The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-11-26
THROWING THE MAIL
Continued from Second Page.

steps be taken to extend our flag over
American steamships on the Pacific as ii
has moderately extended on the Atlantic,
such extensions will not only comply with
the spirit and letter of he law Dur 1t will
naturally follow and utill=e me opening of
American opportunity in that quarter
GROWTH IN EIGHTEEN YEARS.
| Postmaster General Smith calls asten-
| ton 10 the rapid and amazing growth OF
| the postal business in all its branches In
| thel asst fiscal year the gross revenue sas
$50 Oh SIS. against SO, S15479 in 1850, and the
gross expenditures SOS, O33, 523. against $780,
542, s0l: the number of postoffices 1900,
against 5000.
Within this period the population has
increased about 80 per cent. while postal
business has multiplied nearly three fold.
The general increase of expenditures for
the vast year has been little more htsn
the preceding one despite the fact that
nearly million dollars earned in mail
transportation by the aided Pacific rail-
road companies was paid this year direct
ly out of the departent appropriations.
There was an increase in postal receipts
of nearly Sc, 100000 over the aggregate Of
country is again prosperous.
ESTIMATES FOR NEXT YEAR.
The estimate of revenues and expendi-
lures for the fiscal year ending June 30,
1900, follows: Total estimated revenue
500. S5S, IL; estimated expenditures s106,-
224,OO0; deficiency for 1900. estimated, 81.
265,SSs.
But for the gross abuse OF second-class
matter privileges the deficit would have
disappeared long ago and its present and
proised decrease is in the fact of this
abuse.
OCEAN PENNY POSTAGE.
The postmaster generalsays the proposal
OF ocean penny postage, recently renew
ed in connection with the adoption Of this
rate, between England and her colonies,
is attractive and much could be said for
II, but the conditions under which this
country approaches its treatment differ in
other nations. Other countries have short
land transit while ours is often greater
than the ocean distance. Considering the
areas traversed our rate is lower than
that OF other nations. The immediate
completion, he says, of SO marked a
change, however desirable in itself, would
be premature.
RURAL FREE DELIVERY.
Discussing rural free delivery the post
master general says replies TO circulars
sent out suggest some assurance of the
permanence of the service A revision
and Encouragement OF the service estab-
hshed prior to 1897 is contemplated.
The most marked advance in volume of
money order business in the history of the
-Dr h
being 1900 900 in number and SIG. 900 in |
money carried. There were rs. 49, 12 mon
ey orders issued; face value s2O4. 500 .S91.
Legislation is asked for at the next SEES
SION of congress 10 correct the evils grow |
ing out Of the practice of bidding for star |
route service
There were 1864. 900 pieces Of mail mat |
ter registered at the postoffices during the /
year and the aggregate of 1928. 100 in fees |
was an increase of over per /
cent over the previous years business.
LEGISLATION ASKED FOR.
among recommendations for legislation |
are those TO make depredations of railway
postal clerks continuous offense to pri
vide severe penalty for employees en-
bezzling or destroying newspaper mail:
seVerer statutes covering green goods
and obscene matter; the issue of a special
stamped envelo OF superior paper quail
" for ten cents for greater security and
sarety; for at least curtailing the use of
postage stamps as a medium of exchange
and Tor allowing postmasters of the first
ana second classes to pay for the special
aeIvery of letters by salaried postal off,
Gals and to allow car fare to special de-
livery messengers in the great cities.