Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-28

hrst time authorizing the postmaster gem
eral to pay to the legal representatives Of
any railway postal clerk killed on duty
$1,000. This Afforded a much needed relief
and supplements the practice OF the de-
partment to continue to pay a clerk injured
while on duty his full salary for one year.
Legislation is needed for the protection
Of railway postal clerks while in the dis
charge Of their duties.
New and improved service in lines Of
full railway postofice cars or apartment
cars during the last fiscal year was ap-
piled to 34.6O5 miles, which is in excess
Of the record Of any previous year. Addi-
tional car space was provided on lines
aggregatlng over 5000 miles in length.
New trains at a high rate Of speed have
been placed in operation on several of the
trunk lines, furnishing greatly improved
schedules for the movement Of the mails,
and by the extension OF other lines new
connections have been developed for the
more expeditions transmission Of mails to
and from Important sections Of the country.
wages Raised Again.
While no general law has been enacted
by congress for the reorganization and re-
classification OF the railway mail service,
much has been done in various appropria-
tAoh bilhos ne Sdihlitb VI NlNAhb VI u
81, 200 and S1,400 classes, which for years
we're reduced by reason Of restricted APP
preparations to amounts less than the maxi
mum allowed by law, have been restored.
A higher class, at 1880 per mum. has
been created for chief clerks and allow
ances have been made for their travelling
expenses. A still higher class, at 81, 800
per annum, has been established for as
sistant division superintendents and pro-
vision made for their travelling expenses
The salaries Of division superintendents
have been Increased, fifteen days annual
leave has been granted to clerks perform
ing daily service, provision has been made
to pay $1,000 to the families Of clerks
killed in the line OF duty, and provision
has been made for the promotion OF clerks
on the heavier apartment lines from 81, 900
to 81, 100 per annum and for the promotion
OF assistant chief clerks and a number Of
clerks on full railway postof1ce lines op>
Grating more than one car to q train from
81, 200 to 81, 800 per annum.
A change has been made in the distribu-
tion and dispatch OF registered matter that
will result in shortening the transit time
of that class OF matter without affecting
it's security. The scheme for the distribu-
tion Of registered matter have been
CunnBSu 50 as 10 dNQlu the uelhyS hL OK
change offices, the matter heretofore in
closed in the through registered pouches
being omitted to a large extent and for
warded as hand pieces. A system OF
through registered pouches to be made
up by the clerks Of the larger lines has
been inaugurated, and special equipment
has been furnished with which to make
such exchanges.
81
The increase in the demand for stamps
bound in books was very great. The num-
Der of books Issued was 1908, 274, containing
124,46s,4SS 2 cent stamps, which is 81 per
cent more books than we're issued the pre-
ceding fiscal year. The proht to the gov
eminent was $43, 4o2.92.
New designs covering the entire series
Of adhesive and embossed stamps. are in
course Of preparation. 1t is expected that
they will be ready for issue during the
coming winter. The new stamps will be
much more artistic than those of the pres
ent series, and will bear the name OF
the subject with the years OF birth and
death. -...T
Return Postal Cards Wanted.
The subject of3rsturn postal cards and
envelopes has been much discussed by the
public and considered in the department,
The four assistants 20 the postmaster gem
eral and the auditor for the Postohhce de-
partment were appointed a committee to
consider this subject, and report upon the
feasibility Of adopting an experimental plan.
Your attention is respectfully called to the
report Of this commission transmitted here
with.
After having given the subject careful
consideration and believing that It has
great merits, have arrived at the conclu-
sion that 1t is very questionable whether,
under the law as it now stands, the depart
ment is authorized. to put in operation any
system which does not provide for the pre-
payment Of postage by the afnxing Of
stamps. .H-~ p .-
1 recommend the passage OF a law con-
herring upon the department specific au-
thority to introduce the system Of reply
postal cards and envelopes, IL in the dis
erection Of the department 1t shall be
deemed wise. -.