New-York tribune., 1900-11-26
POSTOFFICE AFFAIRS.
GOOD WORK OF THE DEPART 1ENT
SHOWN BIZ THE ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE FOURTH ASSISTANT
POSTMASTER GENERAL

Washington Nov. % (SpeciaD.-The annual re-
port OF the Fourth Assistant Postms ster- General
is always looked forward TO with interest II pre-
sents in a concise end intelligibe form summary
of the operating of an administrative, machine
whose work reaches into every hamlet and town
ship in the country. From Mr.. Brstow's report
for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1900 many facts
of general importance may be extracted
Mr Bris;ow says that in the year $500 postonices
were established an increase over last year OF
6C5 and 1872 pOstofces discontinued, 4OI NOR
I'm the preceding fiscal year. The extension OF
rural free delivery service and the improvement
of public highways have contributed Jointly 10
these discontinuanCes. The extension or the rur@'
free delivery service resulted in the dscontinuanee
Of IS5 postofices, the salaries of postmasterS a.
said postofices aggregating sl2.959
On June 80. 1900 there 1858 postonices'
divided as follows: First class 1874: second class.
So: third class. 3lS7: fourth class 724"'. Inc
aggregate amount of the bonds of postmas'ers IN
force at close OF the fiscal year was 4s'iolS
The bonds approved during the year amounted 10
ssT go 50A The gross revenues OF the Department
for the year amounted SlGe 25f.579 % The loss
from insuffciency of bonds amounted 10 SlZ5ls 49,
SURPRISINGLY small amount considering the vast
sums Of money collected by postmasters. being
about one cent OF loss for every 800 collected or
ore one-hundredth Of per cent
The number of postmasters reported by the
Auditor for in.ormalities delinquencies in 1898
was ST. IN s99 423 and in 1890 231. The number of
notices sureties notifying them of the fall
,e Of uosrrnasfcrs 30 comply with the postal regu
lati4ns IN making their returns the Auditor. or
delinouenc.es in 1875 was 362 in 1888 l,l0l and in
1868 5IG This greatly improved condition Is due
largely 70 The strictness with which this bureau
has required postmasters to comply with the postal
laws and regulations in the handling of public
funds. and also 10 the vigilance of the inspecting
force.
OF The total number of complaints of loss of
registered mail l349 Of the alleged losses were
recovered and the amounts returned to the owners.
The actual number Of cases in which loss
established was 500. The total number of regis
tered pieces handled by the Department during the
year 1S,2S6352 making average loss OF only
piece in every 356S2 pieces Of registered mail
handled.
. The losses in 1881 were 10 per cent of the total
number of eases referred and investigated, or an
0f piece in every - $40 handled. IN
ISIS The loss was 80 2cI cent Of the total number
OF piece IL every 256fS pieces hapded The loss
for 1893 s. per cent Of the total number or
piece in every p $50 handled. The loss in 1909
was = per cent oi the total number OF cases
referred and iIvestigated. " an average OF one
piece In every @9fS2 pieces handled
The total number az arrests in the fiscal year
was l.-ei. 0f This number li9 were postmasters.
% assistant pcstmaSters. IS were clerks in
poetoflceS s were railway pIStal clerks, 50 were
letter-carrerS. 70 mail-carriers and ls were
employed III minor positions in the postal service;
was go. and the remaining 9i4 were persons In
connected with the postal service. OF the
total nuTnheI arrested u-21ol III cases We're as.
cSed nf IN liited states courts. resulting IN 90
convictions. Six died awaiting trial, % forfeited
bail ! escaped from custody and 60 were acquitted
u . proceedings dismissed. l26
discharged preliminary examination and S5
discharged hy the Grand Jury leaving 526 cases
pending in the United States courts on July /. 1900
n 80 convictions and y acquttals leaving 2S
awaiting trial.