The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-12-04

case in favor Of the ownership and mana yemen
by the Government Of the penal Institutions |
which Federal prisoners are confined. simpl
desire to, again nrge former recommeudation
on the subject and Ia particularly call the atten
ton Of the Congress To- that part OF the report q
the Secretary OF War in which he states that tn
military prison at Fort L~.eayenworth, Kan, ca
be turned over to the Government as "A prise
for Federal %convicts without the least dinfcult
and with an actua. saving of money from ever
Pending a more complete reform | hope tina
by the adoption Of the suggestion OF the Score
G irrs 6 81 M a t the s essy i'e enre e a Is Hs i sonvic is h ;,
the Government of the United states.
THE POSTAL SERVICE.
The report of the Postmaster eneral present.
n comprehensive statement of the operations o
the Post ONCE Department for the last hsca
vsaF: The receipts OF the department dyrin'
expenditures to Ss4.324.il4.I5.
The transactions OF the postal service indicat,
with barometr:c certainty the fluctuations in th'
business Of the country. lnasmuch, therefore
as business complications continued to exis
throughout the last year to an unforeseen extent
il is not surprising that the deficiency OF rev
enue to meet the expenditures OF the Post ono,
Department. which was estimated in advance a
about eight million dollars. should be exceeded
by nearly one and a quarter million dollars. III,
ascertained revenues OF the last year. which
we're the basi. Of calculation for the current
Tor the current year vii! BE- corr-spondingl
greater, though the Postmaster-tienera state,
he confidently predicts an increase Of at least
eight per cent. in the revenues Of the current
year over those OF the last year.
The expenditures increase steadily and neces-
try. so that the deficiency is greater or les. in
any, year depending u1onthe volume of receipts.
fciency is unnecessary and might be obviatetl
At once II the law regulating rates upon mail
rate received for the transmission OF this sec
ond-class matter is one cent per pound. while
ment is eight times that amount. In the gen
eral terms OF the. law this rate cover, newsps-
The meaning of these terms from time
IL 1i.ces ,im in,en nfys f sdmi issI,,us ,G naw.Di priv:
publications and created abuses the cost Of
which amount N the sggregate to the total
tended newspapers are started by business
houses for the mere purpose Of advertising
discontinuing the publications as soon as the
period OF advertising Is over. Sample copies"
OF pretended newspapers are, issued in great
numbers for a ike purpose only. The result is
II great loss OF revenue TO the Government. be-
sides its hnmil.ating use as an agency to aid in
advertise its goods by means Of a trick upon
both It's rival houses and the regular and lcsiti-
consisting mainly OF trashy novels. to the extent
Of many thousands OF tons IS sent through the
mails at one cent per pound. while the pub
fishers Of standard works are 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 % seed and grain uselessly distributed
through the department OF Agriculture. Tie
POstmaster-G General predicts that il the law lie
50 amended as To- eradicate these abuses not
only will the Post ONCE Department show no
deficiency. but he believes that in the near fu-
magazines might he. properly transmitted
through the mails to their subscribers free OF
cost. | invite your prompt consideration OF this
subject, and fully endorse the views OF the
POstmaster-Genrral,
The total number of Post Orices in the United
States on the :iOth day OF June, 1894. was
60.sOJ. an increase Of 400 over the preceding
year. OF those 3.+2S were Presidential. an in
crease in that class Of Us over the preceding
year.
Six hundred and ten cities and towns are pro.
vided with free delivery. Ninety-three other
cities and towns entitled TO this service under
the law have not been accorded II on account
OF insufficient funds. The expense OF free de-
livery for the current fiscal yea will be more
than l 1900 900, and under existing legislation
this item Of expenditure is subject to constant
Increase. The estimated cost OF rural free de-
livery generally is 80 very large that it ought
affair.
During the year $40 additional domestic mon
e y-order offices were established. h etotal num-
Der OF these offices at the close of the year was
1924. There were u, i0i,O+l money orders is
sued during the year, being an increase over the
preceding year of9a 4.306. The value NJ these or
ders amounted to sl3s, T03.57g.4g.a an increase OF
$ll.2l7.l45.s4.. There were also issued during
the year postal notes amounting to Sl".d+9,-
During the year 2ls internaiional mouey-or-
der Offices, were added 10 those already estab-
lished, making a Total Of 2,b.5 such Offices in
49, ~ "hAt ~ AnpHs hE IN bt inter-
national money orders issued during the year
ISIS a decrease IN number OF l~3s,i7d;
IN amount Of S.. 5i9. as..5 The number Of aT'
ders paid was 'ibl,lbO. an Increase over the pre-
,eding year Of 90, !63, and their value was So
Sns, i03. 4, an increase Of 81 ,2S5.l lis.
From the foregoing statements IL appears that
he total issue OF money orders and postal notes
for the year amounted TO sos. 235. i28. IS.
The number Of letters and packages mailed
turing the year for special delivery was 3, 4:6.-
go. This slecial delivery stamps used upon
lnfSe letters and DAckAQeA amounted ia &44l- !
i9I, The messengers lees paid for their de-
VERY amounted 70 s26i .OS.1O, leaving a
Dalance in favor OF tie Government OF Ss9,-
rs 100.
The report shows most Gratifying results in
Getting the eficiency OF the postal service. These
IN the abrogatiOn of ship subsidy
Isrts and f in ~ so ot anal ana .Isnsp1Fts'ion con,
ised IN the service. amounting in all to sl6,Gi5,-
This report also contains = valuable contribu-
ion 10 The history OF the Universal Postal
mon, an arrangement which amounts practi-
or The entire civilized world. Special a%ttsntion
; directed 10 this subject at this time. in view ~
fact that the next congress Of the union will
hat timely action will be taken in the direction
= PerLsct!ng preparations for that event.
Postn Sster-tieneral rensws the suggestion .
nAde IN a previous report that the department
be increased to the eKtent'0f Great.
nairs. and IN this suggestion / fully concur,
lheFe are nov connected with the Post Once
SlAulsnmsnl o%sooi employees who are in the
lAssined service. This includes many who have
cen classified upon the suggestion OF the Post-
lastsr-GenerAl. He states that another years
a. the head OF the department serves
MY 70 strengthen the conviction as TO the ex-
ellent working Of the civil service law in this
ranch OF the public service,
MORE BATTLE SHIPS RECOMMENDED.
Attention Is called 10 the report OF the Secre-
lry OF the NAyy, which shows very gratifying
rogress "a the construction OF ships for our new
aNy: Anthe vessels now building, including
he three torpedo boats authorized al the last
aston OF Congress and excepting the hrst-clAss
attle ship Iowa. Will probably be Completed
nTing the coming fsCaG year.
Inc estiHAtss for the increase Of the navy for
le year ending June 80. 1886. are large. but
Aey lnelaae practically the entire cum nsees-
~ 70 complete and equip all the new ships not
o. IN commission. % that unless new shfus ara
The aUurUuFiaEf ana for III