Warren sheaf., 1896-12-17

uQuidated Indebtedness of the department
for telegraph service. left over from the
last administration. These would make
the actual deficit over $50. .000.00
He characterizes the loss sustained by
the franking privilege in transmitting
serial libraries. ETC., as indefensible. shows
that of 348,9S0,6 648 pounds of second-class
matter handled during the year over 52S4S.-
GOO 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 bill viii not
only wipe out the postal deficit and insure
be used to cheaper postage on letters or
to increase the mail facilities of the peo-
ple, but will really carry out the one-cent-a-
pound law of 1856.
The postmaster-general estimates de-
ficiency in the revenues of the department
for 1897 of 49, and for 1888 of 2ss. .3S4
Discussing the merits of the postal sys-
tenn. the postmaster-general says the peo-
ple of the United States may felicitate
themselves that in no important respect
are they behind any other country in their
nostal facilities, and in many things they
are In the van.
Touching the consolidation of small Of
fees with the nearest money order offices,
the hope is expressed that the limitation
imposed by the last congress on the au-
thority of the postmaster-general to con-
solidate offices will be repealed, and that
the appropriation bill for the coming fiscal
wear will permit this reform to be carried
forward as rapidly as public interests will
allow. as once fairly started it's demon
gtrated success will finally place it's benefit
beyond controversy. The postmaster-gen-
eral thinks it the most feasible method for
bringing post offices into the classified
service
The results of the free rural delivery ex-
periments are yet incomplete. Time Is re-
uuired to familiarize the people with the
innovation and develop its benefits or fail
ures. The thorough working of such a
system involves some redistribution OF post
offices and some discontinuances which
cannot now be safely attempted.
Twelve thousand and ninety appoint
ments OF postmasters were made during
the year, Of which 1,341 were due to re-
movals There were 1913 fraud orders is
sued during the year.
The headquarters of all or nearly all Of
the avowed lottery concerns have been re-
moved to foreign shores, but it Is thought
much matter sent by them reaches ad-
dresses in this country through the mails.
which the department practically has no
power to prevent. and that express COM
panies carry large sums OF money from our
people to them.
The postmaster-general concludes his re-
port with two significa mt recommendations,
which he says are necessary to complete
the civil service reforms. The first is to
secure u1lIy OK tenure OuFluS eUlC1SIlCy
and good behavior to the three assistant
postlnasters-general, whose work Is en-
tircly non-political. whose capacity to deal
with the large machinery and great ex-
penditures Of their respective bureaus
must come in great measure from expert
ence, and who preserve the continuity of
the department, not in the mere desk or
division work, but in the general admins
tration.
The second is to cover into the civil
service as many as possible Of the postmas-
ters themselves.
1.-The 10000 or more postmasters are now
the chief spoils of an incoming admins
tration. Under the present system these
officials are too apt to think that their OBJ
legation to party is higher than their duty
to the public, and that the zeal and activity
with which they meet that obligation is u
surer guaranty of continuance in Office
than any like zeal and activity for the pub
lie service.
ITO this belief am sure is traceable the
excessive and occasionally reprehensible
partisan activity exhibited by many post
masters during the late and during preced-
ing presidential campaigns.
The report says that If the two items Of
second-class matter at one cent per pound
and Of county free distribution paid their
proportionate share of the cost it is figured
that it would create an apparent surplus in
the revenues of 81, .669. instead Of the de-
fciency OF over SS.0OO.0O0.