The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-11-25
IT SHOWS An INCREASE
Report Of First Assistant Post
master General Heath.
A GAIN OF SIX MILLION
Al Departments OF the Business Have
Been NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Made to Oonsrsss-Rurai Pre-
Delivery . Success

1Sn~Aot GSAIy &x~8&n ~
completed his annual report except the
portion relating to military postoflces
at the army corps and In the Antilles
n Philippines and the rural free de-
livery service. both Of which await fur
Their advices. The general business of
the department shows an increase Of
over $1,000. 900 during the fiscal year.
In all departments Of the business
the prosperous times nave made them
selves apparent. This year there were
~. 7ss. 07s domestic money orders issued.
against rs, 1s9. 055 last year.: the amount
carried was 81. 1s1. 354 121 against $1.174.-
4s2.s7s. There were Ass new money
order Offices established.
The recommendations for congress
sional action are numerous AND inter-
esting. Mr.. Heath recommends that
clerks In post Offices be CLASSIFIED and
placed upon a fixed scale OF salaries.
similar to that of letter carriers. SO as
to give a fair prospect OF advancement
and certainty of compensation. AT
| present there In no rule or system Tor
the grading of clerks at postoffices. 1t
is commended that an efficient postofice
| clerk is the peer Of a letter carrier. and
| there should be no discrimination In
| the pay or privileges accorded to eth
| err class. The hours of labor Of a letter
carrier are limited by the law to eight
hours n day. n he Is allowed IL days
leave of absence per year. Postofice
| clerks have no Limitation on their hours
and no vacation without loss of sal
ary. An appropriation of $500 0 is re-
quired for the employment OF substi-
tute clerks to allow vacations. IN APP
proportion of $11 500, 900. an increase OF
500, 900 over this year. is recommended
for the next fiscal year for clerk hire.
| Congress having appropriated 5000. 900
less h the department estimate for
| clerk hire during the past fiscal year,
considerable embarrassment has en-
sued In meeting emergencies Incident
to tie great increase of public business.
The consolidation Of postofices IL again
recommended.
Congress Is asked to repeal the law
forbidding the abolition OF q postofice
located at any county seat by a con-
solidation of postcfices. The abolition
Of small postofhces contiguous to a
large ONCE having free delivery and
the establishment of stations and sub
stations in lien thereof. Mr.. Heath
says, has been found to result not only
in a vastly improved public service. but
in a substantial saving In expenses,
and he desires authority to continue
this plan.
Authority Is asked to max the clerk
hire appropriation apply to all classes
OF postofices. At present an allowance
for clerk hire can only be given to nrst
and second-class postmasters. There
are 100 second -class and l16 nrst-ciass.
One result claimed Is that II would re-
move the temptation for postmasters
to pad their receipts or to
increase their apparent so as
to get into the second-class. Free de-
livery extended during the fiscal year
to 50 offices. Additional offices entitled
to free delivery number ITO.
The first assistant postmaster gen.
eral recommends a modification OF the
eight-hour law, as applied to letter car
riers. so as to provide for the eight
hours for six days work and only as
many hours on Sunday within the eight
hour limit as are absolutely necessary
for the requirements Of the service.
This recommendation Is In accord
with the views expressed by the con-
vention OF postmasters recently held at
Detroit. and 1t is believed It's adoption
would meet the approval OF the letter
carriers themselves. Mr.. Heath rec
ommends an additional grade OF car
rier, to be known as carrier sergeants.
in all cities having so carriers or more,
and that these positions be assigned by
competitive examinations among car
riers who have served five years or
more. The duties of these sergeants
would be to supervise the work OF the
letter carriers on their routes n 10
investigate complaints. He asks an APP
preparation Tor salaries or carriers ~
established offices for the next fiscal
wear of s12, 697, 200; for the salaries OF
letter carriers at new offices. $50. 1000:
for horse hire allowance. 100000; car
fare and bicycle. 1896 900; all other in
~cidentals. $3.50. 900, making a grand to-
tai for this service Of $14.512. 200. He
recommends a repeal of the law re-
quiring the use of the present form OF
money order, in the interest OF SAFETY
and simplicity, and also authorization
for the use of a postal check payable
to bearer.
A detailed report Of the operations OF
the rural free delivery will be presented
within a few days. Congress increased
the appropriation for this purpose from
$50, 900 to S150.000. ana Mr. Heath TIC
ommends In view of the success OF the
extension of the service and the salts
faction II has given that an appropria-
ton of $500, 900 be made for rural free
delivery during the next hscai year.