The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-11-26
Rural Free Delivery Results in
the DiscOntinuance
OF 195 establishments During
Last Fiscal Year.
MIR. BRISTOW'S REPORT
Fourth Assistant Postmaster
General Sets Forth
The Workings of His Depart
ment For 12 Months.

Washington, Nov 26.-The following is
an abstract of the annual report of Joseph
L. Bristow, the fourth assistant postmas-
ter general, for the fiscal year ended June
30.1900:
The bureau consists of three divisions:
the division of appointments, the division
of bonds and commissions, and the diyi-
sion of postofhce inspectors and mail de-
predations-
The work of the division Of appoint
ments for the fiscal year has been some aolilss-
what heavier than during the preceding
year. The total number Of appointments
for the fiscal year ended June 80, 1899 was
Il 604, while for the fiscal year endgd J une
30. 1900, they amounted to 15142- This IN
crease was caused by the increase IN the
number of establishments, and the NUM-
Der of the poStoffices advanced from the
fourth class to the third class, or presl-
Dental grade. There has also been an
increase in the number of designations, es-
pecially. of fourth class postmaster.
While during the year special attention
was given to the discipline of postmasters
for Irregularities, I am pleased to state
reason than during the preceding yaGr.
The service rendered by postmasters, es-
been more efficient in the history of the
department than 1t was during the fiscal
There were 1919 appointments made
during the year. 4 4S5 being. of the fourth
class and 7O7 being presidential gain
p I el i Year of SIS oi - --'7 80
There were 5000 postoffices established
There We're :, s12 postoffces discontinued
during the year, being 407 more than dur
ing the preceding fiscal year. The extern
sion of rural free delivery service and
contributed jointly to this increase in the
number of discontinuances- The extern
resulted in the discontinuance of 1876 post
offices during the year, the salaries or
postmasters at said postoffices aggregat-
Eariy in the fiscal year an effort was
made on the part OF number OF fo9 9rnL-
class post1nasters to collect money from
the fourth-class postmasters throughout
ing ing lobby IN IN Washington t endeavoring
thereby to secure legislation that would
tiers who solicited the funds for that pur-
pose were promptly removed from office,
that a repetition Of such an offence would
be considered sufficient cause for removal
7 have endeavored to carry out strictly
der No. 621. referring to such organiza-
lions and contributions.
cal year, there were rs 6sS postoffices, d.
vided as ollows: F'irst-class, 1874; second
class, S52; third-class, 3,187; fourth-class,
DfVIsIoN OF BONDS AND COMMITS
SIONS-
The aggregate amount Of the bonds of
postmasters in force at the close of the
The bonds approved during the year
amounted to $37. 029 500.
The gross revenues of the department
for the year amounted to 500. s54 SIS. %
The loss from fnsufficiency of bonds
amounted to but $12, 518.7S a surprisingly
small amount of loss, considering the vast
sums of money collected by postmasters,
oe1ng aPous one GEM 4oSS TOE every Sa ey
cent The. above figures show a very graft
nent as compared with the preceding
Special attention has been called to the
decrease in the number of postnasters re-
ported by the auditor for the postoffice
department or informalities or Delinquent
afC d1rT~7 mo 10
the previous two years, and also the de-
crease in the number of notices sent to
masters to comply with the postal regula-
tions in making their returns to the audi
Number of postmasters reported by the
auditor for informalities or de1inquancies:
1898 S31. 1899, 423: 1900, 231.
Number of notices sent to sureties noti-
flying them of failure of postmasters to
making their returns to the auditor, OF
of their delinquencies: 1888, 1852; 1899, 1,101;
This greatly improved condition is due
largely to the strfctness with which this
ply. with the postal laws and regulations
in the handling of public funds, and also
DIVIsIoN OF POsTOFFfCE INsPEc-
TORS FORCE AND NAIL DE-
PREDATIONS.
The general direction of the force of
postoffice inspector is vested in the CHER
partment. 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
I am pleased to announce that during the
last year the force has attained high
order of efficiency, and deserves special
commentator for the vigilance, industry
and intelligence with which the inspec-
tors have executed their numerous and
important duties.
The annual inspection of every money
order office has been undertaken during
the year, and the experience in this divi-
sion has proved that this yearly inspec-
ton is in a high degree beneficial to the