New-York tribune., 1901-11-28
REFORM OF SECOND CLASS MAIL ABUSES
RURAL FREE CONTEMPORARIES
TUBEs-LEGIsLATIoN ASKED
OF CONGRESS.

r.erous conditions annual increase "a ieN'-f--
IS Larger tha1 the of outlay, ana Tor se'
.raI <ears the deficit has been steadily growing
smaller -, %
The estimates for the fiscal year ending June 80
aS03 follows;
Total postal for 1901 oSi i'S
ending 80. 1902 - lV.V1Ooo.
Estimated revenue for 1902 s!2l 6ss S eoS
Approoriation postal service for 1892
deficit for 1899 1sss s,s s. is 9sSs SSs
Aoo s7z per cent -
Estimated revenue for 1903 ........... .s1S2 o2o CSC
Estimated expenditures for 1903 lSi '9IeIt
Estimated deficit 1903 -----.-.------ sZ'lo'4e
ABUSES IN SECOND CLASS MATTER.
The Postmaster General devotes much space TO
REVIEW Of abuses in second class matter ana 'le
aneasures taken TO reform them on TINS SUBJECT Tx
says, in part:
In nv annual report for 1899 said: The most
argent need of the postal service is the rectlhcatlG
of the enormous wrongs which nave sTomi or5 ~ Cd
Sy law to second class matter" Time and e&peIi- per-
ence only emphasize this sta'emehe EN- & ~ y reat over
urgent need. because 1t aims al lhe one s+ 5eT
xhsdovng evil of the service, and because II Gue
n sS wonid relieve the department the one op,
pressive burden which crippes ana weighs i. ,I
barrier against improvement ana progress +3L 9n r
5mpressed with this conviction the department. has
taken positive steps IN orders oTniisb substa,
Iial reform so far II is possible by aoniiiS'i"
In div.dins mail matter four classes the law
provides that newspapers and perioddfaIs
the ssconq cas- W. rint mater including books,
third class with postage rate OF one
icS W. sbs distinguish and determine second class
snattsr and it intends TO limit me s5s
and periodicals which fuil these sta6hf2ry
IN But uefv In la Books or purely advertising
sheets or gift enterprises. ana when sAe lam
crent IN through evasons and loose constructons
nt TINS absSe 7 has g5fmn Of anS 1S millions 6f dollars
near on the government and the peopie, -,,- so er
cent of the weight OF the entire mail Of the coeil
try and yet. while the posts. S Class matter
paid only sl2sl.s5 OF that aInount-Ihs5b IS "fe fr
making threeffths OF the man nan IN Of the revenue
The transportation of the mails Is a1 ~ U Tetiirn to
cost in second class matter is thus apparent d. q
slsnGeb fba mail thus carried at a heavy loss were
limited 10 what the law intended, there MouG % he
nothing more to be Sa1ol 1,bc expenditure for
well defined justihanle and worthy pneS onIa 0G5ei BE-
1n loss at ali Our free institutions rest on pop
ean our fed and enlightened policy to foster and
promote the general diuslon o. Poecia1 rate for
noe legitimate pubic end Congress has sought e
7ogosesI e Tpubc aim and clear PUBLIC demand
1t never meant 10 open the hoodgates toa al ,icb ~
have no public object whatever within he ne con con.
59 @ n 2ate e = ne eos asa seo soey for private profit
the public expense. :, q,
esfiafed tnat onehalf does not come within The
meaning and intent Of the 4w s ad n ot fS aot od 10 be
mailed at the pound rate II it be difficult az nrss
to 5eeKe 50 5ha1 arge e two Considerations i
clear On the other hand the entire se 1oas S
with its scattered range i has no S'he5 5e grea
SodS 81 9sF2Hsina of te pan @ Of e
where F@s2prng @ Ing G OUTSIDE EG f OF the as @
Most of their circulation is within radlus ..
Tos IhsT are 9F rransD0rted in bulk for
the p9ssfags 5a5 miles @ the same rate for three
miles II the abuses now under eonsSerati e ~ sab an
iish zones with graduated rates and TO carry news
papers and periodicals in bulk Yithin IN iirnlsee NJ &c
now Stands and with just urderstanding Of these
8ebalf the ToIame If second class mail is Of The
character which the law never intenoeo shoNiu
70 correct the various abuses thus indicated, the
B IF be has haS laugh ee oTdeTs
the several objects which have been les raze at
once is first necessary to enforce tine the This
VIII either relieve the mails or bring revenue.
or both The postal force 2oth N tne ne. pos sr
ably relieved OF the excessive strain 9ow ; pnceq 1
ieat gain more freedom for better service in other
directions. and the constant ana urgent pIsss.b1 .b
beavy si demands viii be iessened. The cost which
the abuses have entailed on the govern5nene Gan can
r,erse on the degree of thoroughneSs with WfIcii
fhe reform can be executed. and cannot be acc1-
ratelv estimated It will. however. when fully rear,
fzed amount TO several million dollars year ano
Will not only make the service sef-sustalnlns, pul
permit important advances on other lines
RURAL FREE DELIVERY
The rural free delivery mas advanced VIII Win III IN
creased strides Its extension in the last year ma
f,een nearly three times great as the whoie
amount OF service previously established. Ihe
number OF operation at tns peglnIihs ~
The fiscal year LIS, and al the close f,o1i
During the current year. with an augmented aP
propriaton and more experienced force, sne We =
viii proceed still more rapidly AT the opening OF
December ees9 routes will be running, ano unoeI
present plans the number will increase oy july l.
1902 TO $500 .., 49,
The rural population now receiving daily ser.
vice is about four millions, and at the end OF
the fiscal year il will reach 5.leosl Inc de
livery system will then cover more than d Qudi
Ter Of the eligible portion of the country, ano
sr the present rate Of establishment the entire
million square miles Of territory, with Noo,oe
Of rural rtsidents-will be brought within Its scope
in less than four years The mali Will then, II tte
work goes on, be delivered at every door IN the
United States except in the most remote. noun
famous and sparsely settled sections, and IN VII
lages Of limited receipts where the postofhce Is
within easy reach The number Of applications for
rev routes at this time last was 2,l59- Those
now pending and awaiting action amount TO olZs
THE PNEUMATIC TUBE SERVICE.
The pneumatic tube service IN New-York, Phila-
delphia and Boston suspended with the close
pired. Congress failed to make further appropria-