The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1895-11-30

that since then the revenues Ut the depart'
ment have reflected the general returning o:
prosperity to the country He ascrloes tar
gross abuse of secontt-c:sS rates OF postage
es the CHIEF caUs" Of the yearly deficit in
postal revenues. He rora5ts AMI endorses
the recommendations Of his predecessors.
Bissgll and WaaaMaker, :;rr ;N a!rnntfn ent
OF the law il r. !ara ~ the transportation OF
second-ctasS matter. and saws:
'tit is the estimate Of the department. that
two-thirJs in weight of al! t;ia matter carried
in the mails is. under existing laws au..
classifcations, carried rs seco1d-oiis-
matter at the rate Of Que cent pound.
where it is not actually carried postage
free. The aggregate whisht q second
class matter in thu year 1884 was 293, ,G50.90o
uor,nls. DlciIS the las: yeac it ircIea Sc
to over G12.0 coo. !: growth Of over 12.69o,-
900 pounds, Daiucting the weight Of that
when is known :is county free: being tA>
matter which is circulated among sHbserio-
ers free OF postage in tie respective rouEtins
., publication. estimated to bn 1G,8z2.ls3
pounds, there remained 265.3l4.3Sl poUadS,
which returned. at the rate ol oHs ,cnt Il
mound. :. revenue OF $2.65S.l43.S2 The
average cost to tho department Of t1an&p IT
ing and handling this matter Is estinl"teA X
eight cents per pound.
Speaking Of the extension Of civil service
rules to letter carriers. De S%ys:
'iAn Indispensable basis d good s"ryir*
was laid by placing the carrier Iprca under
the civil service system. and 10 eH3-.S
should nc spare:, by the department: t" insure
4 high morale in this iorca anil 10 ;lnit!ar.ze
the idea amor: Individual curriers' thai
as they enter the service by tae merit
system alone. so likewise the" r@!n;.!u IL
il by no tenure bat thai o. tha Ia!th!Hs
and efficient discharges Of duty wa;cn de-
mands self-re$pect AMI honorable living. It.
is inevitable that 4 :"w ilrliv;d:ai- hG:.: an't
the1e should interpret ti!;s stability -; en-
p!oyment as personal privilege; en:ca7aS
ing slovenlv service AMI naturalization f.
superior officers. rather thar II reform
based On considerations u hettrr
public service: and ail';iI instances
have occurred anil will IouG: less
continue to occnr. even ajtrr til, fsli' lna.l!-
ing ot the civil service system is In;!ec-t" |
and accepted. Bat Il Is gratifying ~ l'e2nrt
that as q whole. AMI br such Overwhelming
predonlinance us to make the exception morn
prominent, the army 0! letter carriers is
alert. faithful. efficient lind honorable.
The Postmasttr-Genera desires Evil s"r-
vice methods to be carried Still further nnt
higher in the Post0ifica Department. He
recommends that 1T least 'ur;"' nt 'ti" ~
sistant Post & @unrai should 5 s"iir.'
their Office b. q 4 rivi! s"rv.c: o. me-it tet:-
ure. aud not by Il political tenure II re
frains from Offering like nninin0 is - tbs:
Fourth Assistant Postmaster-G General. he
cause the fourth-"lass PnstSl1Stcr-. wloso
appointments arc primarily allotted :" hiai:
are vet outside ol that tTHur.'
Tao question -! rXiGG lin, civil S:TT.c-
methods TO the selection Of fon"tti-cia-5 PuS:'
masters" he says, ''h;- Ea.nrdily r'ciiv''t
nv attention Since J. haE.. i'':n ii thr head
Of this department. it is set With d:l'i
cuities. which my cXperionr" rs q rcHr%!eI!t1:'
tive in Congress d 4 large country district
during three changes o. ADMINISTRATION
brought home to me- iH"rc CLEARLY
than they might appear {" tEeorntlca!
re'ormeT or TO the representative "t :. err
constituency. / have studied var,ons b'lsS
introduced in both braucacs nf Congress III
recent wears. and welcomed suggestions Iron'
other quarters. hut I do not find myself able
to make as vet any specific Recommendations
on this important subject in the lire o. l'::;Is-
lation which has been proposed.
The order recently approved hr the
President providing that when the postraai-
ter-(ianeral shalt consolidate with y free de-
livery Office any other phStulltc" Silch con
solidation Snail carry into the classified ser
vice at the free delivery Office the Post"tiicc
Department roster Of employees Of the pihcc
consolidated. including t!,e Postmaster. 1nav
oeacceplet! rs the beginninS aud foundation
not only Of better postal 5erT; ;cc ri the pub
lie and better AMI more h1lsiness-'ik" az
counting to this department. nut also wls:
extension Of the civil service system
TO :Postmasters. Ii is ny purpose to pro-
ceed under the authority ri this order rs
discreetly as l can. aud in the lon- rim rs
far as experience will justify. 81 as to secure
these commendable results.
The other points discussed in the lost
naster-Generll's report have been suhs.au-
tally covered by reports OF the AsSlstant
Po=tmasters- General and bureau caleES
heretofore made public.