Weekly Arizona journal-miner., 1903-04-01
SOME POSTAL STATISTICS.

In an article published in the Ma tional Tribune of March 10, Captain Henry A. Castle, auditor for the post office department, gives some very in- teresting statistics concerning this branch of the government from which the following is taken:
 The session of congress which closed March 1 passed, two days before ad- journment, the bill which appropriates funds for the postal system for the fiscal year which begins July l, 1903. The total sum of these appropriations is sl53. 401, 594. 75, Eas against s139, 4l6, 5S9. 75 for the current year.
 This is an increase of almost exact ly sl5, 900, 900 in "a single year. The postal appropriation has now passed above that for pensions in amount, and almost equals those for the army and navy combined.
 In addition to the post office clerks and letter carriers of all classes, there are the 76,000 post masters provided for. The total compensation to post masters is fixed at s2I, 75O. 900. As this compensation is established by law, based on the postal business, which is constantly increasing, there is an annual deficit in this item, sometime, reaching over a million dollars.
 More than 20, 600 postmasters receive annual compensations of less than $50 each-another 10000 each receive be- tween $50 and slOO. It might be in- ferred that the settlement of these official accounts would be easy. But the fact is that they cause more trouble in the auditors office than those of the larger offices.
 The aggregate appropriations for clerk hire in post offices for the year is s91, S13, 900, an increase of g., 674, 900. This increase will permit an ad- ditional force at many officers where badly needed, and will also permit the department to grant well earned pro- motions to thousands of these over worked employees. The process of classification and adjustment which General Superintendent Beavers, in charge of this branch has been skill | fully carrying on for four years, will | thus be measurably completed. And | there was need. When he took hold | of the matter chaos reigned. No two | offices were alike; seldom did two | clerks working side by side, equally | efficient, receive the same pay. Each | city office had grown up from a viii | lage office on a system, or lack of sys- tenn, all its own; throwing out roots | and branches as fancy dictated; desig- | mating departments and the heads | thereof, and involving the whole or ganiZation in such a maze of contra | dictory functions as brought distrac- | tion to the superheated mental equip | ment of any department official who | sought to compass a comprehension of | it. He who has reduced this chaos to something like harmony and ordained | justice to the hidden army of dili- gent employees is indeed a public | benefactor.
 Two hundred and fifty thousand | dollars is allowed for purchase and | rental of canceling machines. with new drastic restrictions on the ''ren- tal'' feature.
 For stationery, twine, wrapping pa- per, scales, postmarking stamps. rub Der stamps, packing boxes and other articles for the Supply Division,' s a total sum of s352, 900 is appropriated.
 An aggregate of s153, 900 is allotted for blanks, books. rubber and metal stamps, copying presses, etc., for the money order business.
 Twelve thousand dollars is granted for limited indemnity for the loss of pieces of first class registered matter. the limit of allowance being increased to slOO-a very important concession. The following are items to cover ex- pense of manufacture of stamps, etc. ''FOr manufacture of adhesive stamps. s376, GOO; stamped envelopes and news paper wrappers, s759O, ,OO; postaIscards. s1s9, OOO.''
 For blanks, books, etc., relating to the registry system, S2O, 900 is allowed.