River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1895-11-28
VITAL AFFAIRS.
Annual Report of Postmaster General
wilson

hitHOn.
washington, Nov. 25-Postmaster-Gen-
eral Wilson. in his annual report of the OPP
era rion of the post Office department, re-
marks that the financial and Industrial de-
preston which has seriously affected the
revenues of the postal service for the past
two years and disappointed the estimates
OF his predecessors extended far enough
into the fiscal year 1889 to make an unusual
~ wide gap between revenues and eXpendi-
lures Il is gratifying, however. TO report
that a large part of this deficiency occurred
in the first quarter of the year, and that
since then the revenues of the department
have reflected the general returning pros
perity OF the country. tie ascribes the
gross abuse of Second-class rates of post
age as the chief cause of the yearly deficit
in postal revenues. He repeats and IN
dorses the recommendation OF his pTede-
cessors. Bissen and Wanamaker. for an
amendment of the law in regard to the
transportation of second-class matter and
says:
1T is the estimate of the department that
two-thirds in weight OF all the matter car
lied In the mails is, under existing laws
and classiications. carried as second-class
matter. at the rate of one cent a pound,
where IL is not actually carried postage
free. The aggregate weight OF second-clasS
matter in the year 1894 was I's.OOV,UOO
pounds During the last year ii increased
10 over 3i2.000, 600. a growth of over l3,OO0,-
Coo pounds. Deducting the weight of that
which is known as county rec" being
the matter which is circulated among sub
scribers free of postage in the respective
counties of publication, estimated 10 be
46.S29,iS5 pounds. there remained 261.Sl4.-
81 pounds, which returned. at the rate OF
one cent per pound, revenue or s2,6as.-
1852. The average cost to the department.
OF transporting and handling this matter
is estimated at eight cents per pound.
Speaking OF the extension OF civil service
rules TO letter carriers, he says: An in
dispensable basis of good service has been
lai1 by placing the carrier force under the
civil service system, and no effort should De
spared by the department to insure high
morale in this force and 10 familiarize tlie
idea among individual carriers that as they
enter the service by merit system alone,
so, likewise, they remain in II by no tenure,
but by faithful and efficient discharge of
duty, which demands self-respect and hon
orable living. 1t is Inevitable that few in
dividuals here and there should interpret
his stability OF employment as a PEI sonal
privilege, encouraging sioveniy service ami
INSTRUMENTATION 70 superior officers, rather
than reform based ON considerations Of
better public service, and such Instances
have occurred and Will doubtless continue
TO occur. even after the fun meaning of tie
civil service system is understood and &C
cepted. But ii is gratifying to report that
a whole. and by such overwhelming pre-
dominance as to make the exceptions more
-
WAYS faithful. efficient and honorable"
The postmaster general desires civil
service methods to be carried still further
and higher in the post Office department.
lie says: Two of my assistants are
charged, each, with the expenditure of
over 100000 90 annually. together with the
management and discipline of tens of
thousands of employees. The duties of the
other two are not less onerous and multi
pick. If such officials are TO be the real
heads of this bureau, intimately aCquaint-
ed with all the machinery and working Of
them, competent to direct and able TO m
fuse their own Intelligence and zeal among
their subOrdinates, they should have a ten
ure at least as assured from the mutations
and chances Of political contest as those
subordinates. The continuity of the de-
partment should be preserved in changes
of administration, not only along the line
of it's subordinate and separate service, but
in that iaI ger grasp OF its history, its daily
work and its heaithful progress, which is
found alone with those who direct and con-
troll it's cher bureaus. l concur, therefore,
In the judgment of one of my recent pre-
decessors, that at least three of the as
sistaut postmaster generals should held
their Offices by clVI service OF meI it ten
uTe, and not by a political tenure. l re-
frain from offering a like opinion as to the
fourth assistant postmaster general. be-
cause -four .h-ciass postmasters, whose ap-
polntment is primarily allotted to him, are
yet outside of that tenure
The question of extending civil service
methods 10 the selection of fourth-cIass
postmasters has naturally received my
attention since 1 have been at the head
Of this department. 1t is beset with diff
nculties, whict my experience p 5 a repre-
sentative in congress Of large country
district, during three changes OF adminis-
tration, brought home TO me more clearly
than .they might appear to a theoretical
TeforIner, or 10 the representative of city
constituency. 1 have studied various bills
introduced in both branches of congress
in recent years. and welcomed suggestions
from other quarters. But ! do not md
myself able to make. as yet, any specinc
recommendations on this important sub
iect in the line of the legislation which has
been proposed.
The order which you have recently ap-
proved. providing that when the postmas-
ter general shall consolidate with free
delivery office any other post office, such
consolidation shall carry into the class
fled service at the free delivery Office the
post office department roster of employees
OF the Office consolidated, including the
postmaster, may be accepted as the be-
ginning and foundation not only OF a bet
ter postal service Of the public, a better
and more business-like accounting to this
department, but also a wise extension of
the civil service system TO postmasters.
Ii is my purpose to proceed under the au-
thority Of this order as discreetly as / can.
and i'm the long run as far as experience
will justify, so as TO secure these COM
me al e.