The Wichita daily eagle., 1896-12-08

POLISHED WITH A BRUSH Nor
ton and credit on their debt to the gov
ernment There was an increase of re-
ceipts over the previous years of $3.50
pS021, or II per cent, and an increase
of expenditures of ss,S3S, ,12402, or 4.43
per cent.
POSTAL ACCOUNTS
The deficit was s1,619, ,95619 less than
that Of the preceding year..
The chief expenditures of the postal
service are reg sdlated by law and are not
in the control OF the postmaster general
All that he can accomplish by the most
watchful administration and economy is
to enfclCe PROMPT and thorough collec-
ton aud accounting for public moneys
and such minor savings in small expendi-
lures and in letting these contracts for
postoffice supplies and star service which
are not regulated by statute. An effec-
tive cooperation between the auditors
office and the postoffice department and
the making and enforcement of orders
by the department requiring immediate
notification to their sureties of all delin-
uuencies on the part of postmasters and
compelling such postmasters to make
more frequent reports of postal funds,
their accounts and much less loss result
tr.g TO the government than heretofore.
POSTAL FACILITIES.
The years report shows large exten-
sion of both star route service and rail-
way mail service with increased postal
facilities Much higher accuracy in the
handling of mails has also been reached,
as appears by the decrease of errors in
the railway mail service and the reduc-
ton of mail matter returned TO the dead
letter Office.
THE POSTAL DEFICIT.
The deficit for the last year, although
much less than that Of the last and pre-
cediEg years. emphasizes the necessity
for legislation to correct the growing
abuse of second-class rates, to which the
deficiency is mainly attributable. The
transmission at the rate of 1 cent a
pound of serial libraries, advertising
sheets, ''house organs" periodicals ad-
vertising some particular house" or in
stitution), sample copies and the like,
ought certainly to be discontinued. A
glance at the revenues received for the
work done last year will show more plain
ly than any other statement, the gross
abuse Of the postal service and the grow
Ing waste of its earnings. The free mat
ter carried in the mails for the depart
ment offices. etc, of the government and
for congress in pounds amount to $780,
i69
POSTAL REVENUE.
If this were offset against buildings for
postofflces and stations, the rents of
which would more than compensate for
such free postal service we have this ex-
sIibit OF the weight of mail matter (other
than above) transmitted through the
mails for the year ending June go, 1896:
Class. Weight. Revenue.
Domestic & foreign
letters and postal
cards ............. 65,3S7, 1854 s6O, ,s24, ,4s4
Newspapers and
periodicals 1c per
pound ....... 34S, ,9SS,64s 1896, ,4o3
Books, seeds. etc.,
cents per Ib--..... 7S,7o1,14s 1o,324, ,oe9
Paroles, etc. I6c per
pound .......... 19,95o,1S7 3,129,321
Total. 512, ,s77, 1876 81, PSI
The remainder of our postal revenue,
amounting to something more than So
100000, was derived from box rents, reg
istry fees. money order business and
other similar items.
POSTAL EXPENDITURES.
The entire expenditures of the depart
ment, including pay for transportation
credited to the Pacific railroads. was $92,
1S6, 1871. which may be considered as
the cost of receiving, carrying and deliv-
ering the above mail matter. 1t thus
appears that. though the second-class
matter constituted more than two-thrds
of the total that was carried, the revenue
derived from it was less than one-third
OF the total expense.
AVERAGE INCOME.
ara,.s cra ray-apI,e fra,,, aanl, y,o,,r5
of first-class matter was SO cents; from
each pound of second-class matter ID
mills (of the sec0nd-class 81, ,343, ,297 was
counted free matterl from each pound OF
Third-claSS 1S.1 cents; from each pound
OF fourth-class 15.6 cents. The growth in
weight of second-class matter has been
from 299, 600 pounds in 1894 to S1S ,oO0.-
Geo in 1895. and TO almost 349. .000, 900 in
1886, and it is quite evident that this in
creasing drawback is far outstripping
any possible growth of postal revenues.
SECOND-CLASS MATTER.
Our mail service should. of course, be
such as to meet the wants and the con-
veniencies Of our people, at a direct
charge upon them so light as perhaps 20
exclude the idea of our postoffice depart
ment being a money-making concern;
but in the face OF constantly recurring
deficiency in its revenues and in view OF
the fact that we supply the best mail ser
vice IN the world, il seems TO me il is
quite time 10 correct the abuses that
swell enormously our annual deficit. II
We concede the public policy OF carrying
weekly papers free in the county OF pub
hcation and even the policy of carrying,
al less than lilo OF their cost. other bona
fide newspapers and periodicals. there
can be no excuse for subjecting the ser
xrf.1 10 -, fla,- Il
ing loss involved in carrying at the Romi
nal rate of cent a pound the serial libra
ries, sometimes including trashy and
harmful literature, and other matter
which, under the loose Interpretation OF
loose statutes, has been gradually given
second-class rates, thus absorbing all
profitable returns derived from frStclaSS
matter. which pays three or four times
more its cost, and prod acing large an
nual loss to &c paid by general taxation.
II Suca SeconG-cl2S; matter paid mere
ly the cost OF is h5ndling. our deficit
would disappear ard a surplus would re-
sulc which might he used 10 give the
public still better mail facilities or cheap
or rates Of letter postage. l recommend
that legislation be at once enacted to
correct tIese abuses and introduce better
business ideas in the regulation Of our
Postal rates.
Obsery atoms have demonstrated that
improvements in the organization Of the
postoffice department must be secured
before we can gain the full benefit of the
Immense sums expended in its admins
tration. This involves the following re-
toir,s, which / earnestly recommend:
WATCH THE CARRIERS.
There should be a small addition TO
the existing inspector service, TO be en-
ployec IN the supervision of the carrier
force, which now numbers IS. 900 men
and performs its service practically