Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1895-11-14
POSTAL AFFAIRS.
The First Assistant Postmaster.
Generals Annual Report.
The RECOMMENDATIONS He MAKES.


WASHINGTON, Nov. ll.-First Assist.
ant Postmaster General Frank II. Jones
has made his annual report for the
year ended June 30, 1896 Mr.. Jones
shows that the divisions under his su'
pervision have saved during the year
| 81, 1906, 577, the principal items being
the saving In the carriers by stopping
overtime and reduction Of the force,
amounting to $1,3OOOO0. The salaries
to all presidential postmasters
amounted to s5,s07,sOO, and the
gross receipts Of post Offices 800, $685.
O97. The number Of presidential post
masters Is S,49l, Of which i59 are
Arst-class, 700 second class, 1859 third
class. An estimate OF $1,000, 900
for all postmasters is made for the
year 1897, an increase over the present
year OF 81, 100000. The total number
Of positions brought within the CLASH
fed service during the year were 1906.
Mr.. Jones recommends the abolition
OF experimental free delivery un-
less $l0,OOO,0O0 Is appropriated for the
purpose, also free rural delivery un.
less $40, 100000 is appropriated.
OF the Investigations and discharge
OF carriers for cause, Mr.. Jones says
1856 carriers have been removed lie
reviews the conditions which made the
Investigations necessary, the principal
one being that the accumulation OF
overtime claims showed that some.
thing was wrong. The work has been
Systematically prosecuted during the
past eight months and the carriers at
ISL offices have been investigated. At
these offices there were employed 4,075
carriers and their investigation result
ed in the following: Reprimanded for
various Irregularities, sOs suspended
for falsifying trip reports 81; suspend
ed for failure to collect from street let
ter boxes, 40; suspended for drinking
while on duty and lettering, 500; dis
missed for drinking while on duty and
lettering, IS.
Mr. Jones said: SIN view OF the
great saving effected and the general
improvement in the service, especially
in the large cities, would recommend
the employment Of number Of men
In the larger offices whose regular
duty it shall be to inspect the work Of
carriers, make suggestions as to ex-
tensions and changes OF routes, and,
in fact, to have general supervision
OF the work Of carriers outside Of post
offices. Besides the actual saving
effected, the improved efficiency Of the
services In the offices investigated
must be credited to this service. At
every office the discipline Of the force
and efficiency OF the service have been
much improved, the work more equally
distributed among the letter carriers,
and at many offices extensions made
and facilities increased without addi-
tional cost"
An estimate Of $4,000, 300 is made
for the free delivery service next year
The money order report shows that
there are 1851 domestic money order
Offices and orders to the amount of
1885, 709 $50 were issued and sljG, $50, $50
paid, MIR. Jones recommends lcgisla-
ton requiring clerks handling money
order business to give bonds.
Concerning the dead letter matter
the report says; "rhe number of
pieces OF original mail matter received
during the year for treatment was g.
$40. s73 u decrease of ISL, III"
Mr. Jones rencws several recommen.
dations made in his last report, such
as penalty for using postmarks for
unlawful purposes; to prevent boy
cotting post offices; to amend the
franking laws; more stringent legis-
lation against obscene mail matter;
the power to suspend employees; the
of temporary and substi-
tute clerks; care for disabled employees;
the better classification Of salaries of
clerks in larger offices and the employ
ment of substitute carriers.