The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-11-25

WASHINGTON, Nov. 2.-Postmaster
General Wilson has made his first report
TO the president. The receipts of the
postofiice department for the year end
ing June 80. 1895, were SIG, III, $50, and the
expenditures $50, 799,172 1t is gratifying,
says the report, that a large portion of
the deficiency occurred in the first quar-
ter Of the year, and that revenues are in
creasing with returning prosperity. Mr..
Wilson estimates the revenue for the
year ending June 80, 1885, at $50, 793, 100,
AMI the expenditures at $94S1i ,9UO the
~ ference TO be made up by Congression-
appropriations. Speaking of the de-
-iciency, Mr.. Wilson says:
The regular annual deficiency in the
revenues of the postal service, empha-
slzeu, as II appears TO be, by the unusu-
al amount OF the deficiencies of tie past
two years, may call forth comment from
those who believe the postoffice depart
D2ent should be self-sustaining. But it
should be remembered that the free busi-
ness done by this department for other
branches and departments of the gov
eminent, if paid fer at regular or cost
rates would more than wipe out its de-
1cient les.
Free Delivery.
The postmaster general refers to the
growth of the free delivery service and
says:
Il beIive it is good policy for Congress
and for this department to foster the eX-
tension OF this service by judicious APP
preparations and Judicious administration
of the eight hour law and make letter
carriers "trip and official time reports
actual and truthful records of service.
To bring about this substantial reform,
just alike to the department and the
carriers. as well as to lay the foundation
for other necessary improvements in this
service, a special investigation of the
carrier system was begun under this ad-
ministration, involving a thorough exam
ination into the needs and details of the
system.
To Promote Efficiency.
He concurs in the recommendations of
The first assistant postmaster general for
promoting the efficiency of the work.
Mr.. Wilson reiterates the necessity of
hesitation TO punish train wrecking and
distractions to mail, urged by his prede-
cessor and recommends legislation au-
thorizing the use of private postal CARDS.
Concerning the abuses OF second class
mail matter. Mr.. Wilson says:
Il can add but little TO the reasons Civ
en- by Postmaster General Bissell and
Postmaster General Wanamaker for
amendments to the law as to second
class matter imperitvely needed to save
the postal service from enormous abuses
and consequent enormous loss of re e
nue. which no regulations of the depart
mcnt or watchfulneSs of its officials can
guard against. respectfully and earn
etFly recommend TO Congress a careful
sRtItlny into THIS abuse and such re-
Ssdial legislation as shall he necessary
and effective for its correction.
Upon another feature OF the second
class matter, the postmaster general says:
The volume OF Second-claSs matter pass
ing through the mails increases rapidly
and has reached such proportions as TO
seriously retard the distribution OF mails
in the larger posuotfices and railroad post
offices.
The department, through its local rep
resentatives, has repeatedly urged pub
fishers to separate their publications py
states and routes, where the quantity fer
any one state or territory is sufficient to
Justify it. before sending them TO the
mailing offices, and has endeavored TO
show them that their own interests would
be SubSerVed thereby.
Civil Service Rules.
Postmaster General Wilson says the
civil service rules should be extended
wherever practicable. He says: - The
magnitude and multiplicity of its bust
ness operations, the perfection of the ser
vice, which the people are learning to
demand and expect OF it, and the pal pa
BILE truth that such business operations
cagl be carried on and such perfect ser
VIC rendered only by men trained and
eXpert-an these and many other rea-
sons call for such stability of tenure as
alone can command or beget the requisite
training, skill and enthusiasm. The con-
tinuity of the department should be pre-
served in changes OF administration, not
only along the line of its subordinate and
separate service, but in that larger grasp
of its history, its daily work and its
with those who direct and control its
chief bureaus. | concur in the judgment
of one of my recent predecessors, that at
least three of the assistant postmaster
generals should hold their office by civil
service or merit tenure and not by polit-
ical tenure. l refrain from offering d like
suggestion as 20 the fourth postmaster
general, because fourth-claSs offices
whose appointment is primarily allotted
TO him are yet outside OF that tenure.
''Ihe question of extending civil service
nc n Of -pl "a
fJostmasterS has naturally received my
attention since I have been at the head
OF this department But I do not find
myself able to make, as yet any specific
Recommendations on this important sub
ject in the line of the legislation which
has been proposed.
THE order which you have recently APP
proved providing that when the post
master general shall consolidate with a
free delivery office any other postoffice
su@ consolidation shall carry into the
EIt the poStoffice department roster of
employees of the office consolidated, in
Guiding the postmaster, may be accepted
as the beginning and foundation not only
OF better postal service for the public
a better and more businesslihe account
ing to this department, but also a wise
extension OF the civil service system TO
postmasters. 1t is my purpose to proceed
under the authority of this order as dis
creetiy as / can.-and in the long run as
far as experience will justify, as TO
secure these commendable results.
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