Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-10-23


ritory.
Washington, October 22.-The re-
port Of First Assistant Postmaster
General Perry S. Heath for the fiscal
year ended June 80, was made public
to-day. The following is an abstract:
So much is gained by our recent
policy of consolidation of postoffices
md the establishment or extension OF
the free delivery that | urge such ac-
lion by Congress as will give greater
latitude of discretion in the use OF
specific appropriations. Two assist
Int superintendent Of free delivery
Iystem have been appointed, one to
be located at New York and the other
1t Chicago, with proper plenary power
Ind primary jurisdiction.
On July 1 there were 1888 Presi-
lential postoflices, embracing 1863 first
class, $50 second class and 2,S14 third
class. The net increase for the year
In the salaries Of the postmasters at
these offices is $97 $780, Their aggre-
gate salaries are $230,S00. With con-
,olidation of the present independent
postoffices within the limits of the new
.ity of New York, saving of at least
s62,723 in salaries and commissions of
postmasters will be effected. Another
considerable reduction in expenses
nay be made by the merging or the
teolishment in many cases of the sew
.ral heads of divisions and other Of
icials receiving the higher salaries.
Congress should not only repeal the
law providing that no postoffice estab-
ished at any county seat shall be abol-
lshed or discontinued by reason of any
consolidation of postoffices under the
existing law but should also author
ize the postmaster general to extend
consolidation wherever, in his belief,
the service may be thereby benefited.
The estimates for the fiscal year
ending June 80, 1899, embrace $16,250,-
Coz for compensation of postmasters;
for clerk hire, 81, 100000; rental and
purchase of cancelling machines, $685.
0C0; rent, fuel and light, $1,750,0OO;
miscellaneous items and furniture,
100000, and advertising, $4,000.
plea is made for the purchase of
the postal stations in the larger cities
and that for the Reconsideration of
postofice clerks renewed. The esti-
mate for the free delivery service for
Inc fiscal year ending June 80, 1899, is
$13,S10,400. Since the close of the fis-
cal year 1897 the service has been es-
tablished in more than forty offices,
and before the close of the current
year all offices entitled to the service
will receive the same.
Domestic and international money
'rders issued aggregating 26,113,240,
amounting to s18S,071O56; aggregate
number of payments and repayments.
.5.5S0,566, amounting to $1SO,141 $50.
There were $4,000 pieces of original
unclaimed matter received at the dead
letter office, a decrease of 276, 4O3.
The special letter and collection
boxes operated in Baltimore in con-
nection with tho public street car SER
vice is held to be successful, and when
appropriations permit will be extend
ed to other cities. The affixing of let
ter boxes to the ordinary street cars
to facilitate mail collection is also to
be taken up. The total appropriation
made by Congress for settling over
time claims of carriers up to date ag-
gregate $2,S20,0O0. Total claims allow
ed on this ratio will reach $4,000. 900.
Rural free delivery has been put to
the test of practical experiment in
twenty-nine States and over forty-four
different routes. The cooperation of
the communities served has in every
instance been effectively given. The
general satisfactory results suggests
the feasibility of making rural deliv-
cry permanent feature of postal adj
ministration in the United States: not
Immediately or in all districts at once.
but in some gradual and graduated
form regulated by the present expert
ments. 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 de-
livery service over all the settled por-
lions of it's vast territory. Under wise
restrictions it can be extended with
great advantage to a class of our citi-
zens who, rightly or wrongly, deem
themselves neglected in legislation
the agricultural class-and without
serious detriment to the revenues.