Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-04
Revenues nnd ExpendItures.

Ordinary postal revenue. ........ 500, 1884, 7l951
inees l,2Ss 664 sc
Total receipts from all sources .So5 02l3'4l7
Total expenditures for year SlOl, 632, lGO 81
Excess of expenditures over
receipts .,......,......,......,,S 66l0,7I6.7S
The first fact connected with this state
ment which commands attention is the large
decrease in the annual deficiency. AS COM
pared with the deficit for the fiscal year
ending June 30, 1898. which was s9,O2O,-
905.06, 1t shows a reduction OF s., 422, 1856,
or 26.7 per cent.
THE mcst urgent need Of the postal serv-
ice," says the postmaster general, "is the
rectiication OF the enormous wrongs which
have grown up in the perversion and abuse
OF the privilege accorded by law 10 second
class matter. The reform is paramount to
all others. There are many improvements
and advances waiting development and appli-
cation; there are opportunities for speedier
transmission and delivery; there are fields
for broadening the scope Of the mall service
and bringing 1t closer home to the people:
there are possibilities OF reduced Dcstage;
/ but above and beneath and beyond all OF
these measures OF progress. which experience
and intelligence are working out, is the re-
demption OF the special concession which
congress granted for a distinct and justin
able public object from the fungus growths
and the fragrant evils that have fastened
upon It. -
For this costly abuse, which drags on the
department and weighs down the service,
trammels it's power and means of effective
advancement in every direction, involves
sheer wanton waste OF s2o, ,000,0 900 or upward
a year The postal deficit for the current
year Is $3.50 776 But for this wrongful
application OF the second class rate. instead
of deficit there would be a clear surplus OF
many millions. With such an ample margin
, the possibilities OF practical improvements
are apparent.
Where the Government Loses.
Careful inquiry has been made through
experienced postmasters and by an examina-
tion Of the records Of the department, and
it Is believed that fully one-half of all the
matter mailed as second class, and paid for
at the pound rate, is not properly second
class within the intent of the law, and
ought justly to be paid for at the third class
rate. This gives the enormous quantity of
176,351 ,613 pounds from which the depart
ment derives only fraction of the revenue
to which 1t is fairly entitled. The third
Glars rate Of postage Is l cent for each two
ounces or fraction thereof, nomnally cents
d pOuuu, Dul III reality, through Tue opera
tion Of the fractional provision, the rate is
higher. A division OF the amount Of postage
received for third-class matter by the num-
Der Of pounds Of such matter mailed shows
that the department actually derives a
revenue Of 14.75 cents pound from this
class. II, therefore, there had been paid, as
there should have been paid. the average
third-class rate on the 176,351,613 pounds,
which was wrongfully transmitted at the
pound rate, the department would have re-
ceived S26,011, ,S62.92. instead of $1,763,-
516.13 which IL actually received, and the
postal revenues would have been increased
by the handsome sum Of $24,24s,346,79."
After classifying the losses of the govern
ment through these abuses the postmaster
general summarizes:
First. More than one fourth of the entire
volume and weight OF matter carried
through the mails Is rated and pays as sec
ond- class matter, when, under the spirit and
intent of the law, it ought to be rated and
to pay as third-class matter.
Second. That while this wrongly classed
matter amounts to more than one-quarter
OF the whole volume OF mail transmitted, it
furnishes only one ffty-fifth part Of the
postal revenue.
Third. That the expense Of transporta-
tion being reckoned at cents pound. the
mere carrying of this matter cost S14, ,10S,-
1904, while the revenue from it was only
81, 769. .516.13, involving a loss to the govern
ment of S12,344. .612.91.
Difficulties In the Colonies.
"The construction Of the system in Cuba
was made to conform to the nature OF our
connection with that island. While neces-
sarily directed by the postmaster general,
under the presidents authority and order.
1t was framed with the view Of being as
nearly autonomous and independent as pos
sibe. II was felt that the Cuban service
ought to be distinct from the United States
service; that it's operation should be wholly
dssocated from our administrative ma
chinery; that It's receipts should not come
to our treasury. and that its expenses
should not be charge upon our revenue.
"In accordance with this policy, it was
determined to select competent person, |
thoroughly trained and experienced in the
the organization; to send a number OF ex-
perts familiar with the various branches to |
take the responsible places and give in |
structions In American methods; and to use |
native Cubans, and. where practicable the |
for the great body Of the force. |
The selections were governed wholly by the !
rule Of seeking and securing the best-quali- !
fed officers. Major e. G. Rathbone was des- |
ignated as director general OF pests. He !
was not an applicant, but he had been chief |
OF postoffice inspectors and an assistant !
postmaster general Of the United States,
and was believed to combine the practical I
experience and the executive force needed !
in the creation Of new organization.
with him were associated In the CEN
trail administrative places a number O,
trained men, chosen from our own service.
For the important position OF postmaster OF
Havana an expert fitted by twenty years
OF experience in various grades, and as pest
maoter OF large city, was selected There
was only a slight and imperfect basis in
the existing service. 1t became necessary
to build from the foundation. The old
was Of little value; the equipment
was primitive, obsolete and for the most
part worthless; the records had been re-
moved or destroyed the Offices were dilapi-
dated, unsanitary and wholly unadapted to
efficient work; the methods were antiquated
and the force disorganized, undiscipllned and
irresponsible. When our representatives
took possession OF the Havana office over
? .0OO registered letters, addressed TO ac-
cessibe people In that city, the accumula-
tlon ot three or four years, were unds-
trbuted and undelivered
THE service In Porto Rico and the Philip