Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-11-11
REFORMED CARRIER SERVICE
Annual Report Of til Fist Assistant Post
. mastetAeneral
Various Details OF ,ttse Money Order
Numerous Recommendations.

that the divisions Under his supervision
have saved during the Year $685. SIT. the
principal items being in the saving in the
carrier service by stopping overtime and
reduction of the force, amounting to ST.
800. 600. The salaries to all presidential
rostmasters amounted to $5,597. 200. and
the gross receipts Of post offices SEQ, 53S, O97
The number of presidential postmasters is
3, 491, of which 159 are first class. 100 sec
ond class and 2.632 third class. An tsti-
mate of $17OOO,0O0 for all postmasters is
made for 1897, an increase of 100000
The number of positions brought within
the classified service last year was 1885,
Mr. Jones recommends the abolition of ex-
detrimental free delivery unless $10,000.OOO
is appropriated for the. purpose: also free
rural delivery unless $2o,0oOOOO Is appro-
rriated.
Carriers Removed.
OF the investigation and discharge of
carriers for cause, Mr.. Jones says that SS5
carriers have been removed. The chief
trouble was overtime claims
Eight months have been given to the in
spection, and carriers at Isl offices have
been investigated At these offices there
were 4,O55 carriers of whom 20s were rep
rimanded for various Irregularities, 81 sus-
pended for classifying trip reports, 40 sus-
pended for failure to collect from street
while on duty and lettering and 55 dis
missed for drinking while on duty and loi-
| tering.
Mr. Jones recommends the employment
| of inspectors in the larger Offices to in
spect the work Of the carriers. make sug-
gestions as to extensions and changes of
routes and to have general supervision
| Of their work.
Character Of Inspectors.
The persons to whom this work is intrust-
l~,A~
many of them having had experience in the
postal service. They are not permitted to
| make themselves known to postmasters,
are especially warned against interfering
| with or attempting to entrap letter carriers,
! and are required to report only the acts and
| doings of the letter carrier in his delivery of
mall giving the record of the faithful and
| efficient carrier as we'll as that of the negli-
| gent and slothful. In all cases rejecting
upon the conduct of the letter-carrier force
| each carrier is furnished with verbatim
| copy Of the charges and given ample oppor-
| tunity to submit such explanation as he may
| have before final action Is taken by the de-
partment.
| A letter carriers efficiency record is now
| being prepared from the data supplied by
| agents as well as postmasters When COM
pleted it will contain the individual record
| of each letter carrier in the service.
| An estimate of 81. &c., 300 is made for the
| free delivery service nexr year. The money
order report shows 1861 domestic money
| order offices and $f56. roe, 0S9 of orders is
sued, and $780, 159. $50 paid! Mr.. Jones recon-
mends legislation RECURRING clerks who ham
| die money orders to give bonds.
Revival Of Business.
The total amount Of fees received from the
| public for the issue Of domestic money or
ders was 81. 291, 21251. being sso.G'o35 more
| than the amount received in the preceding
year. The average fee was $50 cents, being
| 90 cents less than the average fee received
| in the previous year. The average amount
| of the orders issued was about S7.11. or $50
| less than the average of the year enGed
| June 30, 1894. comparison of the above
figures with those of the previous year
! shows an increase in the number of orders
issued of 7.727,079. or 54o2 per cent; an in
| crease in the number of orders paid and re-
| paid of 1889, 456. or 1923 per cent; an in
crease in the amount of orders issued Of ST.
915.51O.2s or 1921 per cent: an increase in
| the amount of orders paid and repaid of
| $17, 434, 1897. or 1881 per cent.
The number Of pieces of original dead
mail matter received was 6,319S73, a de-
crease of 7S1.171 from last year.
| Given to Hospitals.
| During the year 16. 1874 magazines, illus
| trated papers, picture cards, etc, which
| could not be restored to owners were dis
| tributed among the inmates of the various
| hospitals, asylums and other charitable
| institutions In the District of Columbia by
| order of the Postmaster General The fol-
| lowing shows the number and character of
| the matter distributed: Magazines. $685.;
| pamphlets, 1886: illustrated papers, 4.29l
| picture cards, ETC., 3.523.
Mr.. Jones renews several recommended
| tons made in his last report, such as PEN
| atty for using postmarks for unlawful pur-
| poses: to prevent boycotting post offices; to
| amend the ranking law; more stringent
| legislation against obscene mail matter; the
| power to suspend employees; the employment
| of temporary and substitute clerks; care for
| disabled employees; the better classified ton
| of salaries Of clerks in larger offices. and the
| employment of substitute carriers.