The Washington times., 1901-11-27
EXPANSION OF THE
POSTAL SERVICE.
INCREASE OF BUSINESS MARKED.
Large Additional Expenditures for
the maintenance of the system
a BuiIding for supply
Division Recommended.

William NJ Johnson. First Assistant
Postmaster General. submitted his annual
report for the past fiscal year to the Post
master General yesterday afternoon.
The Growth OF the Service.
Referring to the growth of the postal
service Mr. johnson says that in the Ave
years just passed the number of Presiden-
tiai postonlces has increased from S,65I
to ASA or 23 per cent.
The salaries Of postmasters hare in
creased from $16y0S, ,3S4.35 to $19.94s. .515,
or IS per cent.
The allowances for clerks in first and
second class Offices have increased from
slO.3S2.O61 to S11,729.5l4. or IS per cent.
In the free delivery branch of the SER
vice the number of free delivery Offices
has increased from GIT to $50, or 80 per
cent.
The number of carriers has increased
from 12.SS4 to 1889, or 2S per cent.
The cost OF the service has increased
from S12,713.S6I to $15,752. 500, or "a per
cent. with an increase of gross receipts
at free delivery offices of from s52, ,567 ,6O4
to $7i .2g5, 1874. or Al per cent.
RurnI Free Delivery.
Within the same period the rural free
delivery service has been established and
on June l. 1901. the carrier force had
grown TO 4.3O1, which by December will
number 5000. delivering mail daily to
100000 people.
The transactions of the ney-ortler
increased from $lSS071 .056.27 to the enor-
cent
So. too, in every other branch and di-
vision of the service there have been con-
slant and unusual advances
In regard 20 the classification of the
rural delivery service, Mr.. johnson sug-
gests that Congress be asked to make an
appropriation in the SAME manner as other
appropriations are made, without further
designating it as experimental" He be-
lieyes the time has arrived when this
service must he deemed to have passed
beyond the experimental stage and to be
regarded as one Of the established agen-
cies of the Department.
Civil Service for Rural Carriers.
Speaking of the force OF rural carriers
and their efficiency, Mr.. johnson says
that there is no good reason why they
should not have the protection and sense
Of security which the civil service sys-
TEN throws over lneumbents Of office in
the classified service.
For pOstmasters salaries. Mr. Johnson
recommends an appropriation of $50, 600.
coo TO cover compensation for the fiscal
year ending June 80, 1903, and also urges
upon Congress the necessity for reclass-
itcation of postotfice clerks in first and
second class postofIlees.
The total cost of the free delivery sys-
TEN per annum to the Department for the
OF only so cents for each person enjoying
its convenience and facilities.
TO EstabIish New Position.
Under the caption Supervisors Of Let
ter Carriers Mr. johnson has the follow
ing to say:
ITO tighten the administrative grasp on
the charging service, have the honor to
recommend that all the large postofices,
especially those employing as many as
fifty letter carriers. an employe be as
signed or appointed to have exclusive
charge of the letter carrier force that
such officials be designated as superyis-
ors of carriers and attached to the free
delivery service; also that all present
employees. under whatever name or title.
who are performing the duties of super
intending or directing letter carriers be
transferred to the rolls OF the free deliv-
cry division"
Mr.. Johnson recommends that remedial
steps be taken before the increased per-
centage OF superannuation of carriers be-
gins to weigh heavily upon the efficiency
of the service. As the number of veteran
letter carrier grows larger with each
year, the question of what to do with the
old and oTu-out members is a progress
siye one.