The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-12-08

IL ippears that since the transfer OF
| the Fort Icavenworth military prison
| to it's new uses the work previously done
| by prisoners confined there, and Tor
| which expensive machinery mas n.eh
! provided, has been discontinued. LUIS
| work consisted Of the manufacture OF
| articles Tor army use, now done else
where. cn all grounds II is eNce.dinsiy
| desirable that the convicts confined IN
! this peuitentiary be allowed 10 resume
| work Of this description
| II l. most gratifying TO note the sat
J isfactOry results that have followed the
| Inauguration Of the new system provided
for by the act OF May y. 1876. under
which certain Federal officials are COM
pensated by salaries instead OF fees.
The new plan was put in operation on
the LIST day Of July 1896. and already
the great economy IL cnforces ms pre-
vention 81 abuses, and its tendency TO "a
better enforcement OF the laws are
OF the usefulness Of this l0ng-delayed
but now happily accomplished reform
will be found clearly set forth i'm the
Acknowledgement report
POSTAL SERVICE.
Our post-Oiice Department is In good
condition, and the exhibit made OF ms
operations during the fiscal year enued
June 80 100. if allowance IS made Tor
imperfcctiOns i'm the laws applicable 10
II, Is very satisfactory. The total receipis
during the year were So Peg. U,fO. The
total expenditures We're sjNtZp, l.b.,l, tN-
elusive of 81. 559 -. which was earned hy
and credited on their debt 10 the Gov
eminent. There was an increase or rec
ccipts over the previous year OF N,7l1.-
OoO2l or ~ per cent, and an increa .'
OF expenditures of s3A36.l-iV2 or AZ per
cent The deficit was Si.DEtl6.l9 less thur
that o. the preceding year. Tho chiet
expenditures of the postal service are
regulated 10y law. and are not iu the con-
troll of the Postmaster-iencr All thar
he can accomplish hV the most Whfrniui
administration and economy is 10 enforce
prompt and thorough collection and ace
counting FOR public moneys ana encn
minor savings In small expenditures ana
DIN letting the contracts. Tor posi-otiice
supplies and star service. which are not
regulated by statute.
An effective cooperation between the
Auditors Office and the Post-Dhice be-
partmcnt. ana the making and enforce
mont of orders by tine Department. r"-
nuiring immediate notification 10 their
surcties Of AN dcliuquencies on tho part
OF postmasters. and compelling such post
masters 10 make more frequent deposits
OF postal funds have resulted ln "a
prOmptcr auditing of their accounts and
much less default 10 the Government
than heretofore.
The Years report shows large extern
siOus of both star route service and
railway mail service. with increased pos
tai facilities. Much higher accuracy I'm
handling mails has also been reached. AS
appears hy the decrease of errors in tho
idllWdf Hhl service ana inc itNAllNN ol
mail matter returned To- the dedd-lctter
Office.
THE DEFICIT.
The deficit for the i2sl year although
much less than that of the last and pre-
eeding years. emphasizes the necessity
for legislation 90 correct the grow ns
abuse of scCOnd-class rates. 90 which tho
deficiency Is mainly attributed. The
transmission M the rate of 1 cent pound
Of serial Libraries, advertising sheets
house organs periodicals advertising
some particular house or institution ,.
sample copies and the like, ought certain
iy 90 Doe discontinued \ glance at the
revenues received for the work done last
year VIII show more plainly than any
olhtr statement the gross abuse or the
postal service and the growing waste of
its earnings.
The matter carried in the mails for
the departments. Offices etc. of the Gov
eminent. and for Congress- I'm pounds.
amounted 20 9i.4,01>9. IN this is Offset
against BUILDINGS for post-0nices and st.l-
tlons. the rentals of which would moro
than compensate for such Zee no.fal
service We have this exhibit:
Weight of mail matter lofhor than
abovol transmitted through the mails Tor
the wear endiu. Inn. el fD4e.
Weieht
Glass p,nrI. r.,.,,,...,
1. Domestic and FOREIGN o'''''''' i''' ''''''
letters and uo.fYI
cards etc.. - G. 2g- oi9 go cog fet
o. Ncwspapors and no.
rloffr.ils COM ir
pound ..... .. 2fg ocScis o. ooc .oq
Hooi,e cocf. 49, ''''''''i' -''''iO'
& confs n noind ''-'' % -o,,,s ,,o.,.-,
Parcel. 90 d.. '''''ifii' I'i'-i'''
. ,o.,,.4 '' " '''''' .,,-... ....
i'.'"" '''''''''...'. l','"''l'' a.l@f5-l
,ro., -.-------- -----------
,r, iolal ....... ......'l-.'i'i-' Sls.nii 81,
-. l'. .iil'illN'I on our postal revenue.
..i, 20 some thlhs more tnan sa.-
Z pa. v'llFtu from TON rents. regis
.'-'t Ii"N'1 YiNtI business, ana other
.,''',.i l',lN'' me chllie expenditures OF
,H. J., p.i lIh'lI. lhclud ue pay Tor trans
lDlli'.vh cicuiicu 10 the Pacific rail-
lvt.a was s'-'l'o'l'o.ll.
w men may he considered ae the cost
or receiving. carrying and delivering the
above mail matter. III thus aunDirs fhat
though the socOui-clnss matter .nn.ff-
tutod more than fwO-f birds OF the total
that was carried. the revenue derived
from 10 was less than ouo-fhirfiath ~
revenue from each pound OF frst-class
matter was % cents. From each pound
of sor0nd-class So mills
(Df the sccOnd-Clles J23fS 9g7 WIS conn
ty free matterJ
From each pound az trirl-claes f3l
cents.
From each Mound ~ forfrfh- rr1.- T. q
cents.
Tn. growth in v-afrht ~ e.oo~1.ci--e
matter has boon fr.r, .lQp iIUi, ,s.,t ,....,..i.
in 1Ng4 10 a1s nUn n.l In fsp. .,l 49, I'D
most afg 000 mo- fn fS4G o,i f.. a. rrita
evident th1t This ircrea'sir-, dr.viarlc
T. far ofifsfrirr.ir, and. ,,,,..iif. ,.rl,,,.b
Of postal rov,I,lts
our MN service should az course 10
..if., OBJ. o. ,...t tI.. ...-' l ISL
convcnion1o- of ar nao.Io an /. .I,rolf
charge uu0n fh.r so nrrf ~ rfrll.f..