The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-03-05
THE POST OFFICE.

The postal bureau is a branch Ct the
Government that merits the approved
of every one on the islands. The Post
master General, Mr.. j. NJ. Dat, has de-
voted most assiduous care to his De
partment and has made himself IA
miliar, personally, with the mail work
ings of the other Islands. 1t is ONLY
by such careful work as he has done
that success comes to a department.
Experiments in speed of delivery, eX-
periments in routs have been tried till
the Postmaster General has brought
his mail service to a better condition
than it has ever before been in. In an
other way he is successful. The com
plants of the public are not brushed
aside as they are by the Road Super
visors, for instance, but are carefully
and courteously considered and reas-
ons why changes cannot be made
given.
The total revenue of the Post Office
during the past year-1S96-was ST.
4SS.94. This is an increase of SIG, 770.10
upon the previous period. Deducting
expenses, which were S62 1854, this
country has had its mail matter sorted
and distributed and, in many cases, in
the country districts carried to the
very doors of those to whom the let
ters and parcels are addressed. at
profit of $4.993.53 to the general fund
of the Republic. 1t seems to the writ
er, being an old Kamaaina, that there
was once a serious deficit in the Post
Office, but it is no use bringing up old
sores, those who know, know; those
who don't know need not be enligiht-
ened. 1t is satisfactory to know that
now the Post Office, as in all civilized
countries, is a source of revenue.
There is no doubt but that this is Il
writing and reading community. Sit
uated as these islands are, we are
thrown upon our powers of reading to
keep up with the advance of the
world. 1t is a matter to be deprecated
that the Post Office report does not
give the number of letters and news
papers received and sent, instead of
merely massing what was received and
what was dispatched together. Such
statistics are invaluable to the polit-
ical economist and he is able to make
his mark in practical politics not only
occasionally but all the time. How
ever, the Postmaster General reports
that he has sent away 4OT,667 letters
and papers and has received 692 ,979
packages of the same kind. The eX-
( cess means newspapers undoubtedly,
but better check upon this should
be kept.
From the above figures, if one had
any premiss. it could be argued who
We're the readers, who were the people
who cared to spend their money for
acquiring the intelligence of what was
going on in the world, and who re-
manned narrow. 1t would be IA simple
matter of collecting information and
reducing it to percentages, the most
deadly showing that can be given.
1t is satisfactory to see that the
Postal Savings Bank shows marked
increase in the number of depositors.
The total number of pass books out
standing at the end of the year was
7,494 and the credit to the depositors
was $73O,356.61. According to the FL
nance Minister'S report of 1895, the
total number of pass books outstand-
ing on December 81 was 1886, the
value of the deposits not being given
on page Is of the Postmaster Generals
report in that pamphlet, though from
another page it appears to be $751;,
401.61. The Star is perfectly willing
TO accept figures when issued authori-
tatively, but it does like to see the
comparison squarely put down. There
is every reason to consider the figures
correct, but they should have been put
in juNtaposition.
Another criticism that must be made
is that the nationality of the depos-
itors is not shown. In 1895 the report
showed these distinctions, and it was
possible to make an argument upon
the relative saving qualities of the diff
ferent races which we have in our
community, but from the Postmaster
Generals report it is impossible to
make any comparison of how the
thrift of this or that nationality has
progressed. The savings Bank it must
be remembered is the thermometer of
the thrift of natonalities. 1t does not
tell their wealth, but it tells of the
foundation of their wealth.
In spite of criticism The Star thanks
Postmaster General Dat for an able re-