The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1895-11-30

Annual Report Of Postmaster General

washington. Nov. H-Postmaster-C7er
crnl Wilson. IN his annual report OF the OPP
Grafton - the post office department. ro-
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 1895 10 make an unusual
~ wide gap between revenues and expcndi-
fures II IL grntifying. however. 70 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. He ascribes tho
gross abuse OF second-ciass rates OF post
ago ms the chief cause or the yearly deficit
I'm postal revenues. He repeats and In
doracs the recommendation Of his prede-
csssorN. Bissell and Wannmakor. for m
amendment OF the law In regard 10 the
transportation OF second-class matter AMI
says:
1T r. the estimate OF the department that
two-thirds in weight OF all the matter car
lied In the mails In. under existing laws
and clasnifications. carried a. eeccnd-cles=
matter. ut the rate OF one cent a pound.
where II n not actually carried postage
free. The aggregate weight Of second-clnss
matter In tho year 1894 was 299.0 900
pounda During tho last year II increased
20 over si2.oO0.ooo. a growth OF over i3.oo0.-
900 pounds. Dcducting the weight Of that
the matter which Is circulated among sub
Fcribers free OF postage In the respective
counties OF publication. estimated 70 be
tG.S20.lS5 pounds. there remained 26a.Sls,-
ss2 pounds. which returned. at the rate OF
enc cent per pound. a revenue or s2.ebS.-
ii3S2 The average cost TO the department
or transporting and handling this matter
Is estimated at eight cents per pound.
Speaking OF the extension OF civil service
rules TO letter carriers ne says; An In
dispensable basis OF good service has been
laii by placing the carrier force under this
civil service system. and no effort should be
spared by the department 10 insure high
morale In this force and 10 familarlzo the
idea among individual carriers that as they
enter the service by merit system alone,
80. likewise, they remain In II by no tenure.
but by faithful and efficient discharge Of
duty. which demands self-respect and hon.
orable living. II Is inevitable that a Few In
dividnals here and there should interpret
his stability OF employment as a personal
privilege. encouraging nlovenly service and
insubordination 10 superior officers. rather
than reform based on considerations OF a
better public service: and such instances
have occurred and will doubtless continue
10 occur. even after the full meaning OF tho
civil service system Is understood and hc-
cepted. But II is gratifying TO report that
M a whole. and by such overwhelming pre-
dominance as TO make the exceptions more
prominent. the army OF letter carriers Is al
ways faithful. efficient and honorable"
The postmaster general desires civil
service methods 10 be carried still further
and higher Ia the post Office department.
He says: Two OF my assistants are
charged. each. with the expenditure OF
over A0,0o0.000 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. II such officials are TO DO the real
heads OF this bureau. intimately acquaint-
ed with all the machinery and working or
them. competent 10 direct and able TO IN
fuse their own intelligence and zeal among
their subordnatea. they should have ten
ure at least as assured from the mutations
and chances OF political contest as those
eubordinates. The continuity OF the de-
partment should be preserved In changes
or administration. not only along the limo
OF It's subordinate and separate service, but
In that larger grasp or It's history. It's daily
work and It's heaithful progress which Is
found alone with those who direct and con-
troll It's chief bureaus. Iconcur, therefore,
In the judgment OF one OF my recent pre-
deccssors. that at least three OF the as
sistnnt postmaster generals should held
their Offices by civil service or merit ten
ure, and not by political tenure. / re-
frain from Offering like opinion as TO the
fourth assistant postmaster general, be-
cause foui th-class postmasters, whose APP
pointment ~ primarily allotted to him. are
yet outside OF that tenure.
The question OF extending civil service
methods TO the selection or fourth-class
poatmasters has naturally received my
attention since l have been mt tho head
OF this department. IL IL beset with dir
nculties. which my experience as a repre-
sentative In congress OF a large country
district, during three changes OF admins
traiien. hrc;.e.t home ~ s.ss frioru cienrfy
than they might appear to a Theoretical
reformer, or 10 the representative of n city
constituency. / have studied vnrIous hills
introduced In both branches OF Congress
la recent years. and welcomed suggestions
from other quarters. But ! do not find
myself able TO make. as yet, any specific
recommendations on this important sub
ject In the line OF tho legislation which has
been proposed.
Tho order which you have recently an
proved. providing that when the postmas-
ter general shall consolidate with a free
delivery Office any other post oflice, such
consolidation shall carry into the class
lied service al the free delivery Office the
post Office department roster OF employees
OF the office consolidated, including the
postmaster, may be accepted as the boz
ginning and foundation not only OF q bet
ter postal service OF the public, a better
and more bnsiness-llke accounting 10 this
department. but also a wise extension OF
the civil service system to postmnsters
IL IL my purpose TO proceed under the au-
thority OF this order as discrectly an can.
and ia tire long run as FAR as experience
VIII justify, no as TO secure these COM
mendnble results"