Kansas City daily journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1892-1897, 1896-11-09
REPORT OF THE FIRST ASSISTANT
POSTMASTER GENERAL.
HE RECOMMENDS CHANGES.
EXPERIMENT OF FREE LETTER DE-
LIVERY DISCONTINUED.
Plans for AbatinE Unlawful COrre-
sPOndence and the BoycottinE
of Postmasters-Work of
the Dend Letter Office
Other Matters.

Washing gton Nov. S.-The annual report
of Frank II. Jones. the first assistant post
master general, gives a review Of large
part of the years postal business of the
government and makes numerous recon-
mendations for the improvement of the
service. 1t shows that during the last
three fiscal years the aggregate saving in
the divisions of salaries and allowances of
postmasters were 1884; IN free delivery,
$2,3l4.4l5, and postoffice supplies. SelS,54O;
total, S327s,SS5. For that period there was
an aggregate reduction of S,030,134 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 1863 were
first class, TAG of the second class
and 2,73S of tho third class. The ag-
sregate gross receipts at the first, second
and third class offices were s65. .2s2, 1865, and
the total salaries S. 800. Since November
2. 1894, there lave been 2.45s positions in the
postoffices added to the classified service.
This leaves as the only positions at first
class postoffices that are now excepted
from civil service examinations. assistant
poytmasters and principal cashiers; at sec
ond class Offices, assistant postmaster.
under any legaa designation.
Attention Is called to the fact that, not
wtthstanding the increase in gross re-
cespts, the numerical increase In the force
was less than 50 per cent Of prvious years.
During the year twenty-nine stations and
10 sub-stations were established, and one
station and seven sub-stations were dis
continued, a net Increase Of III stations and
sub stations Fifty-nve postoffices OF the
second third and fourth classes were dis
continued during the year. and hfty-foafr
stations and sub-stations were established
to take their place.
Mr.. Jones says the postofice department
should be at liberty to execute leases for
postofice premises for a period In excess
of FIVE years, where. in the opinion OF the
department, it is necessary. Canoeing
machines are highly commended and there
are 100 of one pattern and 2S7 Of another
now In use under contract.
1t is expected that the investigations OF
overtime carrier claims will be completed
during the current fiscal year and about
S9c0. 900 more will be necessary to pay all
claims accrued.
The experiment OF free delivery in forty
five towns and villages cost the depart
ment SS,247, leaving an unexepnded balance
of S1.753. Investigation showed that In
majority of the offices the gross receipts
had decreased since the establishment of
the service, the department being COM
PEELED to send money to some offices for
the payment of the letter carriers sal
aries. Congress did not appropriate for
further permanent or experimental service
and the experiment was necessarily dis
continued with the close of the fiscal year.
There are sixty-three offices which were
entitled to the establishment of the free
delivery service during the fiscal year end
ed June 30. 1886. but the service could not
be established at more than nineteen Of
fees without entailing greater expense
upon the limited appropriations for the
current year than the maintenance Of the
established service would permit. The ru-
raj free delivery experiment was in oper-
alton at points in thirty states by the first
of this month and the result of this test
will be reviewed in a special report to con-
gress in December.
In the dead letter Office, 6,253 1863 pieces of
original dead mail matter were received
about SS3. $50 being inclosed, and 81 per cent
OF the money restored. Letters also came
containing drafts, checks, etc, of the ap-
parent value OF s956, ,O95, about 80 per cent
OF this being returned to owners.
The report closes with a summary Of the
administration Of Mr.. Jones, showing prun-
Ing of expenses wherever possible and i'm
proved facilities. and makes numerous rec
concentrations. The first assistant SAYS:
''The attention of congress ought to be
called to the private letter box abuse in
large cities. It Is in some cases impossible
to locate persons engaged in conducting
fraudulent and unlawful correspondence
through the mails, who for a comparative
ly small sum, can rent a box in some
cigar or stationary store through which to
receive letters addressed to them. Several
bills have been introduced within the past
few years designed to put an end to the
practice OF boycotting postmasters at Of
nces O the fourth class, thereby depriving
them of the compensation properly belong
ing to them. This matter should be called
up and some action taken that would re-
suit in postmasters receiving, at least, the
compensation which properly belongs to
their respective Offices" -