The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-26
SUGGESTED BY BRISTOW
Legislation for the Benefit of the
Postal Service.
Recon- IA; G m dntions in the Annual Re-
port of the Fourth Assistant Post
Effort to Maintain Lobby in
= WashinEton-Work of Inspectors.

The annual report of the Fourth Assist
ant Postmaster General fer the fiscal veal
ending June 80. 1900, was made public yes
terday. That branch OF the Postofiice De
partment referred to in the report con
sists of three divisions-the division O
appointments, the division of bonds ant
commissions, and the division of rostof
fee inspectors and mail depredations
There were $500 postoilices established
during the year, an increase over last veal
of Cos.
The following are the recommendation
made:
That provision be made for the pay
ment of incidental expenses incurred by
local officers, or others, in the arrest
detention, and keeping of prisoners
charged with violations of the postal
laws until such prisoners can be trans
ferred to the custody of the United States
marshal.
THAT statute be enacted authorizing
postoffice inspectors to take out search
warrants whenever the same may be>nec-
essary in the prosecution of their Of
fetal duties.
THAT an appropriation be made for the
purpose of constructing 'lookouts' wher-
ever, in the opinion of the Postmaster
General, the same may be needed.
THAT the Interstate Commerce law be
amended to prohibit common carriers-to
wit. telegraph and express companies-or
any of their employees, from aiding end
abetting in the green goods or lottery
swindles, or any other scheme carried on
partly by mail and partly by common car
ripr and which in vinla tiOn Of the
postal laws
The report in part follows: There
were 1912 postoffices discontinued during
the year. being 400 more than during the
preceding fiscal year. The extension of
rural free delivery service and the i'm
provement of public highways have con-
tributed jointly to this increase in the
number of diseontinuances The extern
sion of the rural free delivery service has
resulted in the discontinuance of 1875 post
Offices during the year, the salaries OF
postmasters at said postofiices aggregating
81, 259.
Early in the fiscal year an effort was
made on the part OF a number of fourth
class postmasters to collect money from
the fourth class postmasters throughout
the country for the purpose of maintain
ing a lobby in Washington, endeavoring
thereby to secure legislation that would
increase their compensation. The post
masters who solicited the funds for that
purpose were promptly removed from Of
flee, and those who contributed were noti-
fed that repetition of such an offence
would be considered sufficient cause for
removal. l have endeavored to carry out
strictly the spirit of the Postmaster Cen
erals order No. 621, referring to such or
CARNATIONS and contributions.
The general direction of the force OF
postoffice inspectors is vested in the chief
inspector, with headquarters at the De-
partment. The duties performed by the
inspectors embrace wide scope. and a
faithful performance of those duties is of
the greatest Importance to the welfare
and integrity of the postal service. The
annual inspection of every money order
Office has been undertaken during the
year, and the experience in this division
has proved that this yearly inspection is
in high degree beneficial to the service.
THE total number Of arrests during the
fiscal year. as shown by exhibit /, was
1926. OF this number 119 were postmas-
tiers, % were assistant postmasters. As
were clerks in postoffices, were railway
postal clerks, 80 were letter carriers, SO
were mail carriers. and 10 were employed
in minor positions in the postal service
The total number of postofiice burglars
arrested was 800, and the remainder of
GA were persons in no wise connected
with the postal service.
''Of the total number arrested, 1,5sS
81 were disposed of in United States
courts, resulting in 526 convictions. Six
died awaiting trial, 80 forfeited bail,
escaped from custody, while SO were ac-
quilted. In so cases proceedings were dis
missed, 126 were discharged on prelim-
mary examination, and Sc were discharged
by the grand jury, leaving 526 cases pend
ing in the United States courts on July
1900. In State courts 81 cases were dis
posed of, resulting in 80 convictions and
IL acquittals, leaving 2S cases awaiting
trial at the close OF the fiscal year.
With an aggregate amount of 81 426 80
on hand July l, 1889. there was collected
the sum of 1894 232 so, making total of
s36a,s5g13 TO be accounted for, of which
amount $3.50 12S.7Z was dsbursed, leaving
an unexpended balance of s5,530.47 at the
close of the year. Attention is invited to
the fact that the total amount OF cash col
lected and disbursed, s360,12S.72 is nearly
Cos per cent of the last annual appropria-
ton for postoffice inspectors $3.50. 600 This
money represents collection of balances
due from postmasters, penalties for viola
lions. amounts recovered on account of
fraudulent use OF the mails, and collections
of amounts Illegally received by postmas-
tiers through false cancellations. as well as
collections in cases of robberies Of post
Offices, wrecking of mali trains, highway
robbery of mail stages. and moneys re-
ceived on account of loss in the ordinary
and registered mails. attributable to care
lessness, accident or larceny.
The unusual conditions which existed
at Cape Nome, Alaska. during the past
season made it necessary to keep an in
spector at that point during the entire
summer. Upward of 10000 people were
landed at Cape Nome early in the season,
and it was found necessary to Increase the
clerical force in the postofTice from one
to twenty-four clerks within thirty days.
Owing to the irregularity in the sailing
Of steamers, as much as $4,000 money
order funds was RENTED in a single reg
istered mail. The responsibility of this
business devolved largely upon the in
spector, the postmaster being under romi-
nal bond. Several other sections of
Alaska were visited by inspectors during
the year, and our service is now reason
ably well organized.
After the arrest of c. +. W. Nicely late
chief of the bureau of finance. Department
of Posts, Cuba. on May 3. 1900, nine post
office inspectors were detailed for special
duty IN CUBA on the investigation OF the
alleged fraudulent practices in connection
with the postal service on the island All
of these inspectors, except one, remained
on this duty under my direction until after
the close of the fiscal year. and four of
them are still employed with the Cuban
service.
Three inspectors were sent to Porto
Rico to supervise the establishment Of the
United States postal service on lhat isIa,d
and two were detailed to install our sery-
L. a.