The sun., 1901-11-13
MORE POST OFFICE THIEVES.
GRIMES AGAINST THE POSTAL
LAWS INCREASING
How 10 Chcck Green Goods and Lottery
Swfndlos-The Extension of the Rural
Delivery Service Has Abolished
Many Small Ofrces-Annuh Report


Delivery Service Has Abolished
Many Small Onces-Annuh Report
WASHINGTON, Nov, i2.-The annual re-
port Of the Fourth Assistant Postmaster
General for the hsosl year ended June 30.
1901, calls attention to an incrssAe In mail
depredations. IL says:
Certain kinds OF crime asainst the Postal
laws seem 70 be on the increase, such as
the burglarizing Of Post Offices and ths
robbery Of mailboxss. While q greater
number of arrests have been made and
moro convictions had Of such offenders
against the law during the past year than
during the preceding year. yet wo have
not had a sufficient number OF inspectors
to cope with the persistent industry OF this
class of criminals. The Department has
therefore asked Congress TO make larger
appropriation for the next fiscal year for
this branch OF the service.
The total number Of arrests during the
fiscal year was l.sli. OF this number
loi we're postmastors, 20 were assistant
postmasters, e5 wero clerks In Post Officos.
10 were railway postal clerks. 27 wore letter
carriers, 43 were mail carriers and 10 were
employed In minor positions In the Postal
Service The total number OF Post once
burglars arrested was S27, and the remainder
Of 879 were persons In nowise connected
With tho Postal service. OF the total
number arrested 1852 were disposed OF In
United States courts, resulting In o3i con-
Nctions.'
The report says that the matter Of the,
Identification OF criminals has received
renewed attention. The section having
charge Of this feature Of the work has been
In operation since July, 1899, and promises
TO be valuable 20 the service. The ident-
flcation section, through the chief Post
Ohioe inspector, Ia subscriber 70 the Ma
tional Bureau OF Identification. To this
national bureau are sent Photographic.
measurements and descriptions of criminals
when arrested, and tho Information OF that
institution Is at the command Of the Post
ONCE inspectors.
The report recommends that the Interstate
Commerce lay be amended to prohibit
common caTTiers-telegraph and express
companies-or any Of their employees
from aiding and abetting In the green goods
or lottery swindles or any other scheme
carried on partly by mail and partly by
common carrier and which Is In violation
of tho Postal laws.
Tho number Of appointments during the
fiscal year was 1887. as against 16, l2 the
preceding year, a gain OF 5l5. or the total
number OF appointments 1908 were fourth
class postmastsrs and $50 Pre- sidentid
postInasters.
during the year, a decroase as comp ared
with tho previous year OF 305. There were
9O31 Post Offices discontinued during the
year. being l,l2j more than the preceding
year.
The principal causes FOR the large increase
in the number Of Post Offices discontinued
has been the extension Of the rural free
delivery service and the establishment Of
rural free delivery stations IN lieu Of fourth
class Post Offices. tho extension of city
delivery service so az 70 include Post Ofices
dJacont to large Presidential offices and
the Improvement Of the public highways.
Tho extension Of rural free delivery has re-
suited Ia the discoutnuanCe Of l,225 Post
Offices during the year, the salaries Of
postmasters Of said Offices aggregating
s5g. $3.50
II is pointed out that out of 2O,sli,5Oi
pieces Of registered mail handled by tho
Department actual loss occurred In only
4Cj cases.
With an aggregate amount Of $3.50 ~
on hand July /, 1900 there was collected
the sum Of 1851 ,i35 20. making a total Of
$3.50 ,9G6 II TO be accounted for, of which
amount S3Se, S23.40 was disburscd, leaving
an uncXpended balance Of sli27l at tho
close uf tho year.