedy in tho following:
'If it bo tho policy Of tho Congress to
continue the privileges Of second class
rates to benevolent OF fraternal socictios,
then tho remedy would suggest would
be nm amendment Of tho law limiting
this rate to them and to legitimate
newspapers and Legitimate periodical
magazines.
81 believe that ono yenr's experiences
under auch limitations with tho frauds
and abuses checked, would demonstrate
that We have already reached the limo
and conditions when all such Legitimate
a. ..aHfnIina1 mnUagiNna