The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-11-11
MIR. BRIsTOw's REPORT.
Over $4,000 POstmIsters Appointed
Last FiscRl Year-RecOmmenda tons.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 10.-Fourth Assist
ant Postmaster General John NJ. Bristow,
in his annual report to-day, announces that
during the past fiscal year H,19i postmas-
tiers We're appointed, 1888 being fourth-class
postmasters and the remainder presidential
Concerning the policy of removals the re-
port says:
The policy of former administrations of
removing fourth-clasS poStmaSterS for polt-
ical reasons regardless of length or service,
resulted in the changing OF postmasters IN
all of the important fourth-class postottices
in their terms. The four-year term OF the
great majority of fourth-class postmasters,
therefore, expired early in this administra-
ton, which accounts for the greatly de-
creased number of appointments made dur
preceding one. Special attention to dis
culinary measures and the general improve
ment of the service has, therefore, been per-
mitted.
There were 1881 postoffices established and
1505 discontinued AT the close of the year
try was an even 10 900. The department has
discontinued a number of private postoffices
which, it has been advised, were conducted
for the sole benefit of some private lnStitu-
ton. not only depriving the government of
its legitimate revenues. but giving undue
advantage over competing firms in postal
facilities. Extension or ruraI Tree denver
neceSsitated disseminating eighty postoffices,
applications to restore number OF which
are now pending.
| than in any previous year. Registered mail
lost averaged one piece in every $3.50 ham
| died
There were .697 postal arrests during the
year, including 119 poStmasters, 81 assistant
| postmasters, IL pOstOffice clerks, Il railway
postal clerks, "a letter carriers and 361 post
office burglars. OF all these 659 were con-
| victed and 629 cases are still pending in the
! courts
! The report says the practicability of trans
| porting the mails over the proposed all
| American route TO the Yukon, in Alaska, Is
| cent inspection found so few settlers in this
| interior country that only one postoffice
| was established
! Among the recommendations are for au-
| thOrity for inspectors to take out search
warrants whenever necessary, for payment
and detention of postoffice prisoners; an ap
preparation for construction of inspectors
| lookouts in poStofiices wherever deemed
| necessary; an amendment to the interstate
| commerce law to prohibit telegraph or ex
| press companies or employees from abettns
| in green-goOdS swindes, lotteries or similar
| schemes: legislation prohibiting loose pouch
| ing of circulars or other small mail mattel
| and providing a larger newspaper wrapper
| than is now issued.
| During the year eleven new presidential
| offices were established in Indiana, the tota
now being 153. Thirty fourth-class offices
were established and forty-one discontinued
| Indiana stands eighth in rank as to numbe
| of presidential offices and seventh in ranl
| as to estimated population. Total numbe
| of fourth-clasS offices, 2,0o6; average com
| pensation, S11995; gross receipts of Indian;
| postOrfices. $2,46S, 362; average amount ex
| pended per capita, 50 cents; whole number o
| Territories the cost per capita Of the poSta
| service is greater than in Indiana.