Evening star., 1902-01-25

Sl9,949,514. Clerks in post offices get s12,-
eau, ,'5s Kent, light and fuel cost 81 ,942 600
Inc Tree delivery service in cities-the
wages paid the gray-coated postmen-means
an item of SIS, 752, 600 The experimental
rural free delivery system cost last wear
Sl'I49,525, and during the next fiscal year
II VIII probably reach the sum of 81 800 ooO
assistant postmasters receive 81 ,339 333
Ra11road transportation costs the DEPART
ment 900. The men who ride over
the mountains and through sparsely settled
districts on star routes earn S5,523, ,902 q
year. The railway post Office car service
means an expense Of 81, ,40S, $50, which is
more than doubled by the railway mail SER
vice, with S9,675,436 to its credit. For
elgn mails eat up the sum of 50 ,004 900 in
subsidies paid steamboat companies
10 control these expenditures the Post
master General must spend about ten hours
a day In conference with his subordinates
inspecting contracts, hearing arguments
signing vouchers and drafts, receiving del
egatfons, debating letters and signing his
name. All his study for the Improvement
OF the service must be done between times
on certain days of the week he begins sign
Ing the afternoon mail at 2 o'clock in the
AFTERNOON and writes increasingly until after
4; Ihose who wonder why the present
cnlef or the service signs himself "Ch."
OF that abbreviation If they could only see
the high pile of certificates of appointment,
vouchers, drafts, important letters, con-
tracts ana other routine papers taken into
--~~ NSoAA n oSNASoiiS every udt.
Village Post Office Appointments.
But signing his name is one of the least
features of the Postmaster Generals duty.
Some few representatives discover that
by applying for positions to the subordi-
mates of the office and sending the request
to the Postmaster General from that end.
their chances for obtaining the "considera-
ton desired are materially increased. Most
OF them, however, think to settle mat
ters by going to the "old man" directly
Ihat means delay while the chief of the
department In question is summoned, an
unnecessary discussion over the desired ap-
pointment follows, and probably one or two
extra calls. If the Postmaster General
could sign his name with a rubber stamp
ana interview by proxy the legislators bent
on obtaining appointments, he would still
have enough to do to manage a business
Of such proportions.
From the figures given of the chief ex-
penditures of the department it will be
seen that the cost of providing stamps and
newspaper wrappers must be relatively
rather small. 1t is the transportation of
mails, the payment OF salaries, and rent,
light and fuel which consume the re-
ceipts.
Stamps and Stamp Books.
The whole cost of the third assistants
office. from which the manufacture and
distribution Of stamps are controlled, is
estimated at only s2,155.0o0 for the COM
ing fiscal year. Stamps and stamp books
are printed at the bureau of engraving and
printing and cost the Postmaster General
about $2S0.000. The agents who distribute
them get only $4,000 a year all told. Inc
stamped envelopes and newspaper wrap
pers cost $4,000, and the agents who see
to their Issue get $4,000. Postal cards cost
$4,000. The other expenses of the stamp
business are less than $4,000 In other
words, the cost of the stamps. from which
the government obtains more than $780,
100000. is only about $1.400O0O.
Stamp books fill unique position In the
Post Office Department They net the gov
ernment not only the face value Of the
stamps inclosed, but a handsome profit on
the book itself. In the last year 4. .69S 423
stamp books were sold. The number of
stamps contained was "a. 435. .390. The SELL
Ing price of the books was 81, 1876 692, which
is given as $469S4 over the face value Of
the stamps and 81, ,952 over the cost Of
manufacture. From the sale of stamp
books, therefore, which cost only / cent
more each than the face value Of the
stamps. the department earns In a year the
comfortable profit OF about $4,000. This
issue of stamp books is one of the new
enterprises Of Postmaster General Smiths
administration, and serves to Indicate the
advantages which might accrue to the
patrons OF the department II Its executive
were left free to plan for it's Improvement.