River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1900-12-13
THE POSTAL SERVICE.
Interesting Extracts from the Annual
Report of Postmaster Gem
ernl smith.

Washington. Dec. 10-Postmaster Gener-
al Charles Emory Smith. in his annual re-
port, besides discussing domestic and In
sular operations in the last 9scal year. de-
votes particular attention the abuses of
the second-class mall matter privileges and
extension of rural free delivery. He makes
the following recommendations for legisla-
ton: Compulsory separation by publish
ers of second class mail matter. amendment
Of the interstate commerce law to prohibit
telegraph and express companies or their
employees from aiding or abetting in the
green goods or lottery swindles. or any other
wrongful scheme carried on jointly by mail
and common carriers; punishment of per-
sons who forcibly attempt to enter mail
cars, or who assault railway mail clerk
while on duty; authority for post office in
spectors to take out search warrants when
ever necessary; an appropriation for con-
structing inspectors lookouts in post Of
fees wherever the postmaster general
deems them necessary; payment of Incl
dental expenses incurred by local officers
or others in the arrest, detention and keep
ing of prisoners charged with violation of
postal laws until the United States marshal
takes custody of the prisoners.
During the past fiscal year the total re-
ceipts from all sources aggregated sl02S54,-
$40; total expenditures, 500. 740 26s. The ex-
cess of expenditures over receipts was
50, 3S5. $50. The revenues have now passed
the hundred million mark. The deficits nave
shrunk from 50. 020, 055 for the fiscal year
1898 to IS. 3S5 6SS for the last fiscal year.
decrease of 50, 6S5. PIT in three years, notwith-
standing the large expenditures now made
for several new features. The estimates
follow: Total postal revenue for 1900, $l02,-
S54.5I9; add ~ per cent. for estimated
increase year ending June go 1901, S,676,5s3
total estimated revenue for 1901, sll003l, l72
Add six per cent. for estimated increase
year ending June 80 1902 Sc SOL $40; estimated
revenue for 1902, SIG. 633. 042. Estimated ex-
penditure for 1902 $121, ZIG, 349; deficiency for
1902 estimated, S4634 800.
The extraordinary extension of rural free
delivery is characterized as the most far
reaching feature of postal development in
recent times. 1t is a factor. says the post
master general, in the social and economic
life, and makes communities feel a new
pulsation. I'VE are confronted" he says,
with the problem of gradually extending
the delivery service over the whole area OF
the country where it is physically feasible,
or where the population is not so sparse is
TO make ii unrea sonable. The gross annual
cost of maintaining rural free delivery
through such territory is approximately
estimated at $50. $50 coo. Ii can be extended
over practically the whole country at an
annual cost of less than $14,O0O00O, allowing
for savings for discontinuances of offices
and routes and increased receipts
The total estimate for maintaining free
delivery during the ensuing year is So, 5O0,-
600. The report urges additional postal fa-
cilities for New York city, and indorses the
project for hall of records in Washington.