Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1900-11-28
THE POSTAL SERVICE,
First Assistant Postmaster johnson
Makes Seine Important
RecOmmend tons.

Washington, Nov. 21.-An enthusiastic
plea for wide expansion of rural free
delivery is made in the annual report of
w. M Johnson, first assistant postmaster
general He says that the extraordinary
development of this system during the past
IL months under the stimulus of appropria-
tons of $3.50, 900 for the fiscal year 1S99-19Oo
and ST. $50, 900 for the fiscal year 19O0-1901, is
conclusive as showing that hereafter it
must be a permanent and expanding fea-
ture OF the postal administration. The
service can now be extended as swiftly as
congress may direct or the means per-
NIT, until it covers all those portions Of
the United States now reached in whole
or part by the more primitive methods
OF the postal service, which have come
Gown to almost without change from
colonial times. This change Mr.. Johnson
believes can be effected without excessive
cost to the government. Under ordinary
conditions a full route is considered to be
Is miles, SO devised that the carrier does
not pass over the same ground twice in the
same day. The congressional representa-
tive controls the appointments. The pay
OF the rural carrier is now from $500 to
$500 per annum. There are no CIV
il service restrictions nor restrictions
as to sex, but it is inexorably re
CURED that appointees shall be of good
character. The present policy is to
tend rural delivery in accordance with the
try, that each individual route may be
dovetailed upon another route hereafter to
be started, and with this idea constantly
kept in view, rural free delivery is eventu-
ally to extend over all well-settled rural
communities in the United States.
Bearing on the question of cost, state
ment compiled from the books of the Of
flee show that from December, 1885, to
November 1, 1900, 439 star routes and mail
messenger services have been discontinued
or curtailed. Between July 1 and Novem-
Der l, 1900, the first four months of the pres
ent fiscal year, there have been 1888 addi-
tional rural free delivery routes installed,
supplying 922,3 97 people.
Commencing July l. next, it is proposed
to include the cost Of the postal service OF
Porto Rico and Hawaii in the regular APP
preparation instead of paying the same
out of the military appropriation as at pres
ent. The total cost of the Porto Rican
postal service for the last fiscal year was
little over s105,oO0, and the probable cost
of the postal service for Hawaii for the
next fiscal year is $72, S04.
An appropriation of $4,000 900 is asked
for compensation for postmasters for the
next fiscal year. The regular free deliv-
cry service was established in 81 cities, ne
cessitating the appoin tment of no carriers,
making the total number of free delivery Of
fees in operation June 80, last, 1876. Four
free delivery offices have been established
in Porto Rico and Hawaii Regular free
delivery, it is estimated, will cost ST, 900
for the next fiscal year, an increase OF al
most nine per cent
During the last fiscal year postal money
orders issued amounted to $255, SIC, 22S, an
increase of almost s31, O00, 000 1t is apparent
that if for the next two years the bust
ness of the money order system increases
in volume correspondingly with that of the
past year its receipts will reach $1,OOOOO0
per day. They are now about 1864, coo. The
net earnings of the money order system
were $1,340,642 The department purposes
to provide money order facilities for
all localities where they may prove,
convenient. The number of offices has
now finally exceeded 10000 Interna-
tional money order business is now being
transacted with 40 foreign countries. Rec
ommendation is made that the fees for
domestic money orders be reduced to the
maximum of 20 cents for an order of $500.
the minimum Of three cents to remain as
a DreSpnt