The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-12-09
Postmaster-G General Makes His
Annual Report.
DEFICIENCY GROWING LESS.
eooe Results From Vigorous Coli
Abuse of the Law n to second
eiass Matter Proving Very EN-
pensfse 20 the Gevernment-
warning 40 Postmnsterx Who
Are PerntciousIy Active i'm Peii-
ties.

WASHINGTON. Dee. s-A vigorous pro-
test against the abuse of the postal SER
vice fs made In the annual report OF Post
master General Wilson. He quotes figures
which show excess Of expenditures over
receipts OF s.. lz7.asS for the pas, fiscal
year. which. however. is a decrease in
the deficiency of s. s79 as. as compared
with the previous fiscal year. This salts
factory exhibit for the past year has been
mace possible. the postmaster general sets
f9rtn. By a vigorous policy OF bringing
suit or pushing collection on bonds inn
mediately after default. which is the only
safe practice for the interests OF the gov
eTIInent and those Of oosieers-
The postmaster general argues that
there Is no necessity for the annual deficit
ia the revenues OF the department, and
that but a few lines of amendment by con-
gress to the postal laws w11l wipe IL out
and give In its place steady surplus Ii
has rs chief source. he says. in the trans
mission at second-cIass rates OF a large
and rapidly increasing volume OF matter
never In the contemplation OF the law.
which gives the nominal rate Of cent
a pound on such matter. and assurediy
outside OF the policy OF the law as 10 news
papers and periodicals.
The report recites the strenuous efforts
ef the past TO secure legislation designed
10 protect the postal service from this
waste Of its earnings and the taxpayers
from the large burden imposed on them
BY the regular deficits. But, II says. up
10 now the combinations and active efforts
of the benencigries of this abuse have
parted all appeals of the department
Postmaster General Wilson discussed the
proposed 1-cent letter rate. the cheapest
postage IN the world. He says II would
yield great profit. but IL Is idle to talk
Of such reduction while two-thirds OF our
mall matter is handled at a small frac-
tion OF Its cost. and the deficits OF the de-
rartment In consequence have aggregated
in eleven years. since the act of March
3. ISIS u-cent pound rafe1. the enormous
sum of 81. 81. 80 He characterizss the loss
sustained by the fraakiag privilege in
transmitting serial libraries. ETC.. as inde-
fensable. shows that of 34s sss .s4s pounds OF
second-class matter handled during the
year over 52 3lS. 900 pounds were county
free" matter. and urges the adoption of
the Loud bill. now pending In the house
as the remedy. He says the passage OF
this bin viii not only wipe out the postal
deficit. and insure in ordinary years sur
plus which may be used 10 cheaper post
age on letters or to increase the mall faclii-
1zes ex the people. but will really carry out
the i-eent pound law Of 1855.
The postmaster general estimates de-
ficiency In the revenues or the department.
of 1897 of sS47a.4is, and fer 1883 OF i.2ss.-
334
The results of the free rural delivery
experiments are yet incomplete. Time IS
required to familiarize the people with the
innovation and develop its benefits or
failures. The thorough working OF such
a system involves some redistribution OF
postoffices and some discontinuances,
which cannot now be safely estimated.
Twelve thousand and ninety appoint-
ments of postrna Sters were made during
the year. OF which 1874 were due 10 re-
movaIs.
He concludes his report with two slgnifi-
cant recommendation which, he says, are
necessary to complete the civil service re-
forms. The first is TO secure nxity or
tenure during efficiency, and good be-
havior to the three assistant postmaster
generals, whose work is entirely nom
political: whose capacity 20 deal with the
large machinery and great expenditures
OF their respective bureaus must come In
n great measure from experience, and
who preserve the continuity of the DEPART
rnent not In mere desk or division work.
but in general administration. The sec
ond Is ''to cover into the civil service as
many as possible OF the postmasters them
selves" Mr.. Wilson says:
'sThe 7oo0o or more postmasters are now
the chief spoiis OF an incoming admins
tratfon Under the present system these
officials are too apt TO think that their
obligation 20 party is higher than duty
to the public. and that the zeal and ac-
tivity with which they meet that ohii-
CATION Is surer guarantee of coniinn-
ance than any like zeal and activity for
public service. To this belief. I am sure,
is traceabie the excessive and OCCASION
ally reprehensible partisan activity ex-
hibited by many postmasfers during the
late and preceding presidential CAM
patgns."
The report recommends the reclassifiea-
ton of the railway mail service and OF
provision for clerks at first and second
class postoffices: ten additional pos,of'ice
inspectors. and legislation making post
masters and their surc1ies liable for rhe
acts and 6efalcations OF their sabordinates
and authorizing postmasters TO bond tne.r
subordinates.
The report says II the TWO items OF Sec
and class matter at I cent per pound ana
OF country free distribution pay their pre-
portsonate share OF the cost. u IS figured
that Il would create an apparent surplus
In the revenues OF 81, Al, so. instead oi the
deficiency Of over s. .eao.oea.