Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-12-01
OUR NAIL SERVICE.
Interesting Report Made BY Post
master General Smith.
The WORK IN OUR new COLONIES.
Amusing Growth of the Postal Business
Rural Free Differentiated Advance
In the Money Order Buainess-
Recommendations MsdA

In the Money Order Buainess-
Recommendation Made.
Washington, Nov 26.-The most in.
toresting view Of the postal service for
some years, owing to its operations in
military and naval fields, is the report
of Postmaster General Charles Emory
Smith. Aside from the discussion Of
the regular branches Of the depart
ment 1t tells Of the work accomplished
and policies adopted In our territorial
acquisitions. The postmaster general
says:
The war entsiled the necessity OF o military
postal services and prompt measures were re-
qured for handling the mails Of an army Of
$4,000 men. Large post offices were suddenly
created OF the camps OF concentration, the ex-
igencies OF constant changes and movements
were met, and the military and naval forces on
active services In the West Indies and Philip
pines had prompt and constant postal COM
municatl0n with home, These military post
ofices were clothed with all postal powers
Some Of the larger camps increased their vol
ume OF postal business to that Of cities Of high
rank.
Postmaster Smith calls attention to
the rapid and amazing growth Of the
postal business in all its branches.
In the last fiscal year the gross reve-
nue. was $3.50, Ols,6lS, against $SS, 3l5, 47s
in 1880, and the gross expenditure
sos, O33, 5s3 against $S6, 542, So4; the
number of post Offices, $4,000, against
$4,000. Within this period the pop
ulation has increased about so per
cent, while postal business has
multiplied nearly threefold. The
general increase Of expenditures for
the past year has been little more than
the preceding one, despite the fact
that nearly 100000 earned in mail
transportation by the aided Pacific
railroad companies was paid this year
directly out Of the department appro-
priations. There was an increase in
postal receipts Of nearly SO, 500, 900 over
the aggregate Of 1897, which is cited
as proof that the country is again
The estimate Of revenues and ex.
penditures for the fiscal year ending
June 80, 1000, follows: Total revenue,
500, 95S, liz; estimated expenditures,
s1o5, s24, 900; deficiency for 1900, est.
mated, $4,265.SSs But for the gross
abuse OF the second class matter privi-
leges, the deficit would have disap-
peared long ago, and its present and
promised decrease is In the face Of this
abuse.
Discussing rural free delivery, the
postmaster general says replies to cir
culars sent out suggest some assurance
Of the permanence Of the service. A
revision and Encouragement Of the
service established prior to 1897 is con-
The most marked advance in the
volume Of money order business in the
history of the system was this past
year, the increase being 100000 in
number and 5000, 900 in money car
led There were oS, 1853, 4l2 money Or
lers issued; face value, $s04, sos, SOL
Legislation is asked for at the next
'ession Of congress to correct the evils
out Of the practice Of bid
ling for star route service.
There were 5000, 2sO pieces of mail
natter registered at the post Office
Turing the year and the aggregate of
1905, 1893 in fees collected was an in.
rease Of over seven per cent over the
PREVIOUS year.
Among recommendation for legis-
alton are those to make depredations
# railway postal clerks continuous
ffense; to provide severe penalty
or employees embezzling or destroying
newspaper mail; severer statutes
overing green goods and obscene mat
err; the issue Of special stamped en-
elope of superior paper quality for ten
ents for greater security and safety;
or at least curtailing the use Of post
ge stamps as medium of exchange,
nd for allowing postmasters of the
rst and second classes to pay for the
pecal delivery of letters by salaried
ostal officials, and to allow car fare
o special delivery messengers in the
reat cities.