Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-11-29
BRIST0W'S REPORT.
Work Of the Fourth Assistant Post
master Generals Bureau.
TIE RECOMMENDATIONS He MAKES


Washington, Nov. 26.-Fourth As
sistant Postmaster General John l.
Bristow, in his annual report, recon
mends an amendment to the inter
state commerce law prohibiting tele
graph and express companies or theil
employees from aiding or abetting II
the green goods or lottery swindles
or any scheme carried on partly by
mail and partly by common carrier
and in violation of the postal laws
Other legislation is as follows: Au.
thorizing post office inspectors to take
out search warrants whenever neces-
sary; payment of Incidental expenses
incurred by local officers or Others
in the arrest, detention and keeping OF
prisoners violating postal laws until
transferred to the 7 nited States mar
shal's custody; construction of in
spectors' lookout towers in post of
fees whenever deemed necessary by
the postmaster general and prohibi-
ton of loose poucbing of circulars,
calendars, etc, owing to small pieces
of mail matter frequently slipping
in large unsealed envelopes in transit.
There were 1914: appointments of
postmasters made during the past
fiscal year, 14,435 being of the fourth
class and 707 being presidential, an
increase of 53S in Ell over last year.
There also has been an increase in
the number of designations, espe-
cially of the fourth-class postmasters.
Fewer removals for Irregularities were
made than last year. There were
5000 post offices established during
the year. an increase of 665 over last
year, and 1912 Offices were discon-
tinued, an increase of 4O7 discontinue
ances over last year, mostly due to
rural free delivery extension and pub
lie highway improvements.
A vigorous effort has been made to
suppress post offices conducted
throughout the country for the sole
benefit of some corporation, patent
medicine firm or other private insti-
tuition, whose operations deprive the
government Of its legitimate revenues.
The company or corporation usually
has some one connected with 1t ap-
pointed postmaster and thus gets the
advantage Of the cancellations or the
salary and allowances Of the postmas-
ter. These institutions some time
have deprived thou"ands Of dollars Of
revenue from the government which
virtually amounted to commission
or discount on their postal business.
There were Al designations and As
deaths of presidential postmasters
and 919 deaths and S,O13 designations
Of fourth-class postmasters. On June
30 last the number of post offices was
as follows: First-class, 1914;
second, $50; third, 2,1s7; fourth, IT,
455.
The total number of arrests during
the fiscal year for ofrenses against the
postal laws was Leo, including 1l9
postmasters, 30 assistant postmasters
and l44 post office clerks, carriers and
other postal employees. OF the total
number arrested 526 were convicted.
Commissioners Report on Porto Rico.
Washington, Nov. 26.-The commits
sioner of the interior for Porto Rico,
William H. Elliott, in his annual re-
port to the secreta y of the interior,
says that most expert manipulation
as well as detective ingenuity will be
needed to untangle the mass Of cross
titles, dupllcation ana tapping OF
grants and concessions and unauthor-
led occupation of public lands that
have grown with tn centuries of rule
In the interest Of the favored few.
The archives of the island were found
in disordered condition. Many rec
ords of cases never have been closed
and are mixed with those disposed of.
and classification are
necessary prior to Investigation
The first great, crying need of Porto
Rico, the report says, is good roads.
At the time Of the American occupa-
ton there was only one really good
road, that from San Juan to Ponce,
and most Of the island was and prac-
tically remains without other means
Of reaching a market or communica-
tion between towns than over dilapi-
dated and dangerous trails, often i'm.
passable for days, as all streams there
are torrential. The productiveness of
the soil Is SO great and the necessi-
ties for existence so inexpensive that
people can and do live and multiply
in mountain districts, but remain for.
ever poor and ignorant. Permanent
roads, it is predicted, will work out
the sadly needed reforms in educa-
ion. The commission proposes to sug-
yest to the legislature that loan be
floated large enough to build the
roads at once.
The report of the president supe-
rior of the board Of health of Porto
Rico says the numeer of true lepers
in the island probably does not ex-
,eed 100 and It is confidently believed
that the disease can be totally exter-
Minated in a few years by careful
of every case as it is dis.
covered.
oaso''ns TANK Expiodea
Pittsburg, Pa, Nov. 27.-At one