Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-12
RURAL SERVICE PAYS
HAS INCREASED POSTAL RE-
CEIPTs EVERYWHERE.
Report of First Assistant Postmaster
General Urges Permanent Loca-
ton Of Subpost Offices.

The annual report of Robert j. Wynne,
first assistant postmaster general, urges
that in view of the success of the rural
free delivery system and it's future neces-
cities the recommendation for 1865, 500 in
the estimates for that purpose Is reasona-
BILE. The amount is an increase of a little
more than S5O0O,OO0 over the current fiscal
year.
To correct what the report considers the
injustice Of compelling a postmaster to pay
| part of his salary for clerk hire Mr.. Wynne
urges legislation authorizing the Post Office
Department to make allowances for clerk
hire at third-class post offices, when 1t Is
satisfactorily shown that the postmaster by
devoting his time and attention to the
office is unable to transact the post Office
business.
The advisability of erecting public build
| ingS for the establishment of branch post
| offices in cities is discussed and the plan is
| Endorsed economical to the government.
The establishment and extension OF the
| pneumatic tube service will make 1t neces-
| sary to secure permanent sites for sta
| tons in the large cities.
To Equalize Salaries.
| An effort has been made to equalize the
| salaries of clerks in first and second-class
| post offices by promotion of ow-salaried.
| but efficient clerks. At the larger first
| class offices clerks are not now working in
| excess of eight hours a day, but it is i'm
practicable in existing conditions to give
| clerks in the smaller offices eight hours
| continuous service. An effort is being made
| to reduce their hours to a fair basis.
I'm the city-delivery service" says Mr..
J Wynne. a plan is proposed whereby in the
| larger cities substitute carriers shall re-
| ceive at least $50 month, and in smaller
cities $50 month. Substitute carriers can
not now count on fixed income
| Authority is asked to charter for period
of ten years .(six years beyond the limit
fixed by law small, swift steamer, con-
structed with special reference to handling
mails TO and from the Great Lake steamers
while passing at full speed. This service,
begun several years ago at Detroit, has
grown in efficiency and appreciation, until
it has become an almost Indispensable fea-
ture of lake navigation.
Rural Service Permanent.
The rural free delivery system has be-
come a permanent feature of the postal
service and the service has increased the
postal receipts and improved conditions
wherever it has been put in operation. No
deficiency, it is stated, will be created by
this service. 1t remains with Congress to
say whether the establishment of routes al
ready laid out shall be FASTENED and the in
stallation of routes IN course of inyestiga-
ton expedited.
Additional appropria tons must be made
for this purpose. 1t is recommended that
Congress make provision for leave of alb
sence with full pay, for rural carriers, not
to exceed fifteen days in a fiscal year. Ex-
tension to rural carriers of power to receive
and register letters has proved so accepta-
Bile a public benefit that it is purposed
further to increase their usefulness, by
adding, under proper regulations, an ex-
tension of the money order system to rural
routes. Rural carriers are now empowered
to receipt for money orders. 1t is intended
after the 1St of January q
them also to pay money orders at the resi-
dences of known patrons of the routes
The maximum fee for a money order ($1G0)
is 80 cents. 1t is recomme nded that the
maximum be reduced to p cents with pro-
portionate reductions wherever the amount
exceeds $50.