The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-04
THE POST OFFICE REPORT.
STEADY INCREASE IN RETENUEs AND
DECREASE IN DEFICITS.

Second Class Matter-New Post once
Building in New York Recommended.
WASHINGTON. Dec. 3.-Postmaster General
Smith begins his annual report with state
ment OF the financial operations OF his Depart
ment for the fiscal year ended June 80 last
This shows that the ordinary postal revenues
were $40. 1874. 1887 and receipts from money
orders 81. 2S8 80. total OF s85.O2l.3e4'lt
The total expenditures for the year were
slO1 1892, 1902. an excess OF expenditures
over receipts OF S8.810.778.75.
THE first fact connected with this statement
which commands attention." saws the report.
rs the large decrease in the annual deficiency.
As compared with the deficit for the fiscal
year ending June 80. 1893. which was $1,000
905 .O8. IL shows q reduction Of S2.422.7 1885,
or 20.7 per cent. This results from the fact
that. while the expenditures are necessarily
growing with the expanding service. the re-
celpts are growing still faster"
The Postmaster General estimates that the
revenues for the fscal year ending June 80.
1900. will be s1O7,773.2 53. and the expendi-
lures SllO777.S00. leaving deficit OF only
S3.O04,5
More space is devoted to the abuses in second
class mail matter than any other one subject.
The most urgent need OF the postal service. he
declares. Ia the rectilcation OF the enormous
wrongs which have grown M in the ,perversion
and abuse Of the privilege acc2rded BY law to
that class Of mall matter. This reform was
pa.tannhmount TO Al StheTs, ",,.,, ,,,nr,,,.-
mel pts and advances waiting devcIobmsnt
n ss 6r spesdcr r nSps and de
nvery there are nells lor Droaneninn tne
scope OF the mall service and bringing 4 close,
reduced postage; but above and beneath and
beyond all Of these, measures OF progress.
out. In the redemption Of the special concession
winch Congress granted ior distihct ana
Justlnhblc pubic object from the lun nR
Rrowths ana the Migrant Owls that nave lust
en 1., unon II. 49,. 49,, a..
n FOR TINS costly abuse, when dfngs on the
trnmmels its power and means defective adj
sh hncrnent IN evsiy n 3 hon dr mrwsra
year Tbe postNl defcIt Tor the current year
StGlo.l78. Bpt for this wrongful 9rpllca-
c the ,ne w seSIhI ess clear srnns 81 man.
millions; +, -, .
me Department alone ,i s powerIess 20
cured by the, lawmakinG power, The, points
vi " q, nIo cIont nhu wei ~
and forbid the privilege oi the pouni rate 70
serial SER ibrates OF BOOKS. 70 house orgnns
purposes. 70 ADVERTISING circulars which arc
masked under the name OF iraternal socle .t,'
and TO schemes by which publishers peryert
Their prerogatiyns 10y sendlng matter IN Their
and purchasers who have not the privilege"
duc"I In tha ,s by Chairman loud
be- pressed to pa passage. 'e'' y i''''
The report reviews the orgnniZation oi the
postal service IN our new island possessions.
anu sar1 mat II i In success ul operation in
Cuba and Porto Rico and IN the Philippines
wh.r"yor American authority has been ex-
tenn to the new possessions was carried sin
iurther IN IN" establishment oi post oflce on
the island q Guam WITH Hawaii our postal
FAn nan
The report show tho benefits that have nc.
Tor the determination OF Congress the question
ns to how ,ar the system shall Ia extended. 1t
tcrminc whether the United states alone. OF
~ "" nhtions that signed the international
Postal Treaty OF Vienna on July !. lS'l. should
iall 10 comply. 70 the best 81 its hbi,ity. win
that article Of the treaty which binds all the
,h powers 70 deliver Petal articles at
service is or shall be organ god
hn Inv, ~; Nv = NE ~, Nv iost oihee
enlargement Of III. posrl aceGmmodations,e
ono" Is greatly oycrcrowd"d. and the
ATTEMPT mnI, no. 70 hand hSo a 81 The mnii Which
Quarters which nre Inadequate results In much
lnccnveniencH ami Impede. an expeditions dee
Ing The congestion is imperative. and the sur.
g.stonis mad" THAT In addition TO the present
oHl,'. thrr" -houlh U. hno'her structure CEN
trhily and conveniently located. whore certain
classes and divisions 81 the mail could b" .rc-
ceivtd and despatched, New YORK furnishes
Ine;tweltth o. the postal revenue OF the country.
it, business Is growing with phenomenal ra-
pidity, Its immense and increasing interests
have the strongest "lai i'm TO consideration. and
u IL entitled TO the best equipment and facili-
t,e- that can hc provided. In aiyap""mcnt 81
the postal service. not merely OF New York.
but oil IN. whole country. which Is intimately
CONNECTED win u ! tfu.t IN" subject VIII re-
ce,xc the favorable attention OF Congress"
The report recommends the adoption OF
form OF money order for convenient nxed
amounts from 70 cents 70 81 90. odd amounts
10 be represented by ordinary postage stamps
hWk"h tp IN" order. TO he payable TO the payeo
or bearer NJ the option OF the sender; that u
separate appropriation be made 10 pay fixed
snlhrles 10 assistant ana deputy postmasters.
cordnnce with more or leas arbitrary scale OF
graduation. out OF the appropriation for clerk
hlrc the repeal OF the proHso inserted In the
S SIc. tnr appTTpsa,Sas s2r ne posta ser,
theconsoiidatIon OF post offices when on" ot the
posi- nlnres anrrteh by the proposed change in
designation IL located at a county seat. and the
bmnrs q, u nnn ~, ,no aw IeRhn,ng ths
-. n,