The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-11-10
POSTMASTERS.
Will Be Interested In the Wash
ingtOn Report
Of the Fourth Assistant POST
master General
WORK OF DIVISION.
Given In Detail as to Offices
Established.
Removals For Cause and Mail
DepaedatiOns.
WORK OF DIVISION.

postmaster general IOr the year e1AQAIlss
June 80, 1899, has been made public. 1t
says in part:
The bureau consists of three divis-
ions; the division of appointments. the
division of bonds and commissions, and
the division of postoffice inspectors and
mail depredations.
APPOINTMENT OF POSTIASTERS.
The work of the division of appoint
ments for the fiscal year has been much
lighter than the preceding year. The
policy Of former administrations of re-
moving fourth-cIas DOstmasters for
political reasons, regardless OF length
of service. resulted in the changing of
pOstmasters in all of the important
fOurth-claSS offices early in those ad-
ministrations. The four years terms
of the great majority of fourth-class
pOstmasters. therefore, expired early IN
this administration, which accounts Tor
the greatly decreased number OF APP
pOintments made during the fiscal year
as compared with the preceding one.
This division. therefore, during the ifs
cal year has been able to give special
attention to disciplinary measures ana
the general Improvement of the ser
vice.
There were 46O4 appointments made
during the year, 1888 being Of the
fourth-class and 1,OS1 being presiden-
tial
There were 1885 postofices establish
ed during the year.
There We're ], sos pOstod1ces discontin-
ued during the year.
A number of pOstOffices which might
be styled private pOstOffices have been
discontinued during the year. IntOr-
nation has come to the department
that there We're a number of pOStOfffceS
being conducted throughout the cOun-
try for the sole benefit of some corpor-
alton, nursery company, patent medi-
cine firm, or other private business in
stitution, the result being that the gov
eminent was not only deprived of its
at a a L.
lions were also receiving undue ad-
vantage over competing firms IN postal
facilities. The company or corpora
ton would usually have someone con-
nected with this institution appointed
postmaster, and the firm would get the
advantage of the cancellations or the
salary and allowances of the pOStmaS-
ter. To permit such postofices TO eN-
list not only greatly reduces the revenue
of the department but may be fruitful
of fraud and is, in the judgment of this
bureau, very much against public poll
cy. In some instances these corpora
lions or business institutions derived
thousands OF dollars Of revenue from
the government which virtually
amounted to q commission or discount
on their postal business.
RURAL FREE DELIVERY.
The extension of the rural free de-
livery service throughout the country
has resulted in the discOntinuance OF
500 pOstOfices, the salaries of the post
| masters at said offices aggregat ting
/ $4.719. Upon the urgent request of the
! patrons a number of these offices have
4 been re-estabIished. and many more re-
/ quests for re-eSta bliShmentS were on
/ file in the department at the close Of
the fiscal year, that had not been act
on June 80, 1899. at the close of the
| fiscal year, there were even 10000 post
! Offices.
| BONDS AND COMMISSIONS.
1 The aggregate amount of the bonds
| of postmasters in force at the close of
/ the fiscal year was $3.50 600, 600.
/ The bonds approved during the year
/ amounted to $40 059 600.
/ The gross revenues of the department
/ for the year amounted to $95, 021, 384. II.
/ The loss from insufficiency of bonds
amounted to but $40, sos. 06, a surpris-
/ ingly small amount of loss, consider
/ ing the vast sums of money handled
/ by pOstmasters, being only about one
! fftieth of one per cent.
/ Special attention is called to the de-
| crease in the number of postmasters re-
/ ported by the auditor of the treasury
| for the post office department for in
/ fOrmalities or delinquencies during the
| year. as compared with the previous
/ years. and also the decrease in the
numb of notices sent to SuretieS. no
/ tifying them of failure of postmasters
! to comply with the postal regulations
/ in making their returns to the auditor
| or OF their delinquencies.
/ Number of postmasters reported by
/ the auditor for infOrmalities or delin-
| quencies:
ZOO '"a"''' 9 99a
| 1898 -.-..------.--.-- 40
| Number of notices sent to Sureties,
| notifying them of failure of pOstmas-
| ters to comply with the postal regula-
| lions in making their returns to the
/ auditor, or of their deInquencies:
! 1oSS -'--- ------ 5000. zr5oz
This greatly improved condition is
| due largely to the strictness with which
| this Bureau has required pOstmasters
/ to comply with the postal laws and
/ regulations in the handling of public
! funds. and also to the vigilance of the
| inspector force.
| INSPECTORS AND NAIL DEPREDA-
/ TIONS.
| The division of postohice inspectors is
one of the most important adjuncts of
the public service. The general direction
/ of the force is vested in the chief pOstof-
nee inspector. with Headquarters at the
department. The duties performed by the
| inspectors embrace a wide scope. and a
| faithful performance of those duties is
OF the greatest Importance to the welfare
| and integrity of the postal service: and
| 1 am pleased to announce that during the
| last year the force has attained a high
! commentator for the vigilance, industry
| and intelligence with which the inspec-
| important duties.
| the year by the inspector force and the
experience in this division has proved that
| this yearly inspection is in a high degree
| beneficial to the service. ImprCger meth
DDS and irregularities which would other
| brought to the knowledge of the depart
| menI and corrected. Heretofore the prac-
| offices of the fourth-class only upon spec
| ific complaints against the condition or
pliance with the order above referred to.
there have been about 1000 more post
during any other year in the history of
the department.