New-York tribune., 1896-12-09
THE POSTAL SERVICE.
ANNUAL REPORT OF POSTMAsTER-GEN-
ERAL WILSON.

EXTENSION or CIvu~sERvIcE METHODS REC
oMMENDED-FREE DELIVERY NOT COM
PIETE srCcEss-MoNEY ORDERS.
Washington. Dec s.-PostmasterGeLe Wilson
in his annual report depicts the growth OF the
postal service from an organization of seventy
FIVE postmasters in the first year of Washingions 5
Administration. and a small service costing S2V"
confined to the carriage Of letters to an organi@a
tion of over seventy thousand postmasters ana
service costing $92.W0Oc open TO the TRANSMISSION
of almost all kinds Of matter. with limitation OF
weight only which has become an integral part OF
the organized postal system Of the world MI
Wilson says that the time has come when the
best business organization should be adopted In
the administration Of the Department. and a larger
extension of civil Service methods in the selec-
tion of employees.
Mr.. Wilson gives space in his report to the views
OF his predecessors, Mr. Wanamaker and Mr.. BIS
SELL concerning plans for reorganization OF the
postal service. and says FORTUNATELY, the natura!
growth of the country and IN" consequent develop
ment of the postal servic. have suggested PLAZA
which, by the test of experiments already made,
promises effec. this substantial improvement
without further legislation than increase in the
allowance for clerk hire more than counterbal-
anced by still arger decrease In the appropriation
for the salaries of postmasters.'
Further recommendations refer to the need OF
inspectors for carrier service well for the
reorganization Of that branch Of the Department,
while close attention is given to the comparatively
small details of the service The experiment Of
free delivery in towns and villages has not achieved
success he says and the results OF free rural de-
livery are ye: incomplete.
The net receipts from the money-order business.
domestic and International during the year were
sSSGlS o. increase of SALT g.. OF these receipts
s13o64s OG from domestic money orders and
s1'55sS a from international orders. The number
of domestic money orders issued during the year
23ss2cO3 at average fee of SIS cents. increase
OF 1893 orders the previous year The
Der of orders paid was 23 700 an increase OF
1.969.o5. The amour; Of orders issued sl12l0o =
GAG 02, increase Of sl539l $50 25 The amount os
orders paid S7l 1886 35 increase of sl5Sl5-
1Ss 09 In the receipt. transmission and payment OF
these tremendous the loss in transit
only slG.2,0 II. The number of international money
orders issued during the for payment in foreign
countries aS5 99. amounting to $S.s52 Glj a. The
number OF foreign orders paid was 34O,lN amounting
to S6l2 O9o SO. leaving balance TO be paid by the
United States by purchase of bills OF exchange OF
1921 1?9 2S This increase in the number OF
international money orders issued OF 76.i2l and in
amour; of ssis,lSO %. and decrease in the number
Of such orders paid and repaid of II IS, and in amount
of s39s .i4G %
No effort has been spared 10 increase the service
and facilities in the Star Routes which serve the
rural population OF the country. so as 10 extend
in the United States.
Twelve thousand and ninety appointments
made during the year. follows: on resigna tions
and expiration OF terms. 1854: on removals. 1900 on
offices becoming PRESIDENTIAL $50. on deaths OF post
masters. $50: establishment OF posoffices. 2Oth.
But little more than per cent of the posmasicrs
have resgna tions file while little over eenth
of per cent of the offices vacant from deaths
of pos;masiers
a credta bic showing in the handling Of registered
mails Is made. the number OF complaints on ths
score received during the year being 2S.. OK ihis
number 2.5s0 alleged the rifing or abstraction OF
letters and packages and 23j the entire loss Of tho
letters or packages and contents. only tweniy-four
complaints OF carelessness by postal employees were
received There were GiGi3 complaints received dur
ing the year ordinary mail. OF this number
81 S43 referred letters and 2a0G0 to packages. Dur
ing the fiscal year 1853 foreign cases have heen
treated OF which $40 related 10 registered matter.
in which investigation shows that the articles had
been received after some delay 10 the addressce or
returned to the sender II losses had actually oc-
cured the missing registered letters had finally been
received or their loss made good.
The total amount recovered during the year on
account of losses in the mails 1886 g. made up
Of amounts received from mail thieves or voluntarily
returned by them their friends or found loose IN
the mails or collected n disciplinary measure from
the. employees of the service through whose neglect
or ca reles= =ness the Losses occurred 49,
During the year the Department issued l9s irauI
orders forbiddng the delivery Of mall matter and
The pavment money orders TO persons ana corpora
lions found TO be operating lottery schemes through
the mails -s..os ,,.,,
The subjects OF universal postal congresses. 'Nil
Service Reform in the Department ana other topics
we're ,reated 10 their full value in that portion OF the
Presidents Message devoted 10 the postal service