The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-12-07

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to its new uses. the work previously
done by prisoners confined there. ana
for which expensive machinery has been
provided. has been discontinued This
work consisted of the manufacture OK
articles for army use. now done else
where. on all grounds it Is exceedingly
desirable that the convicts connned In
this penitontiary be allowed TO resume
work OF this description.
1t is most gratifying TO note the satis-
factory results that have followed tho
inauguration OF the new system pro-
vided for by the act OF May aS 1885, un-
der which certain federal officials are
compensated by salaries instead or fees.
The new plan was put I'm operation on
the first day OF July, 1896. and already
the great economy IL enforces. It's pre-
vention OF abuses. and It's tendency to
a better enforcement OF the laws. are
strikingly apparent. Detailed evidence
OF the usefulness Of this long delayed
but now happily accomplished reform will
be found clearly set forth in the attor-
pey generals report.
POSTOFFICE DEPARTMENT..
Our postofiice department Is in good con-
dition. and the exhibit made OF its oper-
atiors during the fiscal year ended June
80 1896. IL allowance Is made for imper-
fections in the laws applicable TO II. is
very satisfactory The total receipts dur
hne the year were $50. .a99 20s.i0. The total
expenditures were $90.626 ,296.S4. exclusive
OF 81 559, s9S.27 which was earned by the
Pacific railroad for transportation ana
credited on their debt to the government.
There was an increase OF receipts over
the previous year of s5.5l6,0So.2l. or III
per cent and an increase of expenditures
of 1855 12i.02. or 4.42 per cent.
The deficit was 81, ,6I9. go less than that
OF the preceding year. The chief expen-
ditures OF the postal service are regu-
lated by law and are not in the control OF
the postmaster general. All that he can
accomplish by the most watchful admin
istration and economy Ia to force prompt
and thorough collection and accounting
for public moneys and such minor savings
in small expenditures and in letting those
contracts for postofiiee supplies ana star
service which are not regulated py stat
ute.
An effective cooperation between the
auditors office and the postoffice depart
ment and the making and enforcement or
orders by the department requiring I'M
mediate notification TO their sureties or
all delnquencies on the part or postmas-
ters and compelling such postmasters 10
make more frequent deposits OF postal
funds, have resulted In a prompter au-
diting OF ther accounts and much less
default 10 the government than hereto
FORE
The years report shows large exten-
sions of both star route service and rail-
way mail service, with Increased postal
facilities. Much higher accuracy In
handling mails has also been reached.
as appears by the decrease of errors in
the railway mail service and the reduc-
ton OF mail matter returned to the dead
letter office.
much less than that of the last and pre-
The deficit for the last year, although
ceding years, emphasized the necessity
for legislation TO correct the growing
abuse of second class rates. TO which the
deficiency is mainly attributable.
The transmission at the rate OF l cent
a pound OF serial Libraries. advertising
sheets, house organs tpefiedfeafs- adj
yertising some particular house or inst-
tution) sample copies and the like. ought
certainly ought 10 be discontinued. A
glance at the revenues received for the
work done last year will show more
plainly than any other statement the
gross abuse OF the postal service. and
the growing waste of its earnings:
The free matter carried In the mails
for the department offices. etc, OF the
government and for congress, In pounds.
amounted to i4S0, 100. II this Is Offset
against buildings for postoffices and sta
tions, the rental of which would more
than compensate for such free postal
service we have this exhibit: Weight
of mail matter (other than above) trans
mitted through the mails for the year
ending June 80 1S96-Class ], domestic
and foreign letters, ETC., weight Go, 33l. .3i3.
value $50, ,624, ,46i. Glass 2. newspapers and
periodicals, l cent per pound, weight 34s.-
$685. Gas, value 1896. .403. Class 3, books.
seeds, etc, cents a pound, weight 49,
70l14S, value s10,324069. Class 4. parcela,
etc, 16 cents pound, weight 1880. 1877,
value $31g5, 32l Total weight, 5l2, ,91I sc,
total value, $77,0iA,251.
The remainder OF our postal revenue.
amounting to something more than $5.00o.-
900, was derived from box rents. registry
fees, money order business and other sim.
liar items.
The entire expenditure of the depart.
ment, including pay for transportation
| credited TO the Pacific railroads. was
| So, 1856. 1911, which may be considered AS
! the cost OF receiving, carrying and deliv-
erinE the above mail matter. 1t thus ap-
pears that though the second-class mat
| ter constituted more than two-thirds OF
the total that was carried. he revenue
derived from 1t was less than one-thir-
| tieth of the total expense.
The average revenue from each pounc
| of first-cnss matter was SO cents.
From each pound OF second-class mat
ter SIS mills.
(Of the second-class 52,24s,297 wa,
| county-free matter)
| From each pound of third-class 49,
| cents.
| From each pound or fourth-clasS matter
| 1876 cents.
| The growth In weight of second-class
matter has been from 299 900, 600 pounds ir
1894 to 312. .00O000 in 1885, and to almost
| 3i9, ,000, ,0o0 In 1896, and IL Is quite evident
this increasing drawback is far outstrip
ping any possible growth of postal reve
| nues
| Our mail service should of course bs
| such as to meet the wants and even the
oonvenicnces of our people, at direct
charge upon them as light as perhaps "a
exclude the idea of our postofilce de-
| partment being a monoy-making concern
but in the face of constantly recurring
deficiency in its revenues. and in view
| OF tho fact that we supply the best mai
services IN the world. 1t seems to me Il
| Is quito time TO correct the abuses thai
| swell enormously our annual deficit. II
we concede the public policy of carrying
weekly newspapers free In the county o.
| publication aad even the policy OF car
| rying at less than one-tenth OF their cost
other bona fiGC newspapers ana period
| icais. there can be no excuse for sub
jecting the service to tho further immepS