The Worthington advance., 1900-12-14
THE POSTAL SERVICE.
Inaeresting Extracts from the Annual
Report of Postmaster Gem
>eral Smith.

Washington, Dec. 10-Postmast ster Gener-
al Charles Emory Smith, in his annual re-.
port. besides discussing domestic and in
sular operations in the. last f1scaltyear. de-
votes particular attention to the abuses Of
the second-class mail matter privileges and
extension Of rural free delivery. Hemakes
the following recommendations for legisla-
tion: 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 swfndles. or any other
wrongful scheme carried on jointly by mail
and common carriers: punishment. Of per-.
sons who forcibly. attempt to enter mail
cars. or who assault railway Mailsclerk
while on duty; authority for, postfo fomce in
spectors to take out search warrants when
ever necessary; an appropriation, for con-
structing inspectors lookouts in post Of
fices 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 tho past fiscal year the total re-
ceipts from all sources aggregated $102, ,31,-
579; total expenditures. $107, ,74o, ,26S The ex-
cess of expenditures over receipts was S.
hundred million: mark. The, deficits have
shrunk from $9020,055 for the fiscal year
1S97-9S to $5,3S5,6SS for the last fiscal year,
decrease of s., ,63o, III In three years, notwith-
standing the large expenditures now made
for several new features. The estimates
follow: Total postal revenue for 1900, $102,-
s54.67s; add ~ per cent. for estimated
increase year ending June 30, 1901, 81 GIG, 593;
total estimated revenue for 1901 $110, ,031 ,172.
Add six. per cent. for estimated increase
year ending June 80, 1902, 81. COL $40; estimated
revenue for 1902 SIG 633, ,042. Estimated ex-
penditure for 1902 $121, ,278 80; deficiency for
1902 estimated, 4, 4,6s4,3W. ,<<
The extraordinary extension Of rural free
delivery is characterized as the most far
reaching feature of postal development in
recent times. It is a factor, says the post
master general, in the social and economic
life, and makes communities feel a new
pulsation. I'VE are confronted" he says,
with the problem of gradually extending
the delivery service over the; whole area Of
the country where It is physically feasible,
or where the population is not SO sparse as
to make 1t unreasonable. The gross annual
cost Of maintaining rural free delivery
through such territory is approximately
estimated at $20,65s 600: 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 is. 500, :,
600. The report urges additional postal fa-
ciltties for New York city, and indorses the
project for hall of records in Washington.