Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-12-03

q
lion dollars The ascertained revenues of
the last year. which were the basis Of cal
culation for the current year. being less
than estimated, the deficiency for the cur
rent year will be correspondingiy greater.
though the Postmaster General states that
the latest Indications are so favorable that
he confidently predicts an increase Of at
least per cent In the revenues Of the cur
rent year over those of last year.
The expenditures increase steadily and
necessarily with the growth and needs Of
the country, 30 that the deficiency is great
| er or less In any year depending upon the
volume Of receipts
The POSTMASTER General states that this
| deficiency is unnecessary. and might be
obviated at once II the law regulating rates
upon mail matter OF the second class was
modified. The rate received for the trans
mission OF this secondclass matter Ia one
| cent per pound, while the cost Of such
| Transmission to the government Is eight
| times that amount. In the general terms
| Of the law this rate covers newspapers and
| periodicals. The extensions Of the mean
| Ing OF these terms from time to time have
admitted to the privileges Intended for
| legitimate newspapers and periodicals a
| surprising range OF publications, and ere
| ated abuses, the cost OF which amount in
| the aggregate to the total deficiency Of the
Post once Department. Pretended news
papers are started by business houses for
| the nero purpose OF advertising. goods
| complying with the law In form only, and
| disseminating the publications as soon as
| the period OF advertising is over. Sample
| copies OF pretended newspapers are issued
| in great numbers for a like purpose only.
| The result is a great loss of revenue to the
| IL hmm I'm
an agency to aid in carrying out the
scheme OF a business house to advertise
| it's goods by means of a trick upon both
| its rival houses and the regular and legiti-
mate newspapers. Paper-covered literature
| 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 publishers 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 of seed and
grain uselessly distributed through the
Department OF Agriculture. The Post
master General predicts that IL the law be
| so amended as to eradicate these abuses
| not only will the Post Office Department
| show no deficiency, but he believes that in
| the near future all legitimate newspapers
~
| transmitted through the mails to their
| subscribers free OF cost. / invite your
| prompt consideration of this subject, and
| fully indorse the views Of the Postmaster
General
The total number OF post offices in the
United States on the Both day of June, 1894,
| was 6Y,SO5. an increase of 1,4O3 over the
| preceding year. or these 3,42S were presi-
| Dental. increase in that class of 6S
| over the preceding year.
Lack Of Funds for. Free Delivery.
Six hundred and ten cities and towns are
| provided with free delivery. Ninety-three
| other cities and towns entitled to this serv-
| ice under the law have not been accorded
| it on account of insufficient funds. The ex-
pense of free delivery for the current fiscal
| year will be more than 81, 100000, and I'M
| der existing legislation this item of expcndi-
| ture Is subject to constant Increase The
| estimated cost Of rural free delivery gen.
orally Is SO very large that 1t ought not
| to be considered in the present condition
| of affairs. During the year $50 additional
| domestic money order offices were estab-
| lished. The total number of these offices
at the close Of the year was 1924. There
| were 1890. O4l money orders issued during
| the year. being an increase over the pre-
| ceding year of 994. 306 The value Of these
| orders amounted to S13S, 793, $50. 40, an in
crease Of s11.217.145.s4
There We're also issued during the year
| postal notes amounting to $12649 O0l5 Is.
| During the year 21S international money
| order offices were added to those already
| established. making a total Of 2,625 such
| offices in operation June 30. 1894. The num-
| Der of international money orders issued
during the year was 1893. a decrease In
number Of 13S,176; and their value was
$13. 192. 1881. decrease in amount Of
$2.o49, 3S2. 55. The number Of orders paid
was 361, $50. an increase over the preo eding
year Of 60. 263; and their value was $685.,
493TS. an increase of s1,2S5, 11S.OS. From
the foregoing statements ii appears hat
| the total issue of money orders and postal
notes for the year amounted to S165. 235.-
1885.
The number of letters and packages mall
ed during the year for special delivery
was 3, 1863 The special delivery stamps
| used upon these letters and packages
| amounted to $343, 69I The messengers fees
paid for their delivery amounted to $751;
209. 20, leaving a balance IN favor Of the
government Of $50. 4S7 80. The report shows
most gratifying results in the way Of econ
omies worked out, without affecting the
efficiency Of the postal service. These con-
sist In the abrogatfon or steamship slb--
sidy contracts, reletting of mail transpor-
tation contracts and in the cost and
amount of supplies used In the service.
amounting in all to s16.619,O47.42.
should Prepare for the Great Postal
Congress-.
This report also contains a valuable con-
tribution to the history of the universal
postal union, an arrangement which
amounts practically to the establishment OF
one postal system for the entire civilized
world. Special attention is directed to this
| subject at this time, In view of the fact
that the next Congress Of the union will
meet IN Washington in 1897, and 1t is hoped
that timely action will be taken in the d.
rection Of perfecting preparations for that
event The Postmaster General renews the
suggestion made In a previous report that
| the department organization be increased
to the extent Of creating direct district
supervision of all postal affairs, and in this
suggestion fully concur.
There are now connected with the post
Office establishment 3266l employees, who
are in the classified service. This includes
many who have been classified upon the
suggestion Of the Postmaster General. He