The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1894-12-08


year. The expenditures increase stead |
lily and necessarily with the growth
and needs of the country, so that the
deficiency is greater or less in any
year depending upon the volume of re-
ceipts.
THE MAIN REMEDY.
The postmaster general states that
this deficiency is unnecessary and might
be obviated at once if the law regulat-
ing rates upon mail matter of the sec
ond class was modified. The rate re-
ceived for the transmission Of this sec
end class matter is 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 extension of the mean
ing of the terms from time to time has
| admitted to the privileges intended for
legitimate newspapers and periodicals
a surprising range of publications and
created abuses the cost of which
amount in the aggregate to the total
! deficiency of the postoffice department.
Pretended newspapers are started by
! business houses for the mere purpose
of advertising goods, complying with
] TIE law III lOtAll only anu QlStOuliiGltlB
the publications as soon as the period
of advertising is over. Sample copies
of pretended newspapers are issued in
great numbers for like purpose only.
The result is a great loss of revenue
! to the government besides it's humil-
iating use as an agency to aid in car
rying out the scheme of a business
house to advertise it's goods by means
/ Of fpiq rfxr
houses and the regular and legitimate
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 three times this 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 postmaster general predicts that
If the law be so amended as to eradicate
these abuses, not only will the post
office department not show a deficiency,
but he believes that in the near future
all legitimate newspapers and period
cals will be properly transmitted
through the mails to their subscribers
free of cost. invite your prompt con-
sideration of this subject and fully in
dorse the views of the postmaster gen
eral.
STATISTICS.
The total number of postoffices in the
United States on the Goth day of June,
1894 was S. O5, an increase of /, 403 over
the preceding year OF these 3,42S We're
presidential. an increase in that class of
6S over the preceding year. Six hun
dred and ten cities and towns are pro-
vided 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 ex-
pense of free delivery for the current
fiscal year will be more than $12, 300 900
and under existing legislation this item
of expenditure is subject to constant
increase 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.
During the year $50 additional domes-
tic money order offices We're established.
The total number of these offices at
the close of the year was 1855 There
were IA ,40S, 0n money orders issued dur
ing the year, being an increase over the
preceding year of ,S06. The value of
these orders amounted to $13S, 793, $40 40.
an increase Of $11, 212, 1854. There were
also issued during the year postal notes
amounting to $12,649 094.55. During the
year 21S international money order of
fees were added to those already es-
tablished, making total of 1925 such
Offices in operation June so, 1894. The
number of international money orders
issued during the year was 917, 1923, a de-
crease of 1873, 172; and their value was
SIS, 792, 45531, a decrease in amount of
81, $40 3S2.55. The number of orders paid
was 361, $50, an increase over the proceed
ing year of GO, 1868, and their value was
, $656S, 493.78 an increase of $1,2S5, 11S
From the foregoing statements, it ap-
pears that the total issue of money
orders and postal notes for the yeal
/ amounted to 1855, 235, 1895. The mum.
, Der of letters and packages mailed during
> the year for special delivery was 3,436
E 07O The special delivery stamps USED
= upon these letters and packa gel
a amounted to $34S,697 The messengers
S fees paid for their delivery amounted
e to 1921, 200.70, leaving a balance in favor
of the government of $50, 4S7.3O. The re
port shows most gratifying results il
the way of economies worked out with
out affecting the efficiency of the posta
service. These consist in abrogation o
efaa r,,cbfp e,,beidxr c0nfracfe 10 latin,