Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1897-10-28
PERRY s HEATH.
First assistant Postmaster-General.


field into postmaSters' acquisitions and de-
mands, and TO reach a just entertainment OF
merit in such purely business matters as can
not be obtained by correspondence. There
should also be fixed a more severe penalty for
the punishment of postmasters who peddle post
age stamps with view to increasing their own
salaries, resulting in the diminution of the net
receipts of the government Authority should
be given TO secure leases of post office stations
for period of ten instead of five years
So much is gained by our recent policy OF
consolidation or post oficeS and the establish
ment or extension of the free delivery, that
urge such action by congress as will give great
err latitude of discretion in the use OF specific
appropriations Two assistant superintend-
ents of free delivery system have been APP
pointed, one to be located at New York and the
other at Chicago, with proper plenary power
and primary jurisdiction
On July /. there were S,7SS presidential post
offices, embracing 169 first class, 80 second
the year in the salaries OF the poStmaSters at
these of1ces is $3.50, 800. With the consolidation
of the present independent post-ofices within the
limits of the new city of New York, saving
of at least So, 723 in salaries and commits
sions of postmasters will be effected.
Another considerable reduction in expenses
may be made by the merging, the abolish
ment in many cases, Of the several heads of di-
visions and other officials receiving the higher
salaries. Congress should not only repeal the
any county seat shall be abolished or disoontin-
ued by reason of any consolidation of post
Offices under the existing law, but should also
authorize the postmaster general to extend
consolidation wherever, in his belief, the serv-
ice may be thereby benefited. The estimates
for the fiscal year ending June 80. 1879, en-
brace SO, sc. 600 for compensation of postmas-
tiers; for clerk hire Sl1 300 900; rental and pur-
chase OF cancelling machines. &125 900; rent,
fuel and lights, 81, 10000; miscellaneous items
and furniture, $500, 600; advertising, $4,000.
A plea is made for the purchase of the postal
stations in the larger cities and that for the
Reconsideration OF post ONCE clerks renewed.
The estimate for the free delivery service for
the fiscal year June, 1899, is S1S.S10, 400
Domestic and international money orders is
sued aggregated %, 1IS,e40, amounting to $751;
01,056; aggregate number of payments and re-
payments, 25.5S0556, amounting to $3.50, al $50.
There were 5,e67, $50 pieces of original unclaimed
matter received at the dead letter office. q de-
crease OF 276, 403
The special letter and collection boxes oper-
Rted in Baltimore in connection with public
street car service Is held 90 be successful and
when appropriations permit will be extended to
other cities. The aflxing OF letter boxes to the
ordinary street cars TO facilitate mail coll
lection is also to be taken up. The total
appropriations made by congress for settling
overtime claims OF carriers up to date aggre-
gate g SIC, 600 Total claims allowed on this
ratio win reach "a. 500 900.
Rural free delivery was been put to the test
OF practical experiment In % states and over
a different routes. The cooperation OF the
communities served has In every instance
been effectively given. The general salts
factory results suggest the feasibil-
lty Of making rural delivery o permanent
feature OF postal administration in the United
States; not Immediately. or in all districts at
once. out in some gradual and graduated form
regulated by the present experiments. Public
policy requires some advancement to be made,
and that the postal service should be brought
more into line with advancing prosperity and
increasing population. Sooner or later the
United States will have to follow the
lead of the more densely populated countries
and establish delivery service over all the
settled portions OF the vast territory. Under
wise restrictions it can be extended with great
advantage to a class OF our citizens who, right
Iy or wrongly, deem themselves neglected in
egislation-the agricultural class-and without
serious detriment to the revenues.