The Portland daily press., 1894-11-27
POsTMAsTER's REPORT.
Refers Feelingly to the Large De-
ficiency.

Come Properly Within the Limits
Washington, November 26.-Postmaster
General Bissells annual report contains a
number of novel suggestions and recon-
mendations. He outlines the policy he
favors as follows:
'41.-In general, would recommend taat
the first and most important thing to De
done is to revise the law as to second class
mail matter. so as 10 place the Post once
department Immediately upon a self-sus-
tanning basis.
'2.-Ayoid expensive exper imets, like the
postal telegraph rural Tree delivery. ETC.
''3.-Develop the postal service of exist
ing lines of administration, viz: (a) Extend
free delivery in cities that now enjoy it; 70,
according to towns already entitled to IL
under the law; (c) quicken railroad trans
portation.
ss4.-Revise and reclassify the organiza-
tion of railway mail service and reclasslfy
clerks in post Offices.
.s5.- Provide for district supervision of all
postal affairs by appointment of expert
postal officials from tho classified service"
FINANCIAL.
The report states that the deficiency in
DOStal T6FSuuoE IOA t1iO 9OoA SsANSN o~--~s>>
80, 1894, was S9,243,9 1886. The total revenue
derived was S5,0S0,4i9. and the expenditures
$S4.324, Ala.
For the current fiscal year Mr.. Blsseil
estimates that the expenditures will amount
to SOC. .399, 4S5. leaving an estimated de1lclen-
cy of S.. .97l, 1856, and his estimates for the
fiscal year ending June 80, 1896, place ex-
penditures at SOL ,059,2S3. and the deficiency
at only S4,15l,s76.
Mr.. Bissell shows that the deficiency Tor
the last fiscal year would have been much
larger If the department had not curtalled
expenses to the extent of S16,619.C0o. This
was accomplished, however, without detrl-
meut TO the postal service.
The re ceipts of ordinary postal revenue
we're actually less by per cent than for
the preceding year.
CAUSE OF DEFICIENCY.
Mr.. Bissell ascribes the falling off in
revenue to the business depression. He be-
lieves that the rostal service should ba self
sustaining, and he holds that the annual
deficiency is caused by the undue amount
of mail matter transmi tied at the second
class rates of one cent a pound. Mr.. Bissell
states that advertisers, book publishers
and others have taken advantage of the
broad construction of what constitutes
matter of the second class, by sending cut
their advertisements and publications IN
der the technical disguise of newspapers
and periodicals, and have thus secured the
benefit OF the lower rate of postage.
It now costs the government eight time as
much TO carry second class matter as the
revenue derived IRON it. The volume of
second class business grew from l43,000,000
pounds in 1888 to 256. .0O( 600 in 1898. 1t is
estimated that during the last fiscal year
out of about Isl, 600, 900, pounds of mail mat
ter Of all classes carried, 229,9, 9,9990OO. or
nearly two.thirds. went under the second
class rates, leaving a net loss to the govern
ment on its transportation of S16.973,0 600.
This circulation applies to transportation
alone. The separate cost of distribution
and delivery Mr.. Bissell does not attempt
to estimate.
WHAT HE WOULD EXCLUDE.
The report says that the most conspicu
Gus class of the pretended periodicals which
improperly enjoy low postage rates are
serial 2aper-covered books, which are given
some such designation as "Fireside Series'
or Detective Library
Anot her class of publications which Mr..
Bissell would exclude from the benefits of
second class rates are the shouse organs"
papers Or pamphlets devoted mainly to adj
vertisng soIIe mercantile, manufacturing
or other establishment, but purrorting to
be devoted to trade. Still another objection
able publication is the ''bogus trade paper.''
consisting of a lot of advertising circulars.
with a little worthless literary matter
thrown in.''
Mr.. Bissell suggests that II it be the policy
of Congress 10 continue the privileges of
second class rates to benevolent or frater-
nal societies, then there should be an
amendment of the law limiting this rate to
them and to legitimate newspapers and
legitimate periodical magazines.
Mr.. Bissell makes q strong argument for
civil service reform in tho Post Office De-
partment. He contends that it should be
extended wherever practicable: that un-
precedented efficiency has been attained
through its workings. and that,it is a stimu-
lus to the best w ork. He suggests that he
lower grades-the fourth class-of postmast-
ers, might be included within the benefit of
the Civil Service law.
The Postmaster Generals attention is tco
much engrossea by appointments. says Mr..
Bissell, and he maintains that the improve
ment in postal facilities is retarded under
the present spoils system. He leaves no
doubt that he will favor the suggested popu-
lar vote as the means out of the difficulty
in cases where there is more than one can
didate for postmaster.