The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1896-12-16
RUN AT A LOSS.
Expenditures Exceed Receipts in Postal
Serviee-Protest Against Abuses


Expenditures Exceed Receipts in Postal
Serviee-Protest Against Abuses.
Washington. Dec IA vigorous protest
against the abuse Of the postal service Is
made In the annual report of Postmaster
General Wilson He quotes figures which
show an excess of expenditures over re-
ceipts Of S. III 0Ss for the last fiscal year.
which, however, is q decrease in the de-
ficiency of 81, 679. $50, as compared with the
previous fiscal year This satisfactory ex-
hibit for the last year mas been made pos
sible, the postmaster-general sets forth,
by vigorous policy OF bringing suit or
pushing collection on bonds Immediately
after default, which is the only safe prac-
tee for the interests OF the government
and those Of the obligera
The acknowledgements argues that there
Is no necessity for the annual deficit in the
revenues of the department, and that but
few lines of amendment by congress to the
postal laws viii wipe II out and give in its
place a steady surplus 1t has its chief
source, he says. in the transmission at
second-class rates Of q large and rapidly
increasing volume Of matter never in the
contamination of the law. which gives the
nominal rate of one cent a pound on such
matter. and assuredly outside of the policy
of the law as TO newspapers and period
icals.
In the past to secure legislation designed
TO protect the postal service from this
waste of its earnings and the taxpayers
from the large burden imposed on them oy
the regular deficits But. II says, up TO now
the combine lions and active efforts OF the
beneficiaries of this abuse nave parrleo al
appeals Of the department
Postma ster-General Wilson discusses the
proposed one-cent letter rate. the cheapest
postage in the world. He says II would
yield a great profit. but II is idle TO tax OF
such reduction while tWo-thlros OF our
mail matter is handled at small frac-
tion of its cost. and the deficits Of the de-
partment in consequence have aggregated
in ii years, since the act of March J. 1888.
Ione-cent-a-pound rate) the enormous sum
Of s71,gT 4s0 This is made up from the
ayails of general taxaions, and there Il
the further sun, of SIS ,962 earned by the
Pacific railroads for Transporting the mails,
which was certified TO the secretary OF the
treasury for credit upon their indebted
ness to the government. an aScertalneo
deficit of $S6, 9SS Az This, in fact should
be further increased by the unascertainec
overtime letter-carrier claims and the IN
iiquidated Indebtedness of the department
for telegraph service, left over from the
last administration. These would make
the actual deficit over sS0.eo0.O00.
He characterizes the loss sustained by
the franking privilege in transmitting
serial Libraries, etc, as tndefensible, SHOWS
that of 34S, $50, Gas pounds Of second-class
matter handled during the year over 52.S4S-
900 pounds were county free maltel'
and urges the adoption Of the Loud DILL
now pending in the house, as the remedy
Re says the passage Of this bill viii not
only wipe out the postal defcit and insure
in ordinary years surplus Wnlch may
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-
mound law of lSSl.
The postmaster-general estimates a de-
fcieucy in the revenues Of the department
for 1897 of S. AZ 49, and for 1888 OF ,2Ss ss4
Discussing the merits of the postal sys-
tenn, the postmaster-general says the peo-
ple of the United STA ties may felicitate
themselves that In no important respect
are they behind any other country in their
postal facilities. and II many things lney
are In the van.
Touching the consolidation Of small Of
fees with the nearest money orcer oInces,
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 viii
allow, as once fairly started its demon
strated success VIII nnally place IT'S oeneni
bevond controversy. The postmaster-gen-
eral thinks il 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-
ouired to familiariZe the people with the
innovation and develop its benefits or fall
ures The thorough working Of sucn a
system involves some redistribution Of post
Offices and some discontinuances which
cannot now be safely attempted
Twelve thousand and ninety appoint
n1ents or postmasters were mace curing
the year. of which 1,3l were due TO re-
moyals There were l93 fraud orders is
sued during the year.
The HEADQUARTERS Of all or nearly all NJ
the avowed lottery concerns have been re-
moved to foreign shores, but II Is thougni
much matter sent by them reaches al
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 significant Recommendations
which he says are necessary TO complete
the civil service reforms. The first is to
secure fxity of tenure during efficiency
and good behavior 10 the three assistant
postmasters-geners1- whose work Is en-
tirely nou-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 II the general admins
tration-
The second IS TO cover into the civil
service as many as possible of the postmas-
tiers themselves
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
ligation to party is higher than their duty
TO the public, and that the zeal and activity
with which they meet that obligation is
surer guaranty of continuance in office
than any like zeal and activity for the pub
lie service
Siaraall1z har sinle