Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-03
FREE DELIVERY GROWS
Annual Report of the Fourth
Assistant Postmaster General.
S47,OOO,0O0 WANTED
AUGMENTED SERVICE DEMANDS
LARGER APPROPRIATIONS.
Over Twenty Millions Necessary to Pay
City Carriers-Increase for Rural
Routes Recommended.
S47,OOO,0O0 WANTED


In opening his annual report the fourth
assistant postmaster general, Mr.. Bristow.
Guys that the work of the bureau has been
greatly increased by the assignment to 1t
Ct the division of free delivery. which Is
expanding more rapidly than any other
/ branch of the postal service. Its growth
during the fiscal year has been greater tnan
! at any other time since free delivery was
established. The estimated expenditure
for the fiscal year beginning July /, 1914
for both city and rural free delivery, Will
aggregate about $47,0O0.C00, an amount
equal to that expended for the maintenance
of tue entire postal service in the year 1884.
Postmasters and Post Offices.
The total number Of appointments for
the fiscal year ended June 80 1902, was
1870 while for the fiscal year ended June
30. 1903, there were but 1901, decrease
of 1909 The decrease was due to there
having been a smaller number OF expira-
lions of commissions Of presidential post
masters and the policy Of the department
in discouraging changes in fourth-class
post offices except for cause. During the
fiscal year 1902 the commissions OF l'o9I
presidential postmasters expired, Wmie
during the fiscal year 1903 there were out
1888 explorations. The record shows de-
crease in the number Of removals or post
masters for cause.
during the year. a decrease as coIhpareo
with the previous year Of 81.
The record of establishments during the
last seven years is as follows: 1s9t, l, 0oi
1885, 3,6O1; 1892 1885; 1870, o,6oO; lsVl'
8, 294; 1902. 3,O3S; 1903, 2,1O7
There were 4,462 post offices discontinued
during the year, being 4O3 more than during
the preceding year.
in the number of post offices discontinued
has been the extension of the rurai Tree IRE,
delivery service, which resulted IN the ois-
continuance of 2, 1853 post offices during tne
wear the salaries of pOstmasters OF SAID
offices aggregating $121 49, ..o ..
On June 80 1903. there were a. 69 post
offices, divided as follows:
First class 242; second class, l,1O'; thlro
class $3.50; fourth class, SO, 100
City free delivery service has been estao-
lished at 90 post offices during the year as
against 81 in 1902, and at the close OF the
fiscal year there were 1,OS2.
The gross receipts at free delivery omces
during the fiscal year were $93, 466, 6Z3.l3,
an increase of 1214 per cent over the pre-
ceding year. The cost Of the service was
S19 337 1885, an increase of 1898 per cent as
compared with the preceding year.
There were $3.50, 56S pieces Of special de-
livery mail delivered the fees amounting to
SIG, 16o 40.
Estimates for Next Year.
The estimates for the coming fiscal year
have been made on the assumption that the
expenses generally. at least in the main
items, would be 10 per cent greater this
year than last, and grow at the same rate
BY far the largest expenditure Is for the
pay Of carriers, the cost of these at the old
free delivery offices during the past year
Lo11 nd q nuy
$S3, 727.03. The number Of carriers pro
NOTED was 1,62s-679 from 5000 to $500, 565
from 5000 to $3.50 and 3S4 from $500 to
$1,000; and of the 1852 carriers in the
service on June 80 last 1896 were receiving
a salary of 5000 each, 900 $500, 6645 $3.50
and 8 541 81 600.
The general business prosperity adds de-
cidedly to postal receipts, even at the
smaller offices, with the result that an in
creasing number are becoming entitled to
free delivery. The expansion of the service
also naturally makes more demand upon
the appropriations for horse hire and car
fare.
The estimated cost of city free delivery
for the fiscal year 1905 is 1913 10000.
On June 80, 1903, there was a total Of
Is, 119 rural routes.
Rural carriers are required to keep a
count of the mail of all classes handled, and
the amount of the cancellations on mail
collected by them. These statistics for the
last six months Of the fiscal year, January
to June, 1903 inclusive, have been COM
piled.
During the period named 800, 42s, 1913 pieces
of mail were delivered and 4S 954, 800 pieces
of mail were collected. The value of
stamps Cancelled on mail collected by rural
carriers amounted to $949, 0S437, and the
pay of carriers for that period aggregated
81 51s,1S5. The average monthly cancella-
lions per route were S11 % and the average
pay of the carriers $49.7S
On many routes profitable express bust
ness Is not practicable, while on others 1t
becomes lucrative, and the present system
therefore, results in great inequality of
compensa ton.
Its is therefore recommended that rural
carriers be restricted to the discharge of
their official duties, the same as city car
riers, as prescribed by the department. and
to provide a compensation commensurate
with the service performed the maximum
salary should be raised to $3.50 per annum
for route of twenty-five miles
About $15 900 900 will be required to MAIN
tain the service during the next fiscal wear
With the number of agents now employed
1t will require about 5000 600 additional
to enable the department to establish the
service during the fiscal year 19O4-5 as ran
idly as routes examined. If Congress
provides for an increased number of agents
as recommended, 1t will require about "a
100000 additional, or $19,OOOOOO to MAIN
tain and install the service during the next
fiscal year.
II the maximum salary of the carriers is
increased from 5000 to $3.50 per annum, as
recommended, 1t will necessitate an in
crease in the above estimates of about %
per cent.
Financial Statement.
There was SHOTS on hand July 1, 1902,
and collected during the year 1921 1873 10,
making a total of 1921 $50. "a to be account
ed for, of which amount 1921 81 10 was dis
bursed, leaving an unexpended balance of
1921. 10 at the close of the year. This money
represents collections of balances due
from postmasters, penalties for violations,
amounts recovered on account of fraudu-
| lent use of the mails and collections of
| amounts Illegally received by postmasters
| through false cancellations. as well as col
| lections In cases of robberies of post offices
| wrecking of mail trains, highway robbery
| of mail stages, and moneys received, and
| on account of loss in the ordinary and reg
| istered mails attributable to carelessness,
| accident larceny
| On March Z, 1903, an investigation was
| ordered affecting the integrity of certain
| officials connected with the Office of the as
| sistant attorney general for the Post Office
| Department, the free delivery system and
| the division of salaries and allowances
/ ta ipyrn ti,rat {pr hoo, 81,