Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-11-26
BTSSEI.L'S REPORT.
Synopsis Of the Views of the
Postmaster General.
NO UsE FOR A POSTAL TELEGRAPH,

And Would Avoid Other Experimeufs Ike
Rural Free Del1very-Conments ON the
Abuse ~ second Glass Matter Transporta-
tion-Remarks ON Civil Service Reform
which II Radically Approvea-The New
Iasue Of Bonds.
WASHINGTON, Nov. a6. - Postmaster
General w. S. Bissell has submitted to
the president his annual report for the
year ended June 80, 1894 He briefly out
lines the policy of the department in the
following: Sin general 1 would recon.
mend that the first and most important
thing to be done is to revise the law as to
second-class matter SO as to place the post
Office department. Immediately upon q
self-sustaining basis. (s) Avoid expensive
experiments like the postal telegraph,
rural free delivery, etc. (3) Develop the
postal service on existing lines of adj
ministration, viz: Extend free delivery
In cities that now enjoy it; accord it to
towns already entitled to it under the
law; quicken railroad transportation "a
Revise and reclassify organization of the
railway mail service and reclassify clerks
in postoffices. (5) Provide for district
supervision of all postal affairs"
Wants q Mail Train Defined.
After references to the effect of the de-
preston on the postal system,a recapitula-
ton of the financial affairs Of the depart
ment and a discussion of the war by the
postof1ice on the mail matter of bond in
vestment' companies: Bissell says in
speaking of the obstruction of the mails
by strikes: SIN my last report 1 called
attention to the necessity for legislation
such as then was and is now recommend
ed by the superintendent of the railway
mail service for the punishment of train
wrecking and for Legislative deterlnina-
ton of the definition of mail train
Such legislation would be of great ad-
vantage to the postal service"
Attack on s.Second Glass; Matter.
The most interesting and important
part of Bissells report is his reference
quite at length-to the matter that is sent
through the mails under the present law
as second class" He says that law is
greatly abused and gives figures for the
past six years showing that in 1855 the
weight of second-class matter carried was
143, 100000 pounds and in 1893 it was $780,
100000. During the year 1894 there was
carried i5l 900, 900 pounds of all mail mat
ter, of which 299,0o0,00o pounds was sec
ond-class matter, the total cost being $685.
201. 512. an average of 8 cents a pound
The cost of carrying the sccond-class
matter was $50, 800, 600, while at the rate
of cent a pound the collections were g.
427, 900, and $500 900 special local rates in
carrier cities.
How the Law Is Abused.
He says he does not advocate "a change
of rates now upon legitimate newspapers
and periodical magazines. My purpose is
to urge the withdrawal of low postage
rates from the large cities and the pre-
tended periodicals that are now eajoyiny
them. The most conspicuous class of
these pretended periodicals is what is now
generally known as serial papcr-covered
books. They are in no sense serial. how
ever, except in name. Being usually given
some such general designation as the
"Fireside Series. the Detective Library"
or some other title of like character. They
are nothing but books, pure and simple.
and many of them very trashy books at
that.
Two Others That Should BE barred
Another class of publications now
largely enjoying the low postage accorded
to second-class matter is what has got to
be known as the house organ, being sim
ply paper or pamphlet devoted mainly to
the advertising of some mercantile man.
ufacturing or other establishment, but pur-
porting to be devoted to trade, claiming
a bona fide list of subscribers, and NOM
inally conforming to other conditions of
second-class matter. The bogus trade pa
per, not devoted to the advertising of any
particular house, is another illustration of
the same abuse of the mails
He favors change in the law limiting
the low rate to fraternal and benevolent
society publications and legitimate news
papers and magazines.