Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1894-12-07

.birh we're the basis Of calculation
yeaIIt ', rnrrpnt year, being less than es-
sted the deficiency for the current
pips will be pondingly greater,
ySneb the postmaster-general states
Ioee97b The latest indications are so favor
4na' hat he confidently predicts an in
spse of ut least s per cent in the
9e.annes of the current year over those
l n the last year.
The expenditures increase steadily
ID necessarily with the growth and
ueds of the country SO that the de-
eo;enrv is greater or less In any year
! 1ooinanding upon the volume OF receipts.
W. general states that this
iia6ciency is unnecessary and might be
aks,,;ated at once if the law regulating
stos mon mail matter of the second
s az was modified. The rate received
70 The transmission of this second-class
after is | cent per pound, while the
m w. ri such transmission to the govern
IN ont is eight times that amount. In
No. General terms OF the law this rate
. Wv newspapers and periodicals.
THE LAW ABUSED.
The extension OF the meaning of the
,orms from time to time have admitted
" the privileges intended for legitimate
uowspapers and periodicals a surprising
nonoe of publications, and created abuses
.Se cost of which amount in the aggre-
.ata to the total deficiency of the post
ss%ce department. Pretended newspa-
U Uers are started by business houses for
he mere purpose OF advertising goods,
sononlviug with the law in form only,
and discontinuing the publications as
soon as the period of advertising is over.
SAMPLE copies of pretended newspapers
are issued in great numbers for a like
nnrpose only. The result is a great loss
II revenue to the government besides its
bnmiliating use as an agency to aid in
arriving ont the scheme of a business
bouse to advertise its goods by means
II a trick upon both its rival houses
and the regular and legitimate news
naners. Paper-coyered literature, con-
FFisting mainly of trashy novels, to the
avtent of many thousands of tons, is
cent through the mails at | cent a
mound, while the publishers OF standard
works are required to pay times that
amount in sending their publications.
An abuse consists in the Tree carriage
through the mails OF hundreds of tons
Of seed and grain uselessly distributed
through the department OF agriculture.
The acknowledgements predicts that if
the law be SO amended as to eradicate
these abuses, not only will the pOstotfiCe
department not show a deficiency, but
he believes that in the near future all
legitimate newspapers, periodicals and
magazines will be properly transmitted
through the mails to their subscribers
free OF cost. ] invite your prompt con-
sderation OF this subject, and fully in
dorse the views of the pOstmaster-gen-
eral. The total number of postotices in
the United States on the Both day OF
June. 1894, was $500, an increase OF
1903 over the preceding year. OF these
1923 were presidential, an increase III
that class OF IS over the preceding year.
Six hundred and ten cities and towns
are provided with free delivery, SO other
cities and towns entitled to this service
under the law have not been accorded it
on account OF insufficient funds. The
expense of free delivery of the current
fiscal year will be more than Tl2, 800, 900,
and under existing legislation this item
of expenditure is subject to constant in
crease. The estimated cost of rural free
delivery generally is so very large that
it ought not to be considered in the
present condition of affairs.
There are connected with the post
office establishment 32,66l employees
who are in the classified service. This
includes many who have been classified
on the suggestion OF the postmaster
general. He states that another years
experience at the head of the depart
ment serves only to strengthen his con-
viction as to the excellent working OF
the civil service in this branch OF the
public service.