The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1894-12-07
POSTOFFICE AFFAIRS
Change i'm Second-CIass R,tos T.
Recommended

Neeo"nenued.
Inc report Of the postmaster general nra-
oenta !" comprehensive statement of the
operations Of the postofffce department for
the last fiscal year The recents of tha
department during the wear arnountna a.
S'o,oSo, 4I9.O4 and the expenditures sS1 9ot
41415. - %0i''-f'-
Inc transactions of the postal service in
ulcate with barometric certainty the fluctua
tlonS In the business Of the country Tn,s
much, therefore, as business compIirations
continue To exist throughout the last vaar
10 the unforeseen extent. it is NOT surnrisinc,
that the deficiency of revenue to meet tho
expenditures OF the postottice department.
which was estimated in advance at ahnut
eight million dollars. should be excendnd ~,
nearly one and one quarter million dollars
ne aSceriaihed revenues Of the last wear
Nhleh We're the basis Of calculation for the
current year, being less than estimated tho
deficiency for the current wear will bo COW
reSpondingly greater, though the postmaster
general states that the latest ndicotions
are 50 favorable that he confidently pre-
acts an Increase of at least ppr cpnf in
the revenues of the current year over tbnsa
or the last year. The expenditures Increase
steadlty ana necessarily with the growth and
needs or the country, SO that the deficiency
~ greater or less in any year depending upon
the volume of receipts.
Unnecessary Deficiency.
The postmaster general states that this
deficiency Is unnecessary and might be OBJ
Waited at once if the law regulating rates
upon mail matter Of the second class was
modified The rate received for the trans
mission Of this second-cass matter is ] Der
cent per pound, while the cost Of seh
transmission 10 the government is eight
times that amount In the general terms of
the law this rate covers newspapers and
periodicals. The extensions of the meaning
or these terms from time to time have ad-
mitted to the privileges intended for lpcifi-
Ing range Of publications and created abuses
the cost Of which in the aggregate to the
total deficiency of The postoffice department
Pretended newspapers are started by busi-
ness houses for the mere purpose of adyer-
tising goods. complying with the law in
formality and disseminating the publications
as soon as the period Of advertising is over.
sample e9pies" of pretended newspapers
are issued in great numbers for Il like pur-
pose only The result is a great loss to the
government. besides lis humiiiatng nse as
an agency 70 aid in carrying out the scheme
of a business house TO advertise its goods
by means of a trick upon both its rival
houses and the regular and legitimate news
papers Paper covered literature, consist
ing mainly Of trashy novels, to the ex-
tent Of many thousands Of tons, Is sent
through the mails at one cent per pound,
required To- pay eight times that amount
In sending their publications. Another
abuse consists in the free carriage through
the mails OF hundreds of tons of seed and
partmrnt Of agriculture. The postmaster
general predicts that If the law be 50 amend
Ell as to eradicate these abuses not only Will
the postotiice department
show no Deficiency,
but he believes that in the near future all
legitimate newspapers and periodical mag
azincs might be properly transmitted
through the mails to their destination free
of cost. | invite your prompt consideration
Of this subject and fully indorse the views
Of the postmaster general.
The total number Of postotfices in the
United States on June 80, 1894, was 90 500.
an increase of HOS over the preceding year.
OF these Z. 426 We're presidential, III increase
in that class Of IS over the preceding year.
The postmaster general reneWs tile sHg-
gestion made III q previous report that the
department organization be increased TO the
extent of creating a direct district super
vision Of ali postal affairs, and in this
suggestion l fully concHr.
4 Hege are now connected with the post
office establishment 32.66i employees who
are in the classified service. This includes
many who have been classified upon the
suggestion If the roSfmaster@teneFal. lie
states tlat another years experience al the
head Of the department serves only to
strengthen the conviction rs to the excellent
working Of the civil service law ia this
branch Of the public service.