Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1901-11-16
MANY RESERVATIONS.
Increasing Number of Postmasters
firing of Their Jobs.
Annual Report of Fourth Assis tant Brlstow
Contains Interesting Data-Number OF
Post Omces Established and Dis
continued the Past Year.

Washington, Nov. 13.-In his an
June 80, 1901, ]. L. Bristow, fourth
assistant postmaster general, says in
part: The number of appointments
during the fiscal year was 1867, as
against 1912 made during the pre-
ceding year; a gain of SIS. OF the
total number of appointments 1908
we're fourth-class postmasters and
$50 presidential postmasters.
There were 1924 post offices es-
tablished during the year, a decrease
as compared with the previous year
of 3O5. There were 3,O37 post offices
discontinued during the year, being
LIPS more than during the preceding
year. The principal causes for the
large increase in the number of post
Offices discontinued have been the
extension of the rural free delivery
service. The extension of rural free
delivery has resulted in the discontin-
uance of 1926 post offices during the
year, the salaries of postmasters of
said offices aggregating $79,336.
During the year there were AZ res
ignations of presidential postmasters
and SO deaths, an increase of one in
the number of designations, and eight
in the number of deaths, as compared
with the preceding year. There were
sos deaths of fourth-class postmasters
and 8,791 designations, a decrease of
"a in the number of deaths and an
increase of IT'S in the number of resig-
nations, as compared with the proceed
ing fiscal year.
On June 80, 1901, at the close of the
fiscal year, there were 76,945 post
offices, divided as follows: First class,
2O8; second class, $40; third class, g.
318; fourth class, 72,479.
The total number of arrests during
the fiscal year was 1,611. Of this
number 1O1 were postmasters, 40 were
assistant postmasters, IS were clerks
in post offices. 10 were railway postal
clerks, 27 were Ietter-carriers, 43 were
mail carriers, and 10 were employed
in minor positions in the postal serv-
ice. The total number of post office
burglars arrested was 327, and the re-
naming 979 were persons in no wise
connected with the postal service. OF
the total number arrested (1,611),
1,O32 were disposed of in United States
courts, resulting in 634 convictions.
With an aggregate amount of S.
53O.47 on hand July 1, 1900, there was
collected the sum of 1891, 435.7O. This
money represents collections of bal
ances due from postmasters, penal
ties for violations, amounts recovered
on account of fraudulent use of the
mails, and collections of amounts il
legally received by postmasters
through false cancellations.
Mr.. Bristow pays a high compliment
to inspectors in charge of the Cuban
postal department.. In 1901 the rev.
enues aggregated 1857, 1914, an increase
of 1880 per cent. over 1900. The ex-
penditures aggregated $451, 437, a de-
crease of 24.57 per cent. over the
previous year. A good report is also
made for Porto Rico, where Mr.. Bris-
tow says the service is constantly be-
ing improved.
More for Rural Free Delivery.
Washington, Nov. 13.-In his annual
report, which will be completed soon,
Postmaster General Smith will ask
for an increase of the appropriation
for the rural free delivery system
from the present sum of So, 5OO,oOO to
$4,000, 900, and will advocate the ex-
tension of the service as far as prac-