The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-12-24
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Correcting Little Abuses In the Postal
Service Money Saved For Uncie
Sam An Envicd Nan.
Especial Corre.nondoncc.l

oeivc so cents of the 80 gents which
they deposited OF each the keys to BIO
reissued. Lock boxes. while they AFRO
not used so much proportionatcly rs i'll
the timo when free delivery was I'M
known, arc still an important feature
OF the postal service. They are furnish
ed:
First. For postofices i'll government
buildings by the treasury department..
Second. AT first and second class
postofficos, tho lessor, by agreement i'll
tho lease, usually furnishes tho box out
fit.
Third. -Undcr existing law patrons
OF postoffices may provide lock boxes and
lock drawers for their own use under
conditions stated.
Fourth. In all other cases boxes
must be furnished and kept i'll repair by
the postmaster.
Why Boxes Arc Provided.
Boxes arc not furnished by the gov
ernment TO presidential Offices of tho
third class except where Offices of this
class are i'll government buildings At
the present time IS third class Offices
AFRO situated i'll government buildings.
Boxes arc provided for postoflices to
accommodate the patrons, for the con-
venience of the postmaster and ns !;
source of revenue. Under existing law,
ut presidential offices, or Offices of the
first, second and third classes the box
rents collected are included in the gross
receipts accruing at the Offices III max
ing the annual adjustment of salaries
of postmasters. These postmastcrs there
fore indirectly receive part of their
box rents in tho sum allowed rs com
pensation. Under the act of congress
approved March 8, 1883, at fourth class
offices the box rents are practically al
lowed rs e part of tho compensation of
the postmasters. The regulation of box
rent rates by the department. has result
ed III better accommodations to the pub
lie, more uniformity III rates and an in
crease of revenue.
Key Deposit Forfeits.
Key deposits are collected by post
masters as Il security against tho loss of
keys. The rate of deposit 1T postofIices
located III government buildings was re-
duced OH April 49, 1898, TO 20 cents.
At all other postofiicos it was reduced
recently to the same figure. Deposits
are held il trust by postmasters, but on
return of keys III good condition they
are returned to dcpositors within 30
days after the boxes to which they be-
long havo been vacated. Deposits on
keys not returned within 30 days arc
declared forfeited and revert to what is
known as the key deposit forfeiture
fund. The key deposit forfeiture fund
is used to purchase new keys TO replace
those lost, broken or withheld, which
enables postmasters to keep up their
full complement. In the past Il surplus
has accumulated under this account by
reason of the fact that the amount de-
posted TO cover the key was consider
ably i'll excess of its cost.
Loose Methods Corrected.
The amount involved in each transac-
ton was small, and postmasters there
fore did not give the matter the attcn-
ton it deserved. In numerous instances
postmasters were found delinquent to
the amount of several hundred dollars
at the expiration Of their term of Office
by reason Of loose methods. Tho depart
ment was compelled to take action III
the matter and demand of them or of
their suretes that this amount be re-
funded During the Is months ended
Sept. 30, 1896, surplus funds to the
amount of SIG, 1876. 81 have been turned
into tho United States treasury as mis-
cellancous receipts. The difficulties
above referred to will in the future be
obviated by the reduction of the key de-
posir to I. uniform ratio Of 90 cents per
key.
a 3usinesslike Department.
This is only one of many reforms
which First Assistant Postmaster Gener-
al Jones has brought about In de-
partment employing hundreds OF thou
sands Of men and women and spending
so many millions Of dollars every year
it is impossible to prevent abuses and
injustice. In one item aone-thc hire
of clerks ct first and second class offices