The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-11-25
POST OFFICE RECEIPTS.
C0UNTRTs PROSPERITY REFLECTED
IN INCREASED BUSINESS.
The Increase Over $4,000, 900 in the Last
Fiscal MISREPRESENTATION of Post Of
fees Again Recommended, ms Is the EN-

The Increase Over e6,OOO,O 900 in the Last
Fiscal INSTRUMENTATION of Post OF
fces Again Recommended, ms Is the Ex-
tension of Free and Rural Deliveries.
WASHINGTON. Nov. "a. First Assistant Posi-
master General Perry =. Heath has sub
mitted to Postmaster. General Smith those por-
lions OF his annual report which relate TO all
the branches OF the service committed to his
charge except the unusual service rendered
In connection with military Post oflces at the
army camps and In the Antilles and Philip
pines and the rural free delivery service. both
OF which await further advices.
The general business OF tho department
shows an increase OF over S0,O0J.0O0 in tho
last fiscal year. In all departments OF the
service the influence Of prosperous times has
made itself apparent. The humble OF do
mestic money orders issued in the year was
27.798.0TS. as against 25.109.O55 in the pre-
vlous year; the amount carried was Sl9l.354.-
121 as against $174.4S2.6 76 Of the previous
year. There has been an increase of 1858 In
the number of new money order offices estab-
lished in the year.
Mr.. Heath recommends that clerks in Post
Oflces be classified and placed upon a 6xed
scale OF salaries similar to that now In opera
ton with regard to letter carriers. At pres
ent there Is no rule or system for the grading
OF clerks at Post Oflces. Their status and
salaries are determined by the First Assist
ant Postmaster General. ana in his action he
is. OF course. controlled by the amount OF the
appropriation placed at his disposal. He asks
Congress to relieve him Of this discretionary
power and to provide som scale OF salaries
which will give to the clerks fair prospects OF
Advancement and certainty Of compensation.
An APPROPRIATION OF $4,000 is requested for
the employment of substitute clerks to per-
NIT OF vacations being given.
regular appropriation for clerk hire was $10.-
1boe'o 0pssen tn fss aIp Tesr Ia 1 i0o e,erk h ar a 1or
gress having appropriated s2Q6.Q00 less than
ter. Genera. has found himself considerabIy
to The ersat Increase ne eee,, of public sibfltSf business ss''oen'
The consolidation Of Post Offices is again
serVice and econ nc o ' Congres \ is s asked to rel
peal the law %forbiddlng the abolition OF a Post
S 3n ! i 6f Pest a 6d 5R q eou rSs seat 0b1lit BY a o Sf9s smaIi
Post Of1ces contiguous TO a large office having
free delivery and the establishment Of stations
says, has been found. to result not only in a
vastly improved public service, but in a sub
%stantial saving In expenses. and he desires au-
thQrity to continue this plan.
with renewed and increased emphasis. Mr..
cieIk hire appropriation to include clerks in
all classes Of 6ost Offices. present an allow.
ance Tor CLERK hire can only be given to first
and second class Postmasters. Many third
class Post Offices have so much business that
It Is impossible for any one person to properly
as they need out Of their own salaries
the United States. $50 second class Post Offices
and l1o first class Post Offices Authority to
s s%pt t%o ' last named a. SRI' classes Eixsn to It tG IS eontende d
that II HuthS9rity we're given to ASSIGN clerks to
ron marion n pnatnn for n 'nnIf fhntr RI
ceipts or to increase iraudulently their appar-
ent revenues go as to get into the second class
Free delivery was extended during the fiscal
year to afty-nine Offices. There, are ITO addi-
current fiscal year service has been esstaab,
lished at "a Of these offices. leaving 40 to await
the consideration of the department.
The report recommends a modification of
the Eight Hour law as applied TO letter car
riers: so as to provide forty-eight hours for six
within the eight-hour limit as are absolutely
necessary for the requirements OF the service.
views expressed by the convention OF Post
masters recently held at Detroit. and it is be;
Of. the letter carriers themselves. ~
The report also recommends the establish
1ment OF an additional grade Of carriers. to be
Ing fifty carriers or more. and that these places
be assigned by competitive examination among
carriers who have served five years or more.
The duties, of these sergeants would be to
supervise the work of letter carriers on their
an appropriation for salaries OF carriers at es-
ablished offices for the next fiscal year of S12.-
697. POO: for the salaries OF letter carriers at
new offices. 100000; for horse hire allowance. |
S410. 900; ear fare and bicycles. S185. 900; all
other incldentals., $159o00, making a grand
ommends a repeal Of the law requiring the use
OF the present form or money order. in the in
forest Of safety and simplicity. He also rec
ofnmends 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 n
few days. Congress increased the appropria-
ton for this purpose from $5O.0O0 to S15O.O00. |
and Mr.. Heath recommends. in view OF the
success Of the extension Of the service and the
satisfaction which It has given, that an appro- |
~priation OF S30O,O0O be made for rural free de-
livery In the next fiscal year.