The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-10-31
UNCLE SANS MAIL SERVICE.
,xNUAL REPORT OF ASSISTANT
sHELLENBURGER.


sum should BE Expended for
roster TranspOrtation-New
,rs should Make a Primary Sep
.-.tion of Experimentation of
vail service With Those of
Europe.
washington. Oct SO.-The immense work
If Transporting the mails through tbs
7,,,i,ad states is dealt with in the annual
r.,,orf Of second Assistant Postmaster
c.nara, William s. Shellenburger. which
"a made public to-day. The main feat
,,ra of the report is a vigorous arraign-
,,,enr of existing star route methods. Mr..
sbflIeuburger refers to the present sys-
ton, Of speculative bidding for star routes
d. disoreditable to the government He
s.,= the bidders cut little under the old
contract prices. and risk being able to
eutlat at profit. The competition results
IN The greater part of these contracts be-
ire awarded at very low rates, the ac-
ceDted bidders or their agents often using
deceit and Misrepresentation in securing
spb-contracts from poor and ignorant men
as principals and sureties.
The report recites the subsequent steps,
saving the sub-contractors, if complaint
ing of greater requirements that they sup
posed they We're to furnish, are threatened
with penalties by the contractors, or if the
sub-contractors attempt service with in
adequate equipment fines are imposed upon
them. Finally, if the sub-contractors
abandon the routes or the department is
compelled to remove them and employ
temporary service, the cost of which is
charged to the contractors, the latter, m
turn, take action against the sub-contrac-
tors who may thus lose the little property
they have
There are the INSCRIPTIONS contrac-
tors" it is added, who fail to pay their
carriers, which causes hundreds of claims
against the contractors filed in this Of
fee and necessitates voluminous CORE
spondence to get the claims adjusted
again. there will be a bidder who, in
his lnexperience and eagerness, will make
his bids at rates lower than those for
which he can secure sub-contracts. There
follows a general failure to perform the
service awarded, and the department is
put TO the trouble and expense of arrang-
ing temporary service and reletting the
contracts"
The conclusion drawn is that the profit
to contractors must be considerable, and
If the department could deal directly with
the men who do the work the total amount
paid by the government being put into the
Il service without any margin to speculative
middlemen, it would undoubtedly produce
better mail service. 1t is conceded that
exclusion of speculative bidders would in
crease the cost TO the government and
recent examinations at the request of
4 Congress indicate the additional cost would
be $l,5O0000 which, however, would 90
into effect gradually. The belief is ex-
pressed that a considerably larger sum
for faster transportation would be wen ex-
pended if it resulted in improved equip
ment, 'as many of the horses and vehicles
now used in carrying the mails present
such dilapidated and disreputable appear
ance as 70 be a strong argument in con-
domination of the present system"
Legislation is recommended requiring all
sueh bidders to reside on or contiguous to
the route covered or formally agree to so
reside and personally supervise the ser
wee and authorizing refusal to accept bids
deemed excessive.
4 The report shows that the number of
n mail routes at the close of the year was
u 81 1885, total mileage. 4S0, 46l, and averaging
on each route nine trips per week. There
Were 1882 69l miles travelled on these
routes costing almost $107 per mile of
length each or almost u cents per mile
i Travelled. The total annual rate of expen-
"A dltUre for both routes within the United
states and in the foreign mail service was
III SIS. OPS, 454
Discussing Alaska, Mr. SheIenberger
says the mail service on the overland
a route from Juneau by Dyea TO Circle, pro-
Vlding for letter mail only, was extremely
unsatisfactory, the contractor failing TO
I 4
those performed were irregular and unre-
liable, serious complaints following The
arrangement with the Canadian postoffice
department regarding monthly exchange
OF letter mail between Dyea and Dawson
N also fell below expectations.
Concerning the railway mail service, the
n report shows there were 1,26S lines of
81 travelling postoffices, and recommendation
Is made for a Reconsideration of the SER
q wee, legislation requiring newspaper pub
N ilshers to make primary separation of
"a their papers and periodicals for mailing,
requiring postal clerks to wear a badge
N instead of the present regulation cap, and
for general establishment of postal sta
lions in railroad depots.
For ocean mail transportation in the
next fiscal year 81, 154, 600 is estimated. Over
n l4vD0 letters and postcards have been
distributed in transit in our international
sea postoffices and only 1900 errors were
n iepol tea Negotiations are now penulHS
looking to securing reciprocal benefits
from Great Britain in the way of sea
n post service on the Cunard and White
"A Star Lines in the near future.
II The report recommends the use of the
n pneumatic tubes, but voices regret that in
a some cases the tubes are not fully utilized.
The expenditures 10 railroads for mail
transportation, so far shown by accounts
stated to Sept 80, was $50, ,sS7, and the
estimate for the same purpose for the
fiscal year 1900 is 1913, 275, 900.
Mr.. Shellenberger submits estimates for
his entire service of $50, g44,0 600 for next
year, and says the estimated expenditures
4 the present year will be $54215,7SS
Special recognition is given to the cour-
&c and faithfulness of the postal clerks
and other officials who during the yellow
n fever epidemic in the South, remained at
N their posts.
IA Mr.. Shellenberger also submits a spe-
cal report on the investigation recently
N concluded by him In Great Britain, France
and Germany, into the character and cost
Of their railway mail transportation. He
s." 81 IS the average distance mail is carried