The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-12-09
Interesting Report by
Postmaster General.
He Recommends Extension of
the Civil Service.
Two Very Significant Suggestions
are Made by Mr.. Wilson.

test against the abuse vf the postal
service Is made in the annual report on
postmaster General Wilson. He quotes
ngures " hich show an excess OF expendi.
lures over receipts OF $S,127, ,0sS for the
past nscal year. which however. is a de.
crease In deficiency as compared with
the previous fiscal year of sl.679. .s56
This satisfactory exhibit for the past
year mas been made possible. the post
master general says. by a vigorous policy
Oh bringing suit or pushing collection on
bonds immediately after defauit, which
Is the only safe practice for the interests
OF the government and those OF the
obiigers. The postmaster general saws
that he thinks congress may properly
grant relief I'm cases OF hardship and I'm.
justice following collection after the
iapse of years by general bill or other
wise.
The report rays: NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
the gratifying increase I'm the earnings
OF the department. which would have
been fully up to. II not In excess of. my
estimate for the fiscal year but for the
haIting of business activity in its clos
iIG months. due TO the Uncertainties of
the political campaign about 10 begin
the total deficiency. even after omittina
the amount credited to the Pacific rail.
roads. was ss,127. .0ss.44. which was a
charge on the general treasury.
There Is no necessity for this animal
deficit. The department is powerless &c
prevent IL, but a few lines OF amend.
ment by congress TO the postal laws will
wipe IL out and give In it's place a steady
surplus. Ii has its chief source IN the
transmission at second-cI rates OF a
large and rapidly increasing volume of
matter never in the contemplation OF
the law which gives the nominal rate OF
cent pound on such matter. and as.
snredly outside OF the policy OF the law
as 20 newspapers and periodicals.
Inc postmaster general says he would
nave taken the responsibility to modify
ard reverse the successive rulings
through which this inroad on the service
has been effected. and 20 exclude from
thc penent OF second -class rates the social
libraries and other publications not in
the policy OF the law but for the hope OF
the enactment of what Is known as the
Loud bih now pending In the house.
Ihis would have imposed upon those
VINO proht at the public expense by ex-
istinS practices the necessity OF seeking.
through the courts or otherwise. the
restoration OF their special privileges.
AS TO second class matter the report
says: The Increase In the weight OF
second-class matter for the year was
.''Oov,OO0 pounds, as against $4,000, ,00c
rouncs last year. The mere cost of
transportation OF this matter is esti.
mated at cents pound. The postage
revenue received from II was Sh mills a
pound. Thus $40. .oo0. 900 pounds i'm round
numbers at cents for transportation
cost ~, 920, coo; postal revenue received
al S1s mills pound. 81, 966. t0S a loss on
transportation alone OF nearly sc5, 0O0, 600,
but THIS does rot cover the full logs 10
the government on second class matter
settirg OF the cost Of mail services on
public and official matter. as above
statec, by the use and rental of public
buildings provided fer the postofIice de-
partmeht, we have az the great, weight OF
all non-SoNerrfnental matter handled by
the mails curing the last hscal year an
aggregate Of 512.9s7. .Sc3 POUNDS.
POSTMASTER General Wilson discusses
the proposed 1-cent letter rate. the
oneapost postage In the world. He SAYS
II would yield q great profit but Il is
IDLE to talk of such reduction while two
thirds or our mail matter is handled az
small fraction OF It's cost
he charactec!zes the loss sustained by
the thanking privilege in transmitting
social libraries. etc. as lndefensible:
shows that of s4S, ,sss.sss pounds OF Sec
tpd-class matter handled during the
year. over 52.sis, 900 pounds were bounty
free" matter. and urges the adoption OF
the Loud bill as the remedy
Discussing the merits Of the postal
System, the postmaster general says the
people Of the United States may felicitate
Themselves that in no important respect
are they behind any other country in
their postal facilities, and In many things
are Ia the van.
The postmaster general concludes his
report with two significant recommen-
GLtion, which he says arc necessary 10
complete the civil service reforms. The
fist is TO secure fixlty of tenure during
efficiency and good behavior to the three
assistant postrastors general, whoee
work is entirely non-polit!cal whose
capacity To deal with tho large ma
chinery and great expenditures Of their
respective bureaus must come I'm great
rlsasure. from experience. and who
preserve the continuity OF the depart
r1cnt, rot in mere desk and disivion
work, but - general administration.
The second Is 10 cover into the civil
trvlce as many "A possible OF the post
masters themselves. The 10000 or more
pOstmasteTs are now the chief spolls OF
IN incoming administration. Under the
,resent system these officials are too apt
T. think tnat their obligations 10 party
J. higher than their duty TO the public.
aud that the zeal and activity with which
they meet that obligation Is a surer
guaranty CT conti.rnncs In Office than
any like zeal aud activity for the public
service. To this belief. am sure IL trnce-
able the excessive. and ocousionally rep.
rchensible. psrtisan activity exhibited
by many postmasters during tho late.
and during preceding presidential cam
paigns.
usd Complication of Di.e,ses