Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-13


the Office and cannot without assistance.
render a prompt and satisfactory service
he be allowed one regular clerk at salary
not to exceed $500, upon proper authorize
ton by this department 1t Is recommend
ed that an appropriation of $1300.OO0, an
increase Of 100000. be requested.
The regular clerk hire appropria ton un-
der the present segregation. not being avail
able for temporary or emergency clerk nire
at the larger post offices, it Is recommended
that this appropriation covering temporary
clerk hire at first and second class post
offices be made 100000, an increase OF go
600.
THE appropriation for substitutes for
clerks on vacation has enabled the depart
ment to provide substitutes for about all OF
the clerks in second class post offices and
some Of the clerks in the smaller first-class
post offices during their vacations. With
the increased force allowed July /, 1907
however. it will be necessary to increase
same. Hence it Is recommended that an
appropriation Of $4,000. an increase Of
25,0OO, be requested.
The annual adjustment OF postmasters
salaries for the present fiscal year. under
the act of Congress approved March 3, 1883
resulted in assigning 4,7S3 offices to the
presidential class. These offices, together
with the stations connected with first and
second-ciass post offices, and offices that
may be advanced to the presidential class
during the present fiscal year. estimated at
$50. are to be provided for out Of this ap-
preparation. As shown in statement under
the head of Leases" go post offices and
stations are in government buildings, and
these offices should be excluded. leaving
1.359 post offices to be provided with rent,
light and fuel.
ION June 30 1902 there were 1,245 post
offices of the first and second classes OF
this number $50 are in government build
ings and $40 in buildings leased to the gov
eminent. Three hundred and seven sta
and 21O post Offices of the third class are
in leased buildings, total of 1859. The
annual rental of these buildings on June 80,
1902, amounted to 81. 2O7, 439.
Rural Free Delivery.
The rapid growth Of the rural free deliv-
cry service affects the rent fuel and light
appropriation perhaps more than any other
single appropriation made the Post Office
Department by Congress. Many smaller
post offices are being discontinued and the
work merged with some central office,
which at once becomes presidential office
and therefore entitled under the law to a
reasonable allowance for rent, fuel and
light. These rural free delivery centers are
seldom established with fewer than three
or four rural carriers, and the additional
room and other facilities needed make the
demands upon this appropriation almost
continuous and frequently beyond the limit
fixed by law.
when the buildings contemplated in the
omnibus pubic building bill of the last
Congress are made ready for occupancy
they will undoubtedly save this appropria-
tion but there Is no prospect of any of
these buildings being occupied before from
four to seven years.
IF Congress were to authorize the pur-
chase of public-building sites for these sta
tloES, as under the public-buflding act
within q period Of ten years there would
be no occasion whatever for the payment
larger cities the municipal governments
have long since seen the wisdom and neces-
sity of selecting permanent sites and erect
ing thereon suitable buildings for their
police and fire departments, as have also
the express companies; and as the postal
service and it's necessities have become
perma nently fixed, the selection of perma-
nent homes for our station service would
seem to be demanded in the interest of
business prudence and economy. 1t IS rec
commended that an appropriation Of 50 500.-
600, an increase of $4,000, for rent fuel
and light be requested.
For necessary miscellaneous and iaci-
dental items directly connected with first
and second-class Offices including furniture
cleaning, electric motors and power. and
all other items of expense not specifically
600.
For advertising and the purchase of
newspapers containing official advertise
ments contracted for under this appropria-
ton, $4,000.
Many Of the smaller first and second
class post offices receive and dispatch mails
colncidently, and postmasters are obliged
during such periods to practically close the
windows to the public. canceiing ma
chine not only relieves several clerks of the
necessity of postmarking or back stamping
letters by hand, but inSures as we'll a uni
form and legible postmark, and at the same
Tune protects the government by a thor
ough cancellation. In my Judgment the
canceling machine Is better than two or
three clerks at times and has grown to be
an indispensable adjunct to a post office.
1t IS suggested that each post Office of the
nrst and second classes be provided with
one or more canceling machines and in or
der to make more satisfactory contracts
with the owners thereof this department
be permitted to contract for term not to
exceed four years.
1T is recommended that an approoria-
ton of 100000 be provided by Congress,
and that payment for the motors and cur
rent therefor be made out of the miscel-
laneouS and incidental appropriation MANY
of the machines are run on an electric
meter basis and with a small margin
the department is more or less emba ira ssed
to keep such expenditures within the limits
OF the appropriation.
Post Offices Visited.
During the past year the assistant
superintendent of this division have visit
ed 77S post Offices principally of the second
and third classes, where the public accom-
modatfons and facilities have been greatly
improved Heretofore these post Offices
had occupied quarters in connection with
some other business. with decidedly print
tive furniture. lock boxes. etc. In almost
every Instance post offices were provided
with exclusive quarters. fitted up with the
latest improved furniture and equipment,
and the public and press have commented
upon the fact that the department h ad at
last given them post offices In keeping with
the Importance and dignity Of theIr locali-
ties.
Many of the larger first,class post offices
were visited during the past year after the
postmasters estimates had been submitted
and same were carefully investigated before
allowances were made.
1T ID recommended that an appropriation
OF S24 200 for salaries 600 and per diem
slo.ZSD for seven assistant superintendents
be granted"
The total estimate for the year 1861 Is
$45295.22O, an increase of s. 295.2 20.