The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-01-27
ANNUAL POSTAL REPORT
A Deficit For the Year Ending
June 30, 1903.
The Postmaster G General Makes Num-
Dor OF Recommendations to
Congress.

Washington, D. C.-The annual re-
port Of Postmaster-General Payne has
just been made public.
The report says that the total re-
ceipts from all sources for the year
ended June 3O 1908, were s1S4. .224, ,443.
and the fetal expenditures, $13s,7s4,-
4S7; deficit, S4,5GO,O44.
The estimated revenues for the year
ending June 80 1904, are S146,3O4, ,642;;
appropriations for the year, $153,j11,'
$40; estimated deficit, S7,206,906.
The estimated revenues for the year
ending June 80. 1905. are S159, ,472060;
expenditures, $1G3,OS5, ITO; estimated
deficit, $S,613, 100.
The gross revenues for the fiscal year
ended June 30 last. the report says, are
nearly $1,500,0C0 in excess Of the esti-
mates.
The Postmaster General makes
number of recommendations for legis-
iation, including the following:
That law be enacted to prohibit the
establishment and maintenance Of
boxes to be rented for the receipt Of
mail without authority from the Post
office Department.
That a penalty be provided by law
for the mailing Of explosives or in
dammable matter.
That a penalty be provided for the
counterfeiter of an official post mark
ing stamp, or for the use of such stamp
for an improper purpose.
That the provision made by Congress
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the payment of $1,000 to the legal rep
resentatives Of every railway mail
clerk killed in the line Of duty be ex-
tended to the substitute clerks as we'll
as to regular clerks.
That Congress, in the interest Of eff
cient postal service, consolidate the
third and fourth classes Of mail mat
ter and fix the rate of postage at one
cent for each two ounces or fraction
thereof.
That salaries of clerks Of classes two
and three in full railway postoffices in
crews where four or more clerks run
over the entire length Of the line be
increased from 5000 per annum to $1,000
per annum, and from $1,000 to S1100
per annum, respectively.
has been twenty-five years in the SER
vice and shall have attained the age of
siNty-five years the Postmaster-General
shall be empowered. upon the recon-
mendation of the postmaster, to en-
.ploy a substitute for such clerk or let.
ter carrier, which substitute shall re-
ceive not to exceed two-thirds Of his
salary, the other one.third to 60 to such
clerk or letter carrier.
That Congress authorize the Post
master-General to accept. under suit
able regulations. the mailing Of large
quantities Of identical pieces of printed
matter and small articles Of merchan-
disc without the necessity Of affixing
postage stamps to the individual pieces.
That sum of 100000 be appropri-
ated to be Immediately available for
the purpose Of enabling the Depart
ment to continue the installation Of ad-
iitional rural free delivery routes I'M
til the end of the present fiscal year,
and that Congress authorize an in
crease of thirty-six in the field force in
connection with rural free delivery
service.
That the provision of law that rural
carriers shall not be prohibited from
ioing an express package business be
repealed.
That the act of June 13, 1898, provid-
Ing that assistant postmasters, cashiers
and other employees in postoffices of the
irst, second and third classes shall give
bond direct to the United States be re-
pealed, and law be enacted requiring
assistant postmasters, cashiers and
)ther employees to give bonds to post
masters direct, and holding postmas-
ters responsible under their own bonds
Cor any and all acts and defaults oc-
curing at their respective Offices.
That the Interstate Commerce law be
amended to prohibit common carriers
to-wit, telegraph and express COM
Danies-or any of their employees from
aiding and abetting in the green goods
or lottery swindles or any other
scheme, carried on partly by mail and
partly by common carrier. and which
is in violation of the postal laws.
That a small appropriation be made
by Congress for the purpose of en-
abling the Postmaster-General to in
restigate the feasibility Of telephone
service in connection with the rural
free delivery service.
That legislation be enacted author
lzing the exclusion from the mails Of
all matter relating to the class Of en-
terprises known as guessing contests.
That Congress prohibit by law the
use of the postal service Of the United
States for the promotion of gambling
schemes.
That no change be made in the title
Of the Assistant Attorney-Cencral for
the Postoffice Department, but that the
office be made Presidential one, and
that its incumbent be made in fact.
as we'll as in name an officer of the
Department of Justice, subject to the
authority and direction Of the Attor-
ney- General Of the United States; that
his salary be increased to $4,000 per an
mum.
Killed Wife and Himself.
Because his wife refused to return
u I1