Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1900-12-12
THE POSTAL SERVICE.
Interes sting Extracts from the Annua'
Report of Postmaster Gen.
eraI Smith.

Washington Dec. 1G.-Pos tmaster Gener-
al Charles Emory Smith, in his annual re-
port, besides discussing domestic and IN
suIar opera tions in the last fiscal year, de-
votes particular attention to the abuses Of
the second-clas mail matter privileges and
extension of rural free delivery. He makes
the following recommendations for leglsla-
ton: Compulsory separation by pupllsh-
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 mali
and common carriers; punishment OF per
sons who forcibly attempt to enter mail
cars, or who assault a railway mail clerk
while on duty; authority for post once IN
spectors to take out search warrants when
ever n 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 ana 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 S1O2. 354,-
579; total expenditures, SLOT, 74O,26S. The ex-
cess of expenditures over receipts was 3D.
1856 6S9 The revenues have now passed the
hundred million mark. The deficits have
shrunk from So. 020, 055 for the fiscal year
1898 to S. 1856, 6SS for the last fiscal year,
decrease of So, 635, 217 in three years, notwith-
standing the large expenditures now made
for several new features. The estimates
follow: Total postal revenue for 1900 $1O2,-
354 579; add ~ per cent. for estimated
increase year ending June 80, 1901, S,676593;
total estimated revenue for 1901, $l1O, 3l,172
Add six per cent. for estimated increase
year ending June 80, 1902 Sc, Col, $40; estimated
revenue for 1902, s116, 633, 042. Estimated ex-
penditure for 1902, $121 ZIG, 349; deficiency for
1902 estimated, 81, 634, 307.
The extraordinary extension of rural free
delivery is characterized as the most far
reaching feature of postal development IN
recent times. It is factor, says the post
master general, in the social and economic
life and makes communities feel new
pulsation. 1--WE are confronted, he says,
with the problem of gradually extending
the delivery service over the whole area O.!
the country where it is physically feasible,
or where the population is not so sparse as
to make it reasonable. The gross annual
cost of maintaining rural free delivery
through such territory is approximately
estimated at $40, 555 800. It can be extended
over practically the whole country at an
annual cost of less than $4,000, 900, allowing
for savings for discontinuance Of offices
and routes and increased receipts.
| The total estimate for maintaining free
| delivery during the ensuing year is $3,5O0,
| OOO The report urges additional postal ia
| cilities for New York city, and indorses the
| project for a hall Of records in Washington.