The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-11-09
POSTAL BUSINESS
on Ito 0orcrnmsnt-G Gigantic Work OF
Uupir snm'A s!nli hyatrtu.

Uuolr snm'S Maii syairu.
WASHINGTON, Nov. S.-Thc animal
report OF Frank II. Jones, tho first as
Sistant postmaster general, gives a re-
Wow OF a large part ur the years postal
busilicsJ OF the government md makes
numerous recommendation for the i'm
nrovement OF the service. II shows that
during the last three fiscal years the nB-
Brc8ato savings IN tho divisions OF sala-
rles and allowances OF rostmasters were
Sbi6D0i; IN free delivery sa,3li,ii5. and
postoilcc supplies S2lS,6A0: total $3,27S,-
aS5, For that period there was m ag-
gregatc reduction OF Ss,050,13i In the
number OF pieces OF mall sent from post
offices 10 the dead letter office.
The total number Of presidential Offices
July !. last was 1861, OF which 1863 were
FIRST class, $40 Eecond claD1 and 2,73G
third class The aggregate gross re-
ceipts ut the first second and third class
offices were tGj.2S2,3G5 and the total sal
| aries S6,203.900. Since November 30. 1891,
there have been 2,i5o positions In tho
postonices added to the classified service.
This leaves M the only positions at first
class postoilicca that are now excepted
from civil service examinations. assist
ant pogtmaSterR and principal cashier;
mater, under any legal designation,
II Is expected that the Investigations
OF overtime carrier claims will be COM
plctcd during the current fiscal year and
100000 Will be necessary TO pay oil
claims accrued.
Tho experiment Of free delivery In for
ty-ilve towns and villages cost the de-
partmeDt &S,2i7, leaving an uneXpcnded
balance OF sl.753, Investigation showed
that In majority OF the Offices the gross
receipts had decreased since the estab-
llshment OF the gefvice. the department
being compelled To send money 20 some
offices for the payment OF the letter car
riers salariea. Congress did nos oppro-
prlnte for further permanent or expert
mental service and the experiment was
necessarily discontinued with the close
Of tho fiscal year. There are siXty-threc
Offices which were entitled TO the estab-
llshcment Of the free delivery service
during the fiscal var ended June 30, 1896.
but the service could not be established
at more thRn nineteen offices without
entalllnS q greater expense upon the
limited appropriations FOR the current
year than the maintenance OF the estah-
lishcd service would permit. The rural
free delivery experiment was In opera
ton at points In thirty states by the first
OF this month and the result OF this test
will be received In n special report 10
Congress In December.
The aggregate number OF domestic
and international money orders Issued
during the year was 2i,Qi7,Si9. amount
ing TO $ls5, 953.oi6, and their payments
and rcpnymentS was 2il40,SiS. amount
Ing to $l77,0S7,5 67. There was an In
crease OF over eight per cent In the whole
uuTIhar OF ,;sJncy orders tested, Showing
growth OF Trio system and the so:ai in
crtc2c IN revenue from both the
domestic and International bug
noes wan s7i147 Tho total
au.ylut OF the bills OF exchange
resulting from the exchange OF interna-
tlonal money orders sent TO foreign
Countries during the year was 1921, I9s,
the balances received from abroad for
the purpose being S20l.s7O.
In tho dead letter Office 6.25S,S6S pieces
OF original dead letter mall matter were
and 81 per cent OF the money restored.
Letters also containing drafts, checks,
etc, OF the apparent value OF s956,095.
about 90 per Cent II this beirS retI-.>d
TO owners
The report closes with summary OF
the administration of Mr.. Jones, show
Ing pruning OF expenses wherever POSI-
bic and improved facilities. and make
numerous recommendations. The first
assistant says:
THE after ton OF Congress ought to be
called to the private letter box abuse In
larger cities. 1t Is In some cases !mos-
sIble to locate persons engaged in con-
Quoting fraudulent and unlawful COR
responGence through the mails, who. for
comparatively ANAL sum. can rent q
hNp in .OmR Cinnr Dr Stntt0unry Et0rS
through which to receive letters ad-
dressed 10 them. Several bills have
been introduced within the past few
years designed to put an end to the prac-
tlcc OF boycottlnS postnasterS al offices
OF the fourth class, thereby dcprivins
them OF the compensation properly be-
longing TO them. This matter should
be called up and some action taken that
would result In postInasters receiving. ut
least, the compensation which propGSly
belongs to their respective Offices"