Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-11-10
Annual Report ofthe Fourth Assist
ant Postmaster General.
APPOINTMENTS DURING TIE YEAR
Small Percentage Of Loss of Reg
istered Mail Matter.
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE

The annual report of J. L. Bristow, fourth
assistant postmaster general, was made
public today. This division is charged with
the appointment of fourth-class postmas-
ters and the report opens under that sub
head as follows:
The work of the division of appointments
for the fiscal year has been much lighter
than the preceding year The policy of
former administrations of removing fourth
class postmaster for political reasons.
CARELESS of length Of service, resulted in
the changing of postmasters in all of the
important fourth-class offices early in
those administrations. The four years
term Of the great majority of fourth-class
postmasters, therefore, expired early in this
administration, which accounts for the
greatly decreased number of appointments
made during the fiscal year as compared
with the preceding one This division
therefore, during the fiscal year has been
able to give special attention to disciplin-
airy measures and the general improve
ment of the service.
There were II, 604 appointments made
during the year, 1888 being of the fourth
class and 1,0S1 being presidential.
There were 1885 post offices established
and 1,505 post offices discontinued during
the year.
Private Post Omces.
A number of post offices which might be
styled private post offices have been dis
continued during the year. Information
has come to the department that there
were a number of post offices being con-
Quoted throughout the country for the sole
benefit of some corporation, nursery COM
pany, patent medicine firm, other pri-
waite business institution, the result being
that the government was not only deprived
of Its legitimate revenues, but said inStitu-
lions We're also receiving undue advantage
over competing firms in postal facilities.
The company or corporation would usually
have some one connected with the institu-
nd he fi-Ty,
would get the advantage of the cancela-
ton or the salary and allowances of the
postmaster To permit such post offices to
exist not only greatly reduces the revenue
of the department, but may be fruitful of
fraud, and is, in the judgment of this bv-
reau, very much against public policy. In
ness institutions derived thousands of dol
lars of revenue from the government,
which virtually amounted to a commission
or discount on their postal business.
The gross revenues of the department for
the year amounted to S95,021, 3S4.17 The
loss from insufficiency of bonds amounted
to but $500. 66. surprisingly small
amount of loss, considering the vast sums
of money handled by postmasters, being
only about one-fiftieth of 1 per cent.
Decreased DeIinquencfes
Special attention Is called to the decrease
In the number of postmasters reported by
the auditor Of the treasury for the Post
Office Department for informaities or de-
linQuencfes during the year. as compared
with the previous years, and also the de-
crease in the number of notices sent to
sureties notifying them of failure of post
masters to comply with the postal regula-
lions in making their returns to the aud
itor, or of their delinquencies.
OF the total number of complaints of loss
OF registered mail, ,312 of the alleged losses
were recovered. collected and the amounts
returned to owner. The actual number of
cases in which loss was established was 451
The total number of registered pieces
handled by the department during the year
was 15S001 4o. making average loss of
but one piece In every % $50 pieces of reg
istered mail handled. The record of the de-
partment for the last four years on loss of
registered mail is as follows:
The losses in 1896 were 10 per cent of the
total number Of cases referred and investi-
gated or an average of one piece in every
1924 handled. In 1897 the loss was 10 per
cent of the total number of cases referred
and investigated, or an average of one
piece in every q, $40 handled In 1898 the
loss was 9.9 per cent of the total number of
cases referred and investigated or an aver
age Of one piece in every "a, COS pieces han.
died. while the loss for 1899 was 81 per
cent OF the total number Of cases referred
and investigated, or average of one
piece in every 25,9sO handled.
Total Number of Arrests.
The total number Of arrests during the
fiscal year. as shown by exhibit l. was
1879. OF this number 119 were postmas-
tiers. 81 were assistant postmasters, Al were
clerks in post offices, p were railway pos
tai clerks. "a were letter carriers, 40 were
mail carriers and "a were employed In MI
nor positions In the postal service. The
total number of post office burglars ar
rested was 361, and the remainder of 969
were persons in nowtse connected with the
postal service.
OF the total number arrested 06T9) 1853
were disposed of in United States courts
resulting in 63l convictions Two died
awaiting trial. forfeited bail, 10 escaped
from custody, while 10 were acquitted. In
80 cases proceedings We're dismissed 124
were discharged on preliminary examina-
ton and "a We're discharged by the grand
jury. leaving 601 cases pending in United
States courts on July l. 1899.
In state courts 81 cases were disposed of,
resulting in 6S convictions and 10 acquit-
| tails, leaving % cases awaiting trial at the
close of the fiscal year.
Financial Statement.
With an aggregate amount of 81 42S 50 on
hand July 1, 1898, there was collected the
sum of $244, 2297.2s, making a total of s245-
so to be accounted for, of which amount
s244, 800. II was disbursed leaving an I'M
expended balance of 81 1868 at the close
of the year. Attention is invited to the fact
that the total amount of cash collected
and disbursed ($245, .SO) is equal to 53
per cent of the last annual appropriation
for post office inspectors This money rep
poStmaSterS, penalties for violations,
amounts recovered account of fraudu-
lent use of the mails and collections of
amounts Illegally received by postmasters
through false cancellations, we'll as col
lections in cases of robberies of post offices,
| wrecking of mail trains highway robberies
| of mail stages and moneys received on ac-
| count Of loss in the ordinary and registered
mails attributable to carelessness, acct
dent or larceny.
Special Work In Alaska.
The material increase in the population
and the important development of Alaska
| have necessitated a good deal of attention
! on the part of the inspector force to the
post offices in that territory during the last
year. An inspector was detailed to make
an overland trip from Valdez, on Prince
| William sound, to Eagle, on the Yukon
river, a distance Of nearly 500 miles, ur-
| gent requests having been made for the es-
| tablishment Of post offices along this pro-
posed route. There We're so few settlers
however, found In this interior country that
only one office was established, and the
| practicability of transporting mails over
this all-American route is a problem yet to
| be determined.