Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1900-12-14

CharleS Emory Smltn, postmaster
general of the United States, in his an
nual report, just issued, discusses free
rural delivery. the abuse of the second
clas: mails and the Cuban postofIice
scandals as ,his principal topics. For
the first time in the history of this
country, the revenues of the postoffice
department have exceeded one hundred
millions of dollars, during the fiscal
year cf 1900 having reached the sum
OF $102, 1854 ,579.29. Since the present
postmaster general assumed the duties
of his office the receipts of the depart
ment have increased ten per cent, and
since the beginning of the present ad
miniztration in 1896 the increase has
been twenty per cent. This may be
accepted as an index of the prosperity
Of the country. The receipts of the
postoffice department are an infallible
indicator of prosperity or adversely.
Mr.. Smith believes that the growth of
the revenue from this source will con
tinue to increase; that in 1901 it will
reach $110,OOO,OOO, and in 1902, $116,-
100000.
In sDite of this vast gain, however,
there is still deficit of $5,0OOOO0,
which is to be supplied by taxation.
In explaining the cause of this def
cit Mr.. Smith says it might be avoided
if the second class mail privileges vera
confined 10 the dissemination of intel
lgence, rs intended. AS the situation
is now, anybody can send a publication
through the mails by calling it per-
iodical In this way all kinds of books
are admitted at newspaper rates, from
the Bible to Shakespeare and Sir Wal
ter Scott's novels.
The second class mail privileges
were intended originally for the cheaD
and prompt delivery of newspapers and
magazines, but the law was so loosely
drawn that whole carloads of books,
advertising matter. almanacs and ev-
cry other kind Of printed matter cal
be hauled so long as each article bears
a date upon it's cover and is issued
with regularity. This costs the gov
ernment $40, 100000 more than it comes
to and prevents the Dostoffice depart
ment from becoming self-sustaining
Congress does not amend the law be-
cause Of the pressure brought to bear
upon it by the booksellers. stationers
and publishers of price lists and cheap
novels.
On the subject of rural free delivery
Mr.. Smith recommends the adoption of
the system as a general policy of the
and advises its extension
as rapidly as possible to all sections
of the country that are favorable to its
vorable portions are some parts of
the great west, the prairies and noun
tains, the vast stretches of desert in
Arizona and the great forests of Ore
gCn. In these places free delivery is
impracticable. There are. however. ar
least 21,000, 900 of population distribut-
ed over million of square miles OF
territory in farm houses and little
crossroads settlements. In the opin-
ion of the head of the department,
these scattered rural residents are just
as much entitled to have their letters
and newspapers brought to their doors
as the people who live in the cities.
Mr.. Smith is enthusiastic on the sub
ject of rural free delivery. which he
characterizes as having passed the ex-
perimental stage and being the most
salient, significant and far-reaching
feature of the postal DEVELOPMENT in
recent times" This new departure en-
countered great opposition when first
proposed. 1t is matter of record
that Postmaster Generals Bissell,
Dickinson and Wilson, under the last
Cleveland administration, refused to
obey a law for a trial of the system
passed by Congress.
Some of the advantages. as seen by
Mr.. Smith, are these 1t stimulates So
cial and business correspondence and
so swells the postal receipts Its in
PRODUCTION is invariably followed by a
large increase in the circulation of the
press and of periodical literature. The
farm is thus brought into direct daily
contact with the currents and move {.
ments of the business world. A more
accurate knowledge of ruling markets
and varying prices is diffused, and the
producer, with his quicker communi-
cation and larger influence, is placed
on surer footing. The value of
farms, as has been shown in many
cases, is enhanced. Good roads be-
come Indispensable and their improve
ment Is the essential condition of the
service. The disposition to leave the
farm for the town is a familiar effect
of 2ast conditions. but this tendency
is checked and NAV be materially
changed bv an advance which con-