The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-11-26

low and utilize the opening of Amer
lean opportunity in that quarter.
Postmaster General Smith calls at
tentiou to the rapid and amazing growth
of the postal business in all it's branch
eS. In the last fiscal year, the gross
revenue was $50, OLE, 61S, against 500, 3D.
40 in 1850 and the gross expenditures
$96, O33, 523 against $36, 542, 8O4; the NUM-
Der of postof1ces 1000 against $4,000.
Within this period the population has
increased about so per cent, while pos
tai business and multiplied nearly three
fold. The general increase of eXpendl-
lures for the past year has been little
more than the preceding one, despite
the fact that nearly a million dollars
earned in mail transportation by the
aided Pacific railway companies was
paid this year directly out OF the de-
partment appropriations. There was an
increase in postal receipts of nearly
six and one-half million dollars over
the aggregate Of 1897, which is cited
as a proof that the country is again
prosperous. The estimate of revenues
and expenditures for the fiscal year
ending June 80, 1900, follows:
Total estimated revenue $100, $685. 12;
estimated expenditures $105, PA 900; de-
ficiency for 1900 estimated $4,265, S8S But
for the gross abuse of second class
matter privileges the deficit would have
disappeared long ago and its present
and promised decrease is in the face OF
says the proposal of ocean penny pos
tage, recently renewed in connection
with the adoption of this rate, between
England and her colonies, is attractive
and much could be said of it, but the
conditions under which this country ap-
proaches its treatment differ in other
nations. Other countries have short
land transit, while ours is often greater
than the ocean distance. Considering
the area traversed our rate is lower
than other nations. The immediate
contemplation, he says, of so marked a
change, desirable in itself, will be pre-
mature.
Discussing rural free delivery the
postmaster general says replies to circu-
lars sent out suggest some assurance
of the permanence of the service. A
revision and arrangement of the SER
vice established to 1897 is contemplated.
The most marked advance in volume or
money order business in the history OF
the system was this past year, the IN
crease being II, 900, 900 in number and
SIG 900 in money carried. There
were %, 1853 412 money orders issued;
face value $204 500, S91.
LEGISLATION is asked for at the next
session of congress to correct the evils
growing out of the practice of bidding
for star route service. There were
Is, 800 ,220 pieces of mail matter regis
tered at the postoffice during the year
and the aggregate of $99S, 1873 in fees col
lected was an increase of over per
cent over the previous years business.
Among recommendation for 1egiSla-
ton are those to make depredatiOnS of
railway postal clerks a continuous Of
Tense; to provide a severe penalty for
employees embezzling or destroying
newspaper mail; severe statutes cover
ing green goods and obscene matter;
the issue of a special stamped envel-
ope of superior paper quality for ten
cents for greater security and safety;
for at least curtailing the use of post
age stamps as a medium of exchange
and for allowing postmasters of the
first and second class to pay for the
special delivery of letters by salaried
postal officials and to allow car fare to
Special delivery messengers in the great
cities.