The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-11-25

Washington City. Nov. 2A-Postnlaster
'eneFdi Wilson has made his first annual
report 10 the president. The receipts Of
the postoffice department for the year end
ing June -. 1875, were s7s.I7l,lso. and the
expenditures Ss619o.l72 It is gratifying.
says the report. that large portion OF the
det1eiency occurred in the nTst quarter of
the year. and that revenues are increasing
"llA returning prosperity. M. Wilson es-
inmates the revenue for the year ending
June 81. Ie96, At $50 7s3 40, and the ex-
penditures al ss4.sll. so. the difference 10
oe made up by congressional appropria-
IONS. Speaking of the deficiency, Nr.
Wilson says:
The regular annual deficiency in the
revenues OF the postal service, emphasized,
as II appears to be, by tho unusual amount
OF the deficiencies for the past two years.
may call forth comment from these who
oe!eVe the postoffice department should
De seH-sustaining, But il should be re-
memoered that the free business done by
th!s department for other branches of gov
ernment. II paid al regular or cost rates,
would more than wipe out its deficiencies"
Inc postmaster general refers To the
growth or the free delivery system, and
says; Il believe it is good policy for con-
gfess and for this department 10 foster
the extension of ,he service by judicious
ton. The vigorous and effective efforts Of
my immediate predecessor seem TO have
produced at least an honest administration
OF the elght-nour law, and made letter car
riers trip and Official time reports actual
ana truthful records os service. TO bring
about this substantial reform, just alike
10 the department and the carriers, as well
as 10 lay the foundation for other neces-
sary improvements in this service, spe-
cial investigation of the carrier system
was begun under his administration, in
volving a thorough examination into the
needs and details of the system"
H. concurs in the recommendations Of
the first assistant postmaster general for
promoting the efficiency of the work. Mr..
Wilson reiterates the necessity of leglsla-
ton TO punish train wrecking and obstruc-
tions TO the mail urged by his predecessor,
and recommenoa legislation authorizing
the use of private postal cards. Concern
ing the abuses of second-class mail matter.
Mr.. Wilson says:
Il can add little to the reasons given by
Postmaster General Bfssell and Postmaster
General Wanamaker why amendments 10
the law as TO sec0nd-class matter are inn
peratively Needed 10 save the postal ser
wee from enormous abuses and consequent
enormous loss of revenue, which no reg1I-
lations OF the department or watchfulness
OF It's officials can guard against. l re-
congress "a careful scrutiny into this abuse.
and such remedial legislation as shall be
necessary and effective"
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 postonices and railroad post
offices. The department. through its local
representatives. has repeatedly urged pub
fishers to separate their publications by
states and routes. where the quantity for
any one state or territory Is sufficient TO
justify 1t. before sending them TO the mail
ing offices, nd has endeaVoTed TO show
them that their own interests would he
subserVed thereby" Postmaster General
Wilson SAYS the civil service rules should
he extended wherever practicable. He
says:
The magnitude and multiplicity Of its
business operations. the perfection of the
service. which the people are learning 10
demand and expect of 1t. and the palpable
truth that such business operations can be
carried on and such perfect service rem
deTed only bv men trained and expert all
these and many other reasons call for
such stability of tenure as alone can COM
mand or beget the requisite training. skill
and enthusiasm The continuity of the de-
partment should he preserved 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 healhful progress.
which Is found alone with those who di-
rect and control its chief bureaus. I con-
cur in the Judgment Of one OF my recent
predecessors that at least three Of the as
slsfant postmaster generals should hold
their Offices bv a civil service or merit
tenure and not by political tenure. ! re-
fraiu from Offering a like opinion as TO
the fourth assistant postmaster general.
because fourth-class postmasters, whose
appointment Is primarily allotted 20 him.
are vet outside Of that tenure.
The question Of extending Civl service
methods IN the selection of fouuh-ClaSs
nostmasters has naturally received my at
tentfon since ! have been at the head Of
this DEPARTMENT. But do not find myself
a hle 20 make. as Vet. any specirc recom-
neniations on TINS important subject IN
the line OF legislation winch has been pro-
nos>d The order Rnich YOU have recent
Ia approved. providing that when the
postrlastsr general shall consolidate with
a free delivery Office any other posTonlce.
su~h consolidation shall carry into the
classifrf service at the free delivery office
th. posfoffice department roster of en-
,,l,yee of the office consolidated. Including
the postmaster. NAV he accepted AS the
beginning and foundation. not only of a
better postal service for the public, q bet
ter ana more busi ness-ike accounting 90
+bfs DEPARTMENT. but also wise extension
~ tne civil service system 70 postmasters.
l. q NV purroSe 20 proceed under tH- au-
.t,r5fx. os TINS order as dlsrreetly AS I can.
ana tu the long Tuu. as FAR as experience
viii Justify. so as TO secure these COM
msuGable results