Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1895-09-26
OUR POST OFFICES.
Annual Report Of Fourth Assistant
Postmaster General Maxwell
JUSTICE IN The TERRITORIES.


WASHINGTON, Sept A-The annual
report Of Fourth Assistant Postmaster.
General Maxwell shows that the mum.
Der Of post Offices In operation in the
United States on June 80, 1895, was TO-
oe4 During the year 2,422 post Offices
were established and 2,1e3 discon.
tinued. The total number Of ap-
pointments for the year was 49,
l42. During the year the great
est increase In the number Of post
Offices was In Oklahoma, &c. Nine.
teen states show decrease In the
number Of post Offices, the greatest loss
occurring In Kansas, 50; South Carolina
losing A and Iowa and West Virginia
SO each Fifteen other states show .
loss Of from 2 to 81 each. During the
year 59,546 complaints affecting the
ordinary mail were received; 3l,S4s re-
ferring to letters, and 27,es7 to pack
ages. This shows an increase Of 1859
over last year.
Some special classes Of cases to
which the inspectors are giving much
attention are those Of robberies Of
post Offices, burning Of post Offices,
wrecks Of postal cars and highway
robberies Of mail messengers, mail
stages and railway postal cars; and
the figures submitted In the report
show that the depredations and casu.
alties in these classes Of cases
are gradually on the increase,
although the increase Is not SO uni
form as during the preceding year. A
gratifying decrease in the number Of
post office burglaries Is noted, but
robberies Of the mails have
increased somewhat Train robbers
have grown more bold and do not hest
tate to ply their vocation In the older
states and near large cities, one OF the
most daring Of last years train rob
berries, the Aqua creek case, having
been committed within few miles Of
the city Of Washington.
Under the head Of foreign cases the
report emphasizes the superiority Of
the registry system Of the United
States over that of most Of the foreign
countries.
During the year there were a,24o ar
rests for offenses against the postal
laws, OF which number us were post
masters, 40 assistant postmasters, so
clerks in post Offices, u railway post
office clerks, 81 letter carriers, 50
mail carriers and 2S we're en-
ployed in minor positions in the postal
service. The concluding pages Of the
report are devoted to a series OF
sketches Of important cases. Gen.
uses strong language in re-
ferring to the escape of Killoran, AL
len and Russell from Ludlow street
jail, New York, their apprehension
having been matter Of great impor-
lance to the department.
JUSTICE IN THE TERRITORIES
WASHINGTON, Sept 24.-"l am in
vestigating the subject Of exorbitant
expenses in conducting departmental
work In the Indian and Oklahoma ter
'itories and shall cover the question
n my annual message" said Attor-
Harmon yesterday. II
ave completed arrangements for
Inspectors to look into the mat
Ter and | hope to get at the
|acts SO that may be able to relieve
The government Of such heavy out
ay of funds annually" Mr.. Harmon
llso said that, in the absence Of facts
brought to him officially, he could not
mpugn the actions Of any official; all
le knew about the whole matter was
hat about one.ffth Of the entire sum
appropriated for the department Of
Justice was used up in the expenses and
'ees Of officials in those two territories.
This he thought was enough to call for
IN investigation.
GEN. scHoFIELD's RETIREMENT.
New YORK, Sept 24.-The World
avs: Lieut.. Gen. John M. Schofeld
will retire as commander-in-chief Of
he army on September 20, and Nelson
\. Miles will at once remove to Wash
ngton as senior major-general in
There have been rumors
hat his not being q West Point
,raduate will be q handicap in OBJ
aiming this, the highest rank, but his
lnquestloned ability and popularity
ave effectually settled that point In
lis favor. Gen. Thomas II. Ruger, who
5 now in Washington revising the
rmy regulations, will undoubtedly
move to Governors island and assume
ommand Of the department Of the
asst. This will obviate any further
hange in department commanders.