The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-10-23

icy OF consolidation o. postoffices and the
establishment or extension of the free
delivery tha: 1 urge such action by Con-
sress as will give greater latitude or
discretion IN the case OF specific appro-
pritiations. Two assistant superintend-
en:s OF free delivery system have been
appointed. one to FOE located al New
York and the other at Chicago. with
proper plenary power and primary jur-
isdictiOn.
"On July there were 1898 presidential
postoifices: embracing 1853 frst class. $50
second class and 2S1i third class. Tie
net increase for the year in the salar-
les Of the postma sters at these offices
Is $3.50. 800. With the consolidation or
the present independent pos;offices with
in the limits Of the new city OF New
York, saving OF al least s62.723 in sal
aries and commissions OF postmasters
will be effected. Another considerable
reduction in expenses may be made by
the merging Or the adjustment. IN
many cases, OF the several heads OF d.
visions and other officials receiving the
higher calaries. Congress should not
only repeal TIE law providing that no
POSSIBILITIES established az any county
seat shall be abolished and discontinued
by reason OF any consolidation OF post
offices under the existing law but
should also authorize the postmaster
general 20 extend consolidation wnerev-
e- N his belief the service may be bene-
fitted thereby.
The estimates for the fiscal year end
ing June 30, 1899. embrace SIG. 100000 for
compensation of postmasters; for clerk
hire 81. 300 900: rental and purchase o.
cancelling machines sl25. 900; rent, fuel
and Hight 81 $50 600; miscellaneous Items
and furniture 5000, 900, and advertising
$40 900.
a plea is made for the purchase OF the
postal station in the larger cities and
for the re-classificadon Of poetofiiee
clerks renewed.
The estimate for the free delivery ser
vice for the fiscal year ending June 80,
1899. is $l3.s10.O00. Since the close OF the
fiscal year 1897 the service has been es-
ta5lished in more than forty Offices and
before the close OF the current year all
offices entitled 10 the service will re-
ceive the same.
Domestic and interna tional money or
ders issued aggregate 26.ll3.2i0. amount
ing 70 S1sS Oh .05S: aggregate number
OF payments and repayments 25.5So5es.
amounting 20 $50. al $50. There were
5.9S7, $50 pieces os original unclaimed
matter received a, the dead letter Office.
a decrease OF $500.
The special letter and collection boxes
operated in Baltimore IN connection
with public street car service is he'd 20
be successful and when appropriation.
permit, will be extended TO other cities.
The affixing OF letter boxes TO the ortln-
airy street cars 10 facilitate mail cOllec-
.ion is also to be taken Up. The to'ai
appropriations made by congress foE
settling overtime claims OF carriers up
70 da.e aggregates S2s20. 900. Total
claims allowed on this ratio viii reach
g. 800. 900
Rural free delivery has been pu, -
rhe test OF PRACTICAL experiment in
twsn:y-nine states and over for,y-fouT
different routes. The cooperation o.
the communities served has IN every in
stance been effectively given. The gen
eral satisfactory results suggest the fea-
s.ollty OF making rural delivery per
nanent feature % postal administration
in the United States; not inme3.a ely,
or IN all districts a once. but IN some
gradual and graduated form regulated
By the p-esen: experiments Public
policy requires sJ1ne enhancement 30 Os
made AMI that cne postal service s11uli
be brought more into line with. sdvarc-
ing prosperity and increasing pJDula-
ton. Sooner or later me United safes
vii nave 70 follow toe lad o. the more
denss.y populated countries sni esiao- I
I5Sl a delivery service over al tae 49,
lid prisons o.. ne vast territory. Cn- I
der xise instru-.icns 4 cen % extend I
e Eith great advantage % c!aR' = I
our citizens E1o. rig1.iy o. Srougly. 4
deem Themselves neglected n leEis.a- 4
.!on-,as agricultural -lsss-and with 4
az se-i-1B 6e-rine1i . - sevs1ufs