The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1900-12-15
THE POSTAL SERVICE.
Interesting Extracts from the Annual
Report OF Postmaster Cen
eraI 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 fiscal year. de-
votes particular attention to the abuses OF
the second-class mail 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 man
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 office In
spectors to take out search warrants wnen-
ever necessary; an appropriation Tor 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 SlO2, 35f, :
$40; total expenditures, slO1.IiO,26S The eX-
cess of expenditures over receipts was So
2s5 $50 The revenues have now passed the
hundred million mark. The deficits have
shrunk from 5000. O55 for the fiscal year
1898 to S. 1856 6SS for the last fiscal year, a
decrease of 50, 635, 2l7 in three years, notwith-
standing the large expenditures now made
for several new features. The estimates
follow: Total postal revenue for 1900, $lo2.
1854 SO: add ~ per cent for estimated
increase year ending June 30, 1901, 1856, 1913:
total estimated revenue for 1901. $llO,oSl l72.
Add six per cent. for estimated Increase
year ending June 30. 1902 So. 6O1, $40: estimated
revenue for 1902. SIG 33.042. Estimated ex-
penditure for 1902 1921 ,2I6, 3i9; deficiency for
1902 estimated. 81, ga, 307.
The extraordinary extension OF rural free
delivery Is characterized as the most far-
reaching feature OF postal development In
recent times. II is a factor. says the post
master general, in the social and economic
life and makes communities feel new
pulsation. I'VE are confronted he says
with the problem of gradually extending
the delivery service over the whole area o.
the country where II Is physically feasible
or where the population Is not so sparse as
to make II unreasonable. The gross annual
cost of maintaining rural free delivery
through such territory Is approximately
estimated at 500, 555 600. 1t can be extended
over practically the whole country at ar
annual cost of less than $14,OOOOOO. allowing
for savings for discontinuarce of offices
and routes and increased receipts.
The total estimate for maintaining free
delivery during the ensuing year Is SbOO,-
600. The report urges additional postal ia
cilities for New York city. and irdorses the
project for hall of records In Washington