The Helena independent., 1894-11-26

Quicken railroad transportation. Re
wise and reclassfy the organization of
the railway mail ervice. and reclassify
clerks in the postofilces. Fifth, pro-
vide for district supervision OF all pos
tai affairs by the appointment OF ex-
pert postal officials from the classified
service. as recommended in my last an
nual report"
Mr.. Bissell first discusses the effect
of the continued depression upon postal
revenues, and says: when adverse
business conditions prevail an ordinary
business establishment may overcome
them In part by economy of manage
ment and retrenchment In expenditures
Not so, however, with the postofiice
establishment of the government II
cannot, and should not, stop TO consider
little economies. Its duties and obllga-
tions TO the public become at once in
tenslfied and enlarged"
The revenue for the year was $75,-
0SO,479, expenditures $S4. .324,4 Ala. leaving
deficit of Ss.24s. 935. The estimates for
the current year ending June 30, 1895,
are: revenue SSi.427,7i expenditures
500, ,S99, iS5, deficiency $5,97l,737.
This annual deficit. the postmaster
general says, could be overcome by an
increase Of postal rates. but he does not
believe this advisable Economy has
been practiced, but nevertheless great
care has been taken that II should not
affect efficiency of service. Economy
has consisted mainly I'm reletting con-
tracts for mail transportation. and i'm
cost and amount of supplies; also In the
abrogation OF seven of the eleven steam
ship subsidy contracts, which will mean
total saving In the ten years of the
contracts life of s1i .43l 1925.
Mr.. Bissell recommends that the en-
perimental free delivery project should
be discontinued, and thinks free dellv-
cry In rural districts is not needed or
desired by the people. Both of these
projects were originated by his prede-
cessor. He refers To the war made by
the department on lottery schemes
passing under the name of Bond in
vestment companies" and say IL has
been waged successfully. He recom-
mends the enactment OF laws covered
I'm bills now pending before congress
for the further suppression Of lot
teries.
OF the obstruction OF mails by strikes
the postmaster general says: I'm my
last report | 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 for Legislative determine
tion of the definition of mall train.
Such legislation would be OF great adj
vantage tO the postal service"
one OF the most important and inter-
esting features Of the report is its dis
, cussion Of the class matter, In his last
report he referred to the great dlspro-
portion I'm the growth of second class
mail matter He has made "A thorough
investigation during the year. upon
,tfIa Iuh h.a asfrlss al nf uIl fhly
upon my mind Is the conviction that
the statutes and prccedents upon which
business now rests are defective; that
they embOdy the only great abuse at
present existing In the postal service.
and that as this business ls growing
all the time some remedy should be APP
piled"
lie gives figures for the past six years,
showing that In 1883 the weight OF sec
Ond class matter carried was $4,000 600
pounds. and In 1893 u was 256 0O0. .00O.
! During the year 1894 there was carried
l5t 900, 900 pounds OF all mail matter
of which 29g. 600, 600 pounds was second
class matter. The cost OF carrying Sec
ond class matter was $50, 800, 900, while
nj the rate OF one cent n pound, cOl-
! lectons were 81, 5G7 600. and $500 900 spe-
clal local rates in carrier cities. leaving
a net loss Ia the government OF $l6,-
lbl.OOO,
II do not advocate a change OF rates
now upon legitimate newspapers and
periodical magazines. My purpose Is u
urge the withdrawal OF these postage
/ rates from pretended periodicals that
are now improperly enjoying them.
] "Thc most conspicuous class OF these
periodicals are what are now generally
| known as social papers and covered
| books. They are In no sense serial
/ however. except In name, being usually
/ given some such general designation ns
| The Flreslde Series. The Detective IA
| brnry.' or some other title OF like char
actor. They are nothing but books
pure and simple ana many OF them
very trashy books az that, each one diH-
| tiuct In itself series never being de-
voted To anything In particular hnNlns
few subscribers and with no real sub
Hcrlption price"
The postmaster general does not raw
or the postal telegraph, system ndNo'
Gated by his predecessor Conditions