The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1896-11-09
TH[ GOVERNMENTS
POSTAL BUSINESS
AS Summarized in AssiS-
tant Jones Report
ECONOMY HIS BEEN PRAC1|CED
And a Great Saving in Salaries
Effected
CIVIL SERVICE EXTENDED
To Include E:arly All Employees Of the
Department
To Include E:arly All Employees OF the
Department
Free Delivery In Rural Districts Not a
Shining Success
Chief Among Recommendation Made
Are Laws to Check Fraud Cases and
Dealers in Obscene Matter-Ap-
propriations Asked

Associated Press Special Wire
WASHINGTON, Nov. s.-The annual
report of Frank H. Jones. first assist
ant postmaster-general, gives review
Of large part Of the years postal ousl-
ness of the government and makes nu-
merous recommendations for the I'M
provement of the service. 1t shows that
during the last three fiscal years the
aggregate saving in the divisions of sal
aries and allowances Of postmasters
were $55, 1874; in free delivery, s2,314.415,
and postoffice supplies $21s,54 total,
s3.27s,9s5. For that period thre was an
aggregate reduction of 3,O3O,l34 IN the
number Of pieces Of mail sent from post
offices to the dead letter office. The
total number of presidential offices July
1 last was 1851, of which 1853 were first
class, 746 second class and 27S6 third
class. The aggregate gross receipts at
the first second and third class OFFICES
were s65, 1865, and the total salaries
Sc, ,203, 300 Since November 2, 1894, there
have been 2549 positions in the post
offices added to the classified service.
This leaves as the only positions at first
class postoffices that are now excepted
from civil service examinations, assist
ant postmasters and principal cashiers
of second class offices, and assistant
postmasters under any legal designa-
ton.
Attention is called to the fact that not
withstanding the increase in gross re-
ceipts the numerical increase in the force
was less than so per cent of previous
years
During the year twenty-nine stations
and 12O sub-stations were established,
and one station and seven sub-stations
were discontinued and fifty-four stations
and sub-stations were established to
take their place.
Mr.. Jones says the postoffice depart
ment should be at liberty to execute
leases for postoffice premises for a pc
riod in excess of five years, where, in the
opinion of the department. it is neces-
sary. Canceling machines are high
ly commended and there are 10 0of one
pattern and 237 Of another now in use
under contract.
It is understood that the investiga-
tions of carrier claims will be completed
during the present fiscal year and about
$500, 900 more will be necessary to pay
all claims accrued.
The experiment of free delivery in
forty-five towns and villages cost the
department $S247, leaving an unexpend-
ed balance Of $1753. Investigations
showed that in a majority of the offices
the gross receipts had not increased
since the establishment of the service,
the department being compelled to send
money to some offices for the payment
Of letter carriers salaries.
Congress did not appropriate for fur
tier permanent or experimental SER
vice and the experiment was necessar-
ily discontinued with the close of the
fiscal year.
There are sixty-three offices entitled
to the establishment of free delivery
service during the fiscal year ended
June 30, 1896, but the service could not
be established at more than nineteen
Offices without entailing greater ex-
pense upon the limited appropriations
for the current year than the mainten-
ance of established service would per-
NIT. The rural free delivery expert
ment was in operation at points in
thirty states by the first of this month,
and the result Of this test will be receiv-
ed in a special report to congress in De-
cember.
The aggregate number of domestic
and international money orders issued
during the year was 24,947,S S49, amount
ing to $185, 1858, ,264. and their payments
and repayments were 124. .140 S4S, amount
ing to $177,0S7,567 There was an in
crease of per cent in the whole number
Of money orders issued, showing growth
Of the system, and the total increase in
revenue from both the domestic and in
ternational business was $74,147 The
total amount of bills of exchange result
ing from exchange of international mon
ey orders sent to foreign countries dur
ing the year was $S,291, ,799, the balances
received from abroad for the same pur-
pose being s201,S70
In the dead letter Office 6,25S, 1853 pieces
of original dead mail matter was re-
Ceived, about $3S,S60 being incloSed and
81 per cent of the money restored. Let
ters also came containing drafts, checks,
etc, Of the apparent value of 1856, ,095,
about 90 per cent of this being returned
to owners.
The report closes with a summary of
the administration of Mr.. Jones, show
ing pruning Of expenses wherever pos
sible without impairing the service. and