Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-12-10

\ Observation-Disclosures at ttlS T.llc Oh A cent
poundSf iibrariesadvertising sheets,
"housc organs" periodicals advertising
some particular house or institution
sample copies and the like ought certainly
to be discontinued. A glance Mt the reve-
nues received for the work done last year
will show more plainly than any other
statement the gross abuse of the postal
service and the growing waste of its carn-
fngs. The free matter carried in the mails
for the departments, offices, etc, OF the
government, and for Congress, in pounds
amounted to g4,4So.1S9
The remainder of our postal revenue,
amounting to something more than S5,-
100000, was derived from box rents.
registry fees, money order business and
other similar items. The entire expendi-
lures of the department. including pay for
transportation credited to the Pacific rail
roads, was So, 1856, 1851, which may he
considered as the cost of receiving, carry
ing and delivering the above mail matter.
1t thus appears that though the second
class matter constituted more than two
thirds of the total that was carried, the
revenue derived from II was less than one
thirtieth Of the total expense.
The average revenue from each pound
of first class matter was 93 cents, from
each pound of second cluss, 81 mills.
(0f the second class, 52,34S,2 WINS
county free matter)
From each pound Of third class, 13.l
cents.
From each pound of fourth clnss, 1916
cents.
The growth in weight of second class
matter has been from 209,000,00O pounds
in 1894 to 312.000,000 in 1885, and to al
most $40, 100000 in 1896, and it is quite
evident this increasing drawback is far
outstripping any possible growth of postal
revenues
Our mail service should, of course, be
such as to meet the wants and even the
convenienees of our people, ut direct
charge upon them SO light as perhaps ia
exclude the idea of our post office depart.
ment being a money-making concern: hui
in the face of a constantly recurring de.
hcit in its revenues, and in view of the
fact that we supply the best mail service
in the world, it seems to me it is quite
time TO correct the abuses that swell enor.
mously our annual deficit. If we concedt
the public policy of carrying weekly news
pnpers free in the county of publication
and even the policy of carrying at less
than one-tenth of their cost.
Other bona fide newspapers and period
icals there can be no excuse for subjectin,
the service to the further immense and in
creasing loss involved in carrying at til,
nominal rate of / cent pound the socia
libraries sometimes including trashy ant
even harmful literature and other matter
which under the loose Interpretation Of ,
loose statute has been gradually giver
second class mass. which pays three o.
four times more than its cost and pro
n an 4 4
general taxation.
If such second class matter paid merel,
the cost of its handling our deficit wonl,
disappear and surplus result which
might be used to give the people still
better mail facilities or cheaper rates o
letter postage. l recommend that lecisla
ton he at once enacted to correct thes
abuses and introduce better bushes
ideas in the regulation of our postal rates
Experience and observation have demon
stratcd that certain improvements in tn
organization of the post office department
must be secured before we can gain tn
full benefit Of the immense sums expende
in its administration. This involves tn
following reforms, which earnestly re
commend:
There should he small addition to III
existing inspector service to be employc
in the supervision of the carrier fore
which now numbers $1,000 men, an
performs its service practically withol
the surveillance exercised over all otht
branches of the postal or public servic
of course such a lack of supervision an
freedom from wholesome disciplinary r
straints mnst inevitably lead to imperfc
service. There should also he appointC
few inspectors who could assist d
central Office in necessary investigate
concerning matters of post office lease
post office sites, allowances for rent. ftlC
and lights, and in organizing and securr
the best results from the work of ii
1900 clerks now employed in first al
second class Offices
l am convinced that the small expen
attending the inauguration of these +
forms would actually be Il profitable i
vestmcnt. | especially recommend SUI
rccastins of the appropriations by Co
gross for the Postnifcc Department
will permit the General to pr
coed with the work of consolidating DO
Offices. This work has already been G
tered upon sufficiently to fully demo
strate by experiment and experience til
such consolidation is productive of bett
service, larger revenues and less eXpen,
lures. TO say nothing of the further adya
togc Of gradually withdrawing post olIic
from the sl,oils system.
The universal postal union, which nc
embraces AL the civilized world, n
whose delegates will represent 100000
600 people. will hold its fifth eouert
in the city Of Washington in Nj
1897. The United States may he said
have taken the initiative which led to I
first meeting of this Congress at Bcri
In 1874. and the formation of the univ
sal postal union, which brings The pos
service of all countries to every maj
neighborhood, aud has wrought mary
in cheapening postal rates and securi
absolutely safe mail communicate
throughout The world.
Previous Congresses have met in Der
Paris, Lisbon and Vienna, and the
spcctive countries in which they have
sembled have made generous prnvoS
for their accommodation and for the
ception and entertainment of the dc
gates.
In view of the importance of this
semhlage and of its deliberations, and
the honors and inequalities accorded
our representatives by other countries
similar occasions | earnestly hope Il
such an appropriation will be made
the expenses necessarily attendant III
the coming meeting in our capital city
will be worthy of our national hospital
and Indicative of our appreciation Of
event.
The work of the Navy Department
its present condition is fully exhibited
the report of the Secretary. The c