The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1897-10-26
POSTAL SERVICE.
ASSISTANT POsTMAsTER aRNERAL
uEATH'S REPORT.
Rural Delivery by Gradual KxtonsioD 10 10
sominendsd-Expendi In tho De-
partment--C Consolidating Ofioes.

Washington, D. c., Got. 22.-The
report Of First Assistant Postmaster
General Perry s. Heath for the tis.
cal year ending June 80th, was made
public today. Tho following is an
abstract:
Special attention is called to the
necessity Of additional facilities for
the division Of salaries and allow.
ances, but above all other recommen.
dations is placed one making provi=
sion for small corps Of special agents
about ten--who are expert account
ants, familiar with real estate values,
to inquire in the field into postmas-
ters acquisitions and demands and TO
reach just ascertainment OF the
merit OF public business matters as
can not be obtained by correspond
once. There should also be fixed
moro sovoro penalty Tor the punish
ment Of posSmastors who peddle
postage stamps with view to in
oreasing their own salaries, resulting
in the diminutio0 of tho net reooipts
Of the government. Authority should
be given to SECURE leases Of post Office,
stations for a period Of ten years in
stead OF five years. So much is
gained by our recent policy Of con-
solidation Of post Offices and the es-
tablishment or extension Of free de-
livery that urge such action by
congress as will give greater latitude
Of discretion in the use ofspec;lio ap-
preparations. Two assistant superin-
tendents of the free delivery system
have been appointed, ono to bo looat-
cd at New York and tho other at
Chicago, with plenary power and
jurisdiction.
| On July 1st there were 8, ,738 presi-
dental post Offices, embracing l00
first class; $50 second class and
2,8l4 third class. The net increase
for the year in the salaries Of the
postmasters at these Offices is $07,-
| 900. Their aggregate salaries arc
| $230,800. With tho consolidation
OF the present independent post Of
fees within the limits Of tho new
city Of Now York, saving of at least
962, 1928 in salaries and commissions
and postmasters will bs effected.
Another considerable reduction in
expenses may be made by the merg-
ing or the abolishment in many cases
Of several heads Of division and other
officials receiving the higher salaries.
Congress should not only repeal the
law providing that no post office es-
tablished at any county seat should
not be abolished or discontinued by
reason Of consolidation OF poat offices
under Che existing laws, but should
also authorize the postmaster general
to extend consolidation where in his
belief the service may thereby be
benefited.
The estimates for tho fiscal year
ending June 80, 1899, embrace $40,
100000 for compensation of post
masters; for clerk hire $1l, 100000;
rental and purchase Of oanoelling
machines $121,000; rent, fuel and
light, 91,750,000; miscellaneous
items and furniture &2OO,000; and
advertising $4,000.
A plea is made for tho purchase OF
postal stations in larger cities and
that for the reolassiflcation Of posi-
office clerks renewed. The estimate
for tho FREQ delivory service for the
fiscal year ending June 30, 1899, ls
I 9l3,810,400. Since tho close Of the
, fiscal year 1897, the service has beer
established in more than forty offlcel
and before tho close Of tho current
year all Offices entitled to the service
| will receive the same.
Domestic and international money
order issues aggregated &26, 1920
amounting to $l88,071, ,056; aggro
, gate number payments and repay
ments $25,580, 500, amounting to
918O, l4l,o00. There were b,975, 90.
/ pieces of original unclaimed matte
received at the dead letter office, ,
| decrease Of 276, ,403.
! The special letsor and collection
= boxes operated In Baltimore in COZ
5 neotion with the public street Ca
service is held to be successful ant
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