The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1896-12-11


work done under his supervision during
the last fiscal year. The ownership and
management by the government of peni-
convicted in United States courts Of viola
lions of federal laws. which for many
years has been subject Of executive rec
tent been realized by the utilization of the
abandoned military prison at Forth I.eav-
snworth as United States penitentiary.
eion, but II ought to be at once supple
mented by the rebuilding or extensive en-
iteSrgement OF this imProyised prison and
located I'm the southern states. The ca
pacity of the Leayenworth penitentiary is
fenanca cainnia tad e ner oo ies main
upon the number of prisoners II can accom-
modate, does not make as economical ex-
ter adapted to prison purposes; but 1 am
thoroughly convinced that economy, hui
manity and proper sense of responsibility
and duty toward those whom we punish for
violations of federal law dictate that the
federal government should have the entire
control and management. Of the peniten-
tiaries where convicted violators are con-
mned IL appears that since the transfer
or the Fort Leayenworth military prison
Sy 5s nsw uses the work
expensive machinery has been provided,
has been discontinued. This work con-
army use now done elsewhere. On ali
grounds 1t is exceedingly desirable that the
eonvicts confined in this penitentiary be
allowed to resume work OF this descrip-
tion
Abolition of the Fee System.
II Is most gratifying to note the sat-
sSiactory results that have followed
provided for by the act of May 2s,
SS6. under which certain. federal Of
ncials are compensated by salaries instead
tion, on the 1st day of July, 1896, and al
ready the great economy 1t enforces its
prevention OF abuses and it's tendency to
better enforcement Of the laws are strilS-
tngly apparent. Detailed evidence of the
S usefulness OF this longcdelayed but. now
clearly set forth in the attorney-generai's
report.
Tho Postal Service.
condition, and the exhibit made of it's OPT
erations during the fiscal year ended Juno
y. 1856. II allowance is. made for imper-
satisfactory The totai receipts during stfbbs s
year were $50, 40 The total ex
Refn Ed toa 81 We're exclusive of
cific railroad for transportation and cred
ited on their debt to the government There
was, was an increase OF receipts over the pre-
vious year of $5,516, OSO.21, or IL per cent.
a IN an increase of expenditures of 81, S36-
iA02 or 442 per cent. The deficit was
M,67s,956.ls. less than that Of the preceding
The chief expenditures of the postal ser
wee are regulated by law and are not in |
a
that he can accomplish by the most watch |
ful administration and economy is to en- |
torce prompt and thorough collection and |
accounting for public moneys and such
minor savings in small expenditures, and |
In letting those contracts for post office |
supplies p,In 3, and star service, which are not
regulated by statute.
An enective cooperation between the au-
ditor's Office and the post Office department |
ana the making and enforcement of orders |
by the department requiring immediate |
notification to their sureties of any de- |
hnquencies on the part of postnasters and |
compelling such postmasters to make more |
suited In prompter auditing CT their ac-
counts and much less default to the gov
ernment than heretofore.
Large Extensions.
Theyear's report shows large extensions
Of both star route service and railway
mail service, with increased postal faciii-
ties. Much higher accuracy in handling |
mails has also been reached, as appears
by the decrease of errors in the railway
mail service and the reduction Of mail mat
Ger returned to the dead letter Office.
Abuse of Second Glass Rates.
The deficit for the last year, although
much less than that of the last and pre-
eeding years, emphasizes the necessity for
legislation to correct the growing abuse
Of second-class rates, to which the de-
hciency is mainly attributable. The trans
mission at the rate of one cent a pound
some ones particular N houses or institutionj,
|
10 be discontinued.
A glance at the revenues received for the
work done last year will show more plainly
shan any other statement the gross abuse
Of the postal service and the growing
waste of its earnings. The free matter
carried in the mails for the department,
congress, in pounds amounted to "a, 4S0,1So.
II this is offset against buildings for post
offices and stations, the rentals of which
would more than compensate for such free
postal service. we have this exhibit.
Weight of mail matter (other than above)
transmitted through the mails for the year
ended June 30. 1896:
Glass. Weight lbs Revenue. |
L Domestic and foreign
letters and postal
cards, etc............... 1881, 343 $50 1874, 46f
Z Newspapers and peri
odicals, 1c per b.......S4S. 9sS,64S 1896, 400
j. Books seeds, etc., &c
per TO. ................... 78,7Ol,l4S 1032i,0b9
l. Parcels, etc. ,1sc per 10 19,95O,1s7 3,129,S21
Totals ................. .5l2, s77s26 s7.O44, 257
Expenditures.
The remainder of our postal revenue, !
amounting to something more than S5,000
700. was derived from box rents, registry
Tees, money-order business and other siml-
lar items The entire expenditures of the
department, including pay for transporta-
lion credited to the Pacific railroads, was
le2, 1Ss, 1851, which may be considered as
The cost of receiving, carrying and deliv-
,ring the above mail matter. 1t thus ap-
pears that though the second-class mat
The total that was carried, the revenue
derived from it was less than one-thirtieth
Of the total expense. The average revenue !
rom each pound Of first-class matter was
Y cents. From each pound of second {
class, Sk mills. (Of the second class 52,34S,- !
97 was county-free matter). From each
pound Of third class 1871 cents From each
pound of fourth class, 1876 cents The {
growth of weight of second-class matter !
has been from 299,0 900 pounds In 1894 to
~, 000,0 900 pounds in 1896, and to almost
49, 000, 900 in 1896, and 1t Is quite evident this
drawback is far outstripping any !
possible growth of postal revenues.
Abuses Must BE Corrected. {
Our mail service should of course be
Iuch as to meet the wants and even the
ionvenences of our people, at direct .
,ha rye upon them so light as perhaps to I
exclude the idea of our post offic DEPART I
nent being a money-makng concern; but !
n the face of a constantly X. Jrring de-
iciency in its revenues, and I'm view of tho =
act that we supply the best mail service g
n the world, 1t seems to me 1t Is quite time l
o correct the abuses that swell enor- | !
nously our annual deficit. If we concede y
he public policy of carrying weekly news 5
,apers free in he county of publication. | c
md even the policy of carrying at less =
han one-tenth of their cost other bona
ide newspapers and periodicals, there can
10 no excuse for Injecting the service to
he further immeUse and increasing loss n