The Bourbon news., 1904-12-13
THE POST OFFICE.
Annual Report of Postmaster
General Robert j. Wynne.
Economy and Strict Accountability
Have Been Enforced in All
Branches of the Service,
Says the Report.

Washington, Dec: 12.-The annual
report of Postmaster General Robert
J. Wynne was made public Sunday 1t
records a year of most successful ad-
ministration
Postal revenues have increased Sal
utary changes in the classification of
the mails have been carried out great
ly to the benefit of the service
Amendments to regulations facilitat-
ing the handling of mercantile pack
ages in bulk have been put into effect
At home and abroad postal facilities
have been extended Exchange of
money orders with foreign countries
has been simplified and cheapened
Parcels-post conventions were extend
ed to European countries as an expert
ment with Germany five years ago.
They have been extended to Japan and
the British colony of Hong-Kong to
meet changes of trade conditions in
the far east; also to Norway.
Economy and strict accountability
the service. While the so-called de-
felt of $8,779, ,492-that is to say, the
excess of expenditures over receipts
is greater by $4,219,447 than for the
fiscal year 1903, it must be borne in
mind that the expenditure authorized
for the extension and maintenance of
the rural free delivery service during
the past fiscal year was $4,902,237
greater than the preceding year.
For facility of reference the chief
recommendations contained in this re-
port requiring action of congress to
give them effect are here summar-
lied:
That proper legislation be enacted
to acquire the title of block No. 324
in the city of Washington, for the pur-
pose of erecting an annex to the post
Office department building.
An amendment to existing law so as
to provide for the termination of Off
cial bonds of post Office officials
That third and fourth class mail
matter be consolidated at the rate of
postage now paid on third class mail
matter-1 cent for each ounces
That consideration be given to the
recommendation that congress fix a
rate of cents per pound, or any frac-
tional part thereof, on packages not
exceeding pounds mailed at the dis
tributing post Office of any rural free
delivery route for delivery to a patron
on said route. This to apply only to
packages deposited at the local post
Office for delivery to patrons on routes
emanating from that Office, and not to
mail transmitted from one Office to an
other.
That the interstate commerce law
be amended to prohibit telegraph and
express companies, or any of their en-
ployes, 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,
in violation of the postal laws.
That the Office of the assistant at
torney general for the post Office de-
partment be made presidential, and
the salary attached thereto increased
TO $4,000 per dnnum.
That the appropriation of $4,000,
provided for the publication of the
opinions of the assistant attorney gen
eral for the post Office department, be-
increased to $4,000.
That congress consider the proprie-
ty of granting an annuity to railway
post office clerks who are permanently
disabled in the line of duty
To provide penalties for the sending
of dangerous or destructive objects or
matter in the mails
That penalty be provided for the use
of counterfeit postmarl1ing stamps for
the improper certification of pension
vouchers or for any other purpose.
That the establishment or mainte-
nance of private letter boxes without
of the post office depart |
ment be prohibited