Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1896-12-12
WILSON'S REPORT.
The Postmaster General Gives
Facts from His Department.
Expenditures for tho Year Largely Exceed
cd Recelpts-Thinks the One.cent Let
ter Rate Would Yield mig Profit
Other Suggestions.

WASHINGTON. Dec. 10 -Postmaster-
General Wilson In his annual report
quotes figures which show excess OF
expenditures over receipts OF IS. 127, 0ss
for the last fiscal year, which, how
ever, Is a decrease In deficiency OF ST.
679,o56 rs compared with the previous
tiscal year. This satisfactory exhibit
dor the last year has been made posi-
Jble, the postmaster-general sets forth,
by vigorous policy of bringing suit or
pushing collection on bonds imme-
'diately after default, which is the only
safe practice for the interests OF the
government und those Of the obligers.
He estimates u deficit in the revenue
OF the department for 1897, OF s3,472,-
410. ard FOR 1898 of 81, 2ss. 1874.
The postmastcr-general discusses the
prop osed one cent letter rate, the
che ipest postage in the world. He
say it would yield great profit, but
1t 10 idle to talk Of such reduction,
while two.thirds of our mail matter is
handled ut small fraction OF its cost,
and the deficits OF the department in
consequence have aggregated Ia II
years since the act OF March 3, 1885. the
enormous sum of s7l,377,4s0 lie char
.acterizcs the loss sustained by the
franking privilege in transmitting
serial libraries, etc.. Us indefensible,
shows that of 3is. 9ss, 6is pounds of sec
.ond-class matter handled during the
year over 52,34s,000 pounds were
county free" matter, and urged the
adoption of the Loud bill now pending
in the house rs the remedy. He says
the passage Of this bill will not only
wipe ont the postal deficit and insure
in ordinary years n surplus, which may
be used to cheaper postage on letters,
or to increase the mail facilities OF the
people, but will really carry out the
one cent a-pound law Of 1885.
The postmaster-gcneral concludes
his report with two significant recon-
mendations, which, he says, are
necessary TO complete the civil
service reforms. The first is to secure
fixity Of tenure during efficiency nr 4
good behavior to the three assis can't
pos,masters. general, whose wor Is en-.
tirely non-politicrA, whose c,Apacity to
deal with the large machinery and
great expenditures Of sneir respective
bureaus must come in great measure
from experience and who preserve
the contin' atty OF the department,
not In mere desk or dieisicn work, but
In gener al administration. The second
Is to Cover into che civil service Us
many as possible of the postmas,ers
Themselves Tho 10000 or more post
masters are now the chief spoils of an
incoming administration. Under the
present system these officials are too
apt to think that their obligation to
sparty is higher than duty to the public,
ard that the zeal aud activity with
which they meet that obligation is
;surer guarantee of continunnces than
any like zeal and activity for the pub
lie service.
The report recommends reclassifca-
tion of the clerks of the railway mail
service and OF provision for clerks at
FIRST and secand-class post offices; ten
additional post Office inspectors and
Legislation making postmastcrs and
their securities liable for the acts and
defaace.tions Of their subordinates and
authorizing postmasters to bond their
srh<rdinates.