The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-10-30
Work of the POstoffice Depart
ment as Set Forth
In the Annual Report of Mr.,
Joseph L. BristOW.
1890 POSTMASTERS
There Were 3,O3S Postoffices
Established Last Year.
RObberieS of Mail Trains Show
Marked Falling OFF.

|
the annual report of Fourth Assistant
Postmaster General Bristow for the
fiscal year ended June 80 1902, made
public today says: The work of this
bureau has increased prOportionately
with the enormous increase in the pos.
tai business of the country. In the di-
vision of appointments the work was
heavier than in any year since 1888
There was large increase in the num-
Der of presidential postmasters appoint
| ed as compared with preceding years,
| the total number being 2.370. the great
est in any one year in the history of the
department. This increase was due to
/ the expiration Of a large number of
commissions during the year and the
advancing of many fourth class post
offices to the presidential grade. There
was no. material difference in the num-
| Der of fourth class appointments made
as compared with the year 1901. The
work of the division of bonds and Gems
missions is up to date and in satisfac-
tory condition. The work required of
the division of pOStCffice inspectors and
mail depredations increases with the in.
! crease CT the postal business of the
| country and has been kept we'll in hand
during the fiscal year.
APPOINTMENT OF STEERS.
/ There were more appointments of post
| masters during the last fiscal year than
during the preceding year. The total
number of appointments for the fiscai
year ended June 80. 1901, was IL, 657
while for the fiscal year ended June &c.
lSOZ, Iney amounted to 16,9U, an IN
crease of 1,313 This increase was due
! to the large number of exDiratfons OF
commissions of presidential postmas-
ters. During the fiscal year 1901 the
commissions of only 1S4 postmasters OF
/ this class expired, while during the
fiscal year 1902 there were ], 1872 expira-
lions.
The records show a slight increase in
the number Of removals of pOstmasterS
for cause. due to the policy of the de-
partment to hold postmasters to a more
strict account for carelessness and ir
Irregularities in the discharge of their
/ duties. There was a gradual improve
ment in the character of service render
ed by Dostmasters during the fiscal
year, and their work has never been
more efficient than it was during the
period under considera ton.
ESTAB OF POSTOFFTCES
There were 303S postoffices establish
ed during the year, decrease as COM
pared with the previous year of 256.
The record of blishments during
the last six fiscal years is as follows.
1897 1901 1885, 3.601; 1885, 1885; 1900
$500; 1901, {, 294; 1902, $685.
There were 4.059 postoff1ces discon-
tinued during the year, being 022 more
than during the preceding year.
The principal causes for the large in
crease in the number of postoffices dis
continued have been the extension of
the rural free delivery service and the
establishment of rural free delivery sta
tiOns in lieu of fourth class poStoffceS,
the extension of city delivery service so
as to include pOstoffices adjacent to
large presidential offices. and the i'm
provement of the public highways.
The extension of rural free delivery
! has resulted in the discontinuance of
1905 postoffces during the year. the
salaries of Dostmasters of said offices
aggregating S116,S07.
PRIVATE POSTOFFICES
The usual diligence has been exercised
in the suppression of private postoffces.
Wherever it is found that postoffice
+ is conducted for the sole benefit of some
corporation. factory, nursery company,
patent medicine firm. or other private
business institution, it is discontinued
1 To permit such offices to exist not only
greatly reduces the revenues of the de-
| partment, but may be fruitful of fraud.
Many such offices have been discon-
tinued during the year and the estab-
Hshment of others refused.
During the year there were 70 resig-
nations of presidential postmasters, and
"A Deaths an increase of 25 in the num-
Der Of designations, and a decrease of
nine in the number of deaths, as COM
pared with the preceding year. There
were T91 deaths of fourth class pOstmas-
ters and $3.50 designations, a decrease
of 104 in the number of deaths and 131
in the number of designations, as COM
pared with the preceding fiscal year.
On June 80, 1902, at the close of the
fiscal year. there were 1924 postoffices,
divided as follows:
third class. 3,4S8; fourth class, 71195
From June 80. 1897. to June 80. 1902
the number of presidential postoffices in
creased from 1852 to 4731-an increase
of 969 or about 26 per cent.
BONDS OF POSTMASTERS
The aggregate amount of the penal
ties Of all 9ostmasters' bonds now IL
force is about S120, GOO 600. The penal
during the fiscal year 1902 amounted tc
S5S, S10.S00. as compared with $29, 715, 24t
for the preceding fiscal year, an in
crease of nearly 100 per cent. This in
crease was due to the large number OF
presidential postmasters appointed ne
cessitating the filing of many bonds oil
large amounts.
During the fiscal year the senate con-
firmed the appointment of 2.573 post
masters, the largest number in any one
year in the history of the department.
During the fiscal year a larger num-
Der of postoffice inspectors was en-
ployed than during any other year il
the history of the postal service MI
mercus irregularities were discovered il
remote country postoffices which in
spectOrs have been unable to reach in
former years. In some instances frauds
were detected, and large amounts Of
money collected from dishonest officials
which would not have been discovered
had it not been for the unusual vigilance
required of the inspectors force during
the year. Certain kinds of crime agains
the postal laws seem to be on the in
crease SUCH as the burglarizing of post
offices and the robbery of mail boxes
There has, however, been an increase il
the number of arrests and convictions
for all offenses. the percentage being s.
on arrests and 1874 on convictions.
During the year 1872, T05 cases havI
been referred to the inspectors division
for investigation. The entire number
investigated was 1926, but there wer.
left over from the fiscal year 1901, 81
327 cases. so that we had on hand OF
July l. 1902. "a e07 cases
The number of offices inspected durinl
the GEAR ended June so, 1902 was 81
301 while tie number of money crde
offices in existence June 30, 1902, wa.
33.Is7. It VIII thus be seen that 10. As