The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1896-12-12
RUN AT A LOSS.
Expenditures Exceed Receipts In Postal
servico-Protest Against Abuses


Washington. Dec. "a vigorous protest
| against the abuse OF the postal service Is
I made In the annual report OF Postmaster
General Wilson. he quotes figures which
show an excess OF expenditures over re-
ceipts OF sS.i27.0Ss for the last fiscal year.
| which. however. Is a decrease In the de-
| iiclency OF 81 ,619.956. as compared with the
| previous fiscal year. This satisfactory ex-
| hiblf for the last year has been made pos
sible. tho postmaster-general sets forth,
| by vigorous policy OF bringing suit or
| pushing collection on bonds Immediately
after default. which IL the only safe prac-
tice for the interests OF the government
and those OF the obligers
The postmaster-generaIa argues that there
/ IL no necessity for the annual deficit In the
revenues OF the department. and that but
few lines OF amendment by congress to the
postal laws will Wipe II out and give In it's
place steady surplus. IL has It's chief
source, he says. In the transmission at
second-class rates OF "A large and rapidly
Increasing volume or matter never I'm the
contemplation OF the law, which gives the
nominal rate or one cent pound on such
matter. and assuredly outside OF the policy
or the law as TO newspapers and period
| icals.
The report recites the strenuous efforts
In the past TO secure legislation designed
| TO protect the postal service from this
waste OF It's earnings and the taxpayers
| from the large burden imposed on them by
the regular deficits But. II says, up TO now
the combinations and active efforts OF the
benefciaries OF this abuse have parted all
appeals OF the department
Postmaster-heneral Wilson discusses the
| proposed one-cent letter rate. the cheapest
postage In the world. He says IL would
yield great profit, but II is idle 10 talk of
such reduction while two-thirds OF our
mail matter Is handled at small frac-
| ton or it's cost. and the deficits OF the de-
| partment In consequence have aggregated
In II years. since the act OF March 3, 1885.
] (one-cent-a-pound rate) the enormous sum
OF 81, $50. This Is made up from the
avails OF general taXations. and there Is
the further sum OF Sl5.GlO,e62 earned by tho
Pacific railroads for transporting the malls.
which was certified TO the secretary OF the
treasury for credit upon their Indebted
ness TO the government, an ascertaincd
deficit OF $50. 9SS. 442. This. In fact should
be further increased by the unascertained
overtime letter-carrier claims and the un-
| liquldatcd Indebtedness OF the department
for telegraph SERVICE left over from the
last administration. These would make
the actual deficit over SOC. 000.0 900.
He characterizes the loss sustained by
the franking privilege I'm transmitting
serial Libraries, etc. as indefensible. shows
that OF 34S. 1885,, GAS pounds OF second-class
| matter handled during the year over 52,34S-
| 600 pounds were county free" matter,
and urges the adoption Ct the Loud bill.
now pending In the house, as the remedy.
! He says the passage OF this bill viii not
only wipe out the postal deficit and insure
| In ordinary years surplus which may
be used 10 cheaper postage on letters or
TO Increase the nail facilities OF the peo-
pie. but will really carry out the one-cent-a-
pound law of 1856.
The postmaster-genera estimates de-
ficiency In the revenues OF the department
for 1871 OF SS4I2.4l9. and for 1888 OF 81 .2SS324.
Discussing the merits or the postal ays-
TEN. the postmaster-general says the peo-
pie OF the United States may felicitate
themselves that In no important respect
are they behind any other country In their
postal facilities. and In many things they
are I'm the van.
Touching the consolidation OF small Of
fees with the nearest money order Offices,
the hope Is expressed that the Limitation
imposed by the last congress on the au-
thority OF the postmaster-general 10 con-
solidate offices will be repealed, and that
the appropriation bill for the coming fiscal
year will permit this reform TO be carried
forward as rapidly as public interests will
allow as once fairly started Its demon
strated success VIII finally place It's benefit
beyond controversy. The postmaster-gen-
eral thinks II the most feasible method for
bringing post offices into the classified
service
The results OF the free rural delivery ex-
periments are yet Incomplete Time is re-
qulred 10 familiarize the people with the
innovation and develop It's benefits or fall
ures The thorough working OF such n
system Involves some redistribution OF post
cannot now be safely attempted.
Twelve thousand and ninety appoint
ments or pOStmaSterS were made during
the year. OF which 1871 were due to re-
moyals There were l93 fraud orders Is
sued during the year
The headquarters or all or nearly all Of
the avowed lottery concerns have been re-
moved 10 foreign shores, but IL Il thought
much matter sent by them reaches adj
dresses I'm this country through the malls
which the department practically has no
power TO prevent, and that express COM
panies carry large sums Of money from our
people TO them.
The postmaster-genera concludes his re-
port with two significant recommendations,
which he says are necessary to complete
the civil service reforms. The FIRST Is TO
secure nxity OF tenure during efficiency
and good behavior TO the three assistant
postmasters-general. whose work Is en-
tircly non-poltical. whose capacity to deal
with the large machinery and great ex-
pendtures OF their respective bureaus
must come In great measure from expert
encc. and who preserve the continuity OF
the department, not In the mere desk or
division work. but Ia the general admins
tratlon.
The second is to cover into the civil
service as many as possible OF the postmas-
tiers themselves.
THE 10000 or more postmasters are now
the CHIEF spells OF an incoming admins
tratlon. Under the present system these
officials are too apt TO think that their OBJ
legation TO party Is higher than their duty
TO the public. and that the zeal and activity
with which they meet that obligation Is
surer guaranty OF continuance In Office
than any like zeal and activity Tor the pub.
lie service.
TO this belief am sure Is traceable the
excessive and occasionally rcprchensible
partisan activity exhibited by many post
masters during the late and during proceed
ing presidential campaigns"
Ihe report says that n the two items OF
second-ClaSs matter at one cent per pound
and OF county free distribution paid their
prOportionate share or the cost IL Is figured
that IL would create an apparent surplus In
the revenues OF 81. $50, G6g instead OF the de-
ficiency OF over sSOO0.0O0
Gold Contracts sim Good.
Atlanta, ca. Dec. 5.-The state sen
ate, by u vote OF q TO Is, rejected a bill
introduced by senator Culver TO declare