The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1898-11-30
REPORT OF NR HEATH
Review Of the Wark nf Tie Postal
Depar ment For he Year.
THE RURAL FREE DELIYERY.
IA view OF fhe suceess Of DistrtburinE
shs Nan In she csuatrv ~ N
ereassd APproPrsastoa Il

Washingtcn, Nov. z9-F1rst Assist
ant Postmaster General Perry s Heath
has completed his annual report. e1
cept The portions relating . military
postoHHees al the army camps and In
the Antilles and PhEippInes. and the
rural free delivery service. both Of
which await further adyice
The general business OF The depart
ment shows an Increase Of over ss.ooo.-
900 during the fiscal year. In an de-
partments Of the service the innuenee
c1 prosperous times has made itself ap-
parent THIS year there were 17.1sS.
o5S domestic money orders issued
against IS. .16s.055 last years the amount
carried was S1s1. 81. .12I. against s1z4.-
4S2. .676. There were 2.s56 new money
order odices established.
The recommendation for congress
sIonaI action are numerous and inter
esting. Mr. Heath recommends that
clerks IN pcstoflees be classified and
placed upon fixed scale of salaries
similar 10 that Of letter carriers. so as
to give fair prospects OF advancement
and certainty OF compensation At
present there Is no rule OF system for
the grading OF clerks at posto1Hces.
The hours OF labor of letter carrier
are limited by law to eight hours 4
day, and he is allowed 10 days leave Of
absence per year. Postoflce clerks
have no limitation on their hours and
no vacation without loss Of salary.
An appropriation OF 1000 Is re-
quested for the employment OF substi-
tute clerks to allow vacations. An ap-
propristion OF s11, 500, 900. an increase
OF 500. 900 ovr this year. is recommend
ed for the next fiscal year for clerk
hire Con Rress having appropriated
5000. .o0O less than the department esti-
mate for clerk hire during the past ms
cal year. considerable embarrassment
has ensued In meeting emergencies in
cident to the great increase OF public
business
a Substantial saving.
The abolition OF small postohices
Contiguous TO large ONCE having free
delivery. and the establishing OF STA
tions and substations In lieu thereof.
Mr. Heath says has been found 10 re-
suit not only in a vastly improved
public service. but In substantial saw
ing in expenses. and he desires author
ity TO continue this plan Authority
Is asked TO make the clerk hire appro-
RAASN4oa Apply ~ s4A SA@A<sSSS "a RCSI-
Offices
Free delivery was extended during
the fiscal year TO 50 oh1ces. Additional
Offices entitled to free delivery number
11O During the current fiscal year
service has been established AZ "a Of
these ofces. leaving as 70 await the
consideration of the department.
Mr. Heath recommends an additional
grade OF carriers. to BE- kaesn As car
rier sergeants. in all cities having 50
carriers or more. and that these posi-
tions be assigned by competitive ex-
animation among carriers who have
served fVe years or more The duties
of these sergeants would be to super
wise the work of letter carriers on their
routes and to investigate complaints
He asks an appropriation for salaries
of carriers at established Offices for the
next fiscal year and for the salaries Of
letter carriers at new Offices, etc. OF
s14.512. 200.
A detailed report of the operations
Of the rural free delivery viii be pre-
sented within a few days Congress
Increased the appropriation for this
purpose from $780, 900 to $3.50. 600. and
Mr. Heath recommends. In view of such
success of the extension Of the servica
and the satisfaction II has given. that
an appropriation OF $500. 900 be made
for rural free delivery during the next
fiscal year.