The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-05
lNTER-CITY POSTAL RIVALRY.
Citizens of Louisville and Indinnap-
oils Urged to buy stamps.

Indianapolis and Louisville have been
| engaged in a merry war to see which city
could show the largest postal receipts for
| the twelve months ending March 81, 1871.
| There were two good reasons for swell
ing receipts beyond the $4,000 mark, the
| first that additional postal facilities might
thus be assured, and second, that the
| commercial standing of the cities might
he benefited. Business houses took up
| the idea enthusiastically.
The greater the postal receipts of 4
city the more business it is presumably
doing, and owing to the rivalry between
Louisville and Indianapolis each city was
determined to outdo the other The news
papers helped along the enterprise, and
urged that everyone do all the business
they could with the postofice OF course
the surplus stamps purchased during
March might not be used until April or
May, but the receipts would count for
the past year.
Meanwhile the postmasters Of Indianap
oils and Louisville, when not busy push
ing the sales Of stamps and postal cards,
We're leaning back in their easy chairs
congratulating themselves on business
picking up. The more the public bought
the higher went their salaries. This year
their offices for the twelve months ending
April l. 1901. pass $500, 600 they will receive
s., 600 for the fiscal year beginning July l,
1901
The public in both cities became i'm
pressed with the idea that il the postmas-
ter's salary was raised the offices would
receive more money in the way of clerk
hire and allowances; that there would be
more sub-stations more deliveries, and
more collections. However, the few thou
sand dollars difference between the re-
ceipts this time and those for the CORE
spending period last year do not amount
to enough to make any difference in the
service unless the department should see
fit to make such increase, and as 1t is
fully aware of the efforts to boom the
business it is highly probable that no adj
ditional allowances will be made.
Under the operation of the law the
postmaster's salary will be increased, but
that is as far as the law goes. The sala-
ries of the assistant postmasters may be
increased to $500 or so per cent of the
postmaster's salary. 1t will be possible
also to increase the salaries of the super
intendents of delivery mails, registry,
etc, the law provides that they be paid
q certain per cent of the salary OF the
postmaster, ranging from 80 to 40 per cent.
II is more than likely, however, that the
only effect of the hard work in booming
the sale of stamps at these offices will be
to increase the salaries of the postmas-
tiers. 1t is said that the Indianapolis re-
ceipts were over S505, coo. Neither report
has reached the Office of the Auditor for
the Postofiice Department.
For the fiscal year ending June 30 1900
the receipts for indianapolis were $i57, 131,
and those of Louisville s479,9S1. Indianap-
oils was allowed during that time $3.50. 400
for expenses, the profits were s266 40,
the expenses being ~ per cent of the re-
ceipts. Louisville during this time showed
S200,091 expenses and S219 $50 net revenue
the percentage being the same as that of
Indianapolis ~