Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1900-12-13
SECOND CLASS MAIL ABUSES
STILL CAUSE THE TROUBLE.
ANNUAL REPORT MADE
Many Good Recommendation Made in
the Annual Report-Shortage for
the Coming Year Nearly $s,ooo,ooo
and for the Year Following That
$4,634,S07,


master General Charles Emory smith
in his annual report, besides discussing
| domestic and insular operations IN The
last fiscal year, deyotes particular at
| teltiou to the abuses of the second
class mail matter privileges and extern
sion of rural free delivery. lie makes
the following recommendations for leg
| iSlation
Compulsory separation by publishers
| OF second-class mail matter,
Amendment OF the Interstate COM
MERGE law to prohibit telegraph and
| express companies or their employees
from aiding or abetting in the green
I seeds or Lottery swlndles or any other
| wrongful scheme carried on Jointly by
mail and common carriers
Punishment of persons who torcibly
attempt to enter mail cars or who as
| sault railway mail clerk while on
| duty.
Authority for postotlice inspectors to
take out search warrants whenever
necessary.
At appropriation for constructing in
spevtors ouuooks in postoflices where
ever the postmaster general deems
them necessary.
Paymcn; Of incidental expenses in
CURED by local officers or others in the
arrest, detention, and keeping of prls-
Oners charged with violation OF postal
laws until the United States marshal
takes custody of the prisoners.
During the last fiscal year the total
receipts from all sources aggregated
$l02,354,519; total expenditures, Sl07,-
! ti0,26S. The excess of expenditures
over receipts was S5,8S5,6S9 The reye-
nues have now passed the hundred
million mark The deficits have shruuk
from $9020,055 for the fiscal year
1897 IS to S5,3S5, 6SS for the last fiscal
year a decrease OF $3,G35.217 in three
years. Notwithstanding the large ex-
! pend.turcs now made for several new
! features. The estimates follows:
! Postal revenue for 1900, $l0235i.51g
Add Z = per cent. for estl-
mated increase ....... 7676,533
| Estimated revenue Tor 1901 ll0g3l1i2
Add 6 per cent. for esu-
mated increase for year
ending June 80, 1902 .. 6.GOl $50
Estimated revenue for 1902 nc. 633. 0i2
Estimated expenditure for
| 1902 ..... .....,,........ 12t276.34g
Deficiency for 1909, estl-
mated .,., ..."..,~.... 463l, 3Oi
In urging the Importance or remedial
legislation for fragrant abuses OF sec
dnd-class privileges, the postmaster
general says;
There should be no abatement OF
the protest or effort against the perpet-
uation of evils which have lnsiduously
grown up through the ingenious per-
version Of the laws intent In furthering
private interests and which have now
! become a heavy public burden. Their
elimination, while doing no injustice in
any quarter, would effect saving
! from sl2,000000 TO 10000 600 a year
and would relieve the way for leglti-
mate postal advances In every dlrec-
zion
The measure OF reform naturally
| encounters the strenuous hostility Of
! the limited special interests but some
! opposition is founded on a fear that the
proposed act is aimed in par at some
! legitimate publications Of the second
| class, and that its enactment would de-
mive them Of the privileges which the
| e1. ting law intended they should pos
scsa. Ials IS complete misapprehen-
sil
l8 caiy sought to cut OF the
abuses which crept ia. II Is aimed at
the gCgial paper-coyeTed books. at the
| 24Fate house organs, at the spurious
trace journals and sheets Of an ex-
elusive Advertising character at bulk
distribution, which 10 falsely called
subscription, and q the repeated turn
and oyertufu By news agents OF unsold
periodicals. There is no reason why
the government should carry them at
the second class rate OF cent a pound
when other articles Of the same Kind
rightfuIly pay the third-class rate Of
eight cents a pound.
"A plain, simple act, which shall
distinctly specify rae glaring and
acknowledged wrongs. and which shall
leave Legitimate publications without
any grouDt for the Misunderstanding
that has heretofore excited their alarm.
VIII, 1t Is not doubted, receive the
sanction Of congress.
A ruling Of the department limiting
the number Of sample copies which
may be sent with each Issue eaectually
c1rtails and restricts this cyI.
Another abuse which has been es-
sentially reduced Is that known az
bulk subscriptions by Which is
meant copies sent out 70 make clrcula-
lion for advertising purposes.
Whatever may b. done BIZ admins
trative action, the extirpation ~ ines,
abuses can be thoroughly and success.