The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-11-21
RURAL FREE DELIVERY
EXTENSION URGED BY THE FIRST
ASSISTANT POSTMASTER GENERAL.
Development of the System in the
Past Twelve MOnths-GrOwth of
Business at the POstOfIice.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20.-An enthusiast
tic plea for wide expansion of rural free
delivery is made in the annual report of
general. He says the extraordinary devel-
opment of this system during the past
twelve months under the stimulus of ap-
preparations of s45O,oOo for the fiscal year
1S99-19Oo and s1,750.OOO for the fiscal year
19O0-1901 is conclusive as showing that here
after 1t must be permanent and expand
ing feature of the postal administration.
The service can now be extended as swift
ly as Congress may decide, or as the means
permit, until it covers all those portions of
the United States now reached in whole or
in part by the more primitive methods of
the postal service which have come down
to us 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
devised that the carrier does not pass
over the same ground twice in the same
day. The congressional representative
controls the appointments. The pay of the
rural carriers is now from $500 to $500 per
annum. There are no civil service restric-
tons, nor restrictions as to sex, but II
Is required that appointees shall be OF
good character. The present policy Is to
extend rural delivery In accordance with
the demands made from all parts of the
country so that each individual may be
dovetailed upon another route. hereafter to
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, a state
ment compiled from the books of the Of
fee shows that from December, 1883, to
Nov. /, 1900, 439 star routes and mail mes
senger services have been discontinued or
1900, the first four months of the present
fiscal year. there have been 1,S3S additional
rural free delivery routes installed, sup
plying 9l2,391 people.
Recommendation is made for a reclassi-
fication of the postoffice clerks for five spe-
cial agents of the division on salary and
allowances and for fifteen dayV leave of alb
sence with pay each year for carriers
rural routes. During the last year 2Si
fourth-class postofiices were made presi-
Dental.
Commencing July next it is proposed 10
include the cost of postal service of Porto
Rico and Hawaii in the regular appropria-
ton, instead of paying the same out of the
military appropriation as at present. The
total cost OF the Porto Rico postal service
for the last fiscal year a little over
$4,000 and the probable cost of the postal
service for Hawaii for the next fiscal year
is S72.S04
An appropriation of s1S,0OOOOO is asked for
compensation OF postmasters for the next
fiscal year. The regular free delivery serv-
ice was established in sixty-two cities,
necessitating the appointment of 40 car
riers, making the total number of free de-
livery offices in operation June 30 last
795. Four free delivery Offices have been
established in Porto Rico and Hawaii.
Regular free delivery. il is estimated.
will cost ST.. 800 for the next fiscal year.
an increase Of almost per cent.
During the last fiscal year postal money
orders issued amounted 10 $3.50 $40 :e2S an in
crease of almost S31.0o0.00o 1t is apparent
that If for the next two years the business
of the money order system increasese in
volume correspondingy with that of the
past year its receipts will reach 81, 900 oo0
per day They are now about 1854 600 The
net earnings OF the money order system
were $4,000. The department purposes
to provide money order facilities for all To-
caiities where they may prove convenient.
The number of offices has now finally ex-
ceeded 10000. International money order
business is being transacted with forty for
eign countries Recommendation 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 cents to re-
main as AZ present.