Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1901-12-05
POSTAL
ABUSES
Fully Exposed by Post
master General in
Annual Report
Over S24,OOO,o 900 Loss to
the Government
Annually
a
And the Outrage Increas-
ing at a Disas-
trOus Rate

Washington, Nov. 2S.-By far the
meatiest report ever made by a post
master general was that issued yester-
day by Mr.. Smith. 1t embraces a
sweeping and unanswerable expose OF
the vase abuses Of second class mail
privileges and the following recon-
mendations for legislation, some Of
which have heretofore been made, are
submitted for the consideration OF
congress:
That the maximum fee for money
order be fixed at 25 instead of 30
cents.
That fund be created out OF the
salaries of railway mail clerks to
provide for the retirement of such
clerks as have, after long periods Of
service, become incapacitated for
active duty.
That publishers be required to make
q preliminary separation of news
papers, under the direction OF the de-
partment, as a condition under which
they shall enjoy the exceedingly
liberal rates provided for carrying
second-class matter through the mails.
That building be provided In
Washington to be used wholly or in
part by the mail bag and mail lock
repair shop and as a depository for
mail bags.
That section Of the act OF June
10. 1898. chapter 446. providing that
assistant postmasters, cashiers, and
other employees in postofilces of the
first, second, and third classes shall
give bond direct TO the United States
be repealed, and that a statute be
enacted requiring such officers to give
bond directly to the postmastors and
holding postmasters responsible I'M
der their own bonds for any and all
acts and defaults occurring at their
Offices.
That provision be made for the pay
ment of incidental expenses incurred
by local officers or Others in the ar
rest, detention. and keeping of prison
ers charged with violations of the
postal laws until such prisoners can
be transferred To the custody of
United States marshal.
That statute be enacted authoriz-
ing postofiice inspectors to take out
search warrants whenever the same
may be necessary in the prosecution
OF their official duties.
That an appropriation be made for
the purpose of constructing lookouts
wherever. in the opinion OF the post
master-general, they may be needed,
That the nterstate-commerce law
be amended to prohibit. telegraph
and express companies. or any of
their employees from aiding and abet-
ting in the green-goods or lottery
swindles, or any other scheme car.
ried on partly by mail and partly by
common carrier and which is In viola
tion of the postal laws.
seeond-class Matter.
In his annual report for 1899 Secre-
tary Smith said: THE most urgent
need of the postal service is the recti-
fication OF the enormous wrongs
which have grown up in the perver-
sion and abuse of the privilege &C
corded by law TO second-class matter"
Time and experience only emphasize
this statement II is the most urgent
need. because It aims at the one great
overshadowing evil of the service. and
because II underlles and overtops all
other reform and advance. II would
relieve the department from the one
oppressive burden which cripples and
weighs II down, and which stands as n
constant and formidable barrier
against improvement and progress
for the benefit OF all the people in
many directions Deeply impressed
with this conviction. the department
has taken positive steps, in orders is
sued on July II. to correct the abuses
and accomplish substantial reform, so
far as II is possible by administrative
action.
Before explaining these steps IL will
be useful TO understand more clearly
just the extent OF the evil and the inn
peratiye need OF an effective remedy.
In dividing mail matter into four
classes the law provides that newspa-
pers and periodicals coming within
the conditions il prescribes shall con
stitute the second class with n post.
age rate OF / cent per pound. All other
printed matter, including books, cir
culars. and advertising sheets. con.
stitutes the third class. with a postage
rate OF cent for two ounces. The
law defines the characteristics which
shall distinguish and determine sec
ond-class matter. aud II intends to
limit the privilege and benefit of the
pound rate TO legitimate newspapers
and periodicals which fulfill these