The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-12-12
A YEAR WITH
The POSTOFFICES
COST UNCLE SAM S152,0Oo,ooo
POSTMASTER GENERAL WYNNE's
ANNUAL REPORT.

shows the Great Growth of the Pos
tai Service-New Laws RECON-
mended-The r.. f. ID. Service, Its
Growth and Its Needs-The Rail-
way Mail Servfce-Its Business and
the Fatalities to Its Employees.
Statistics of POstohice RObberies.
New Rate of Postage Needed.
Washington, Dec. 1.-THE annual re-
port of the Postmaster General was
made public to-day. In reviewing the
work of the Postoffice Department for
the last year the Postmaster General
says: Postal revenues have increas-
ed: salutary changes in the classifi-
cation of the mails have been carried
out greatly to the benefit of the serv-
ice; amendments to regulations facili-
tating 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;
the British colony of Hong Kong to
meet changes of trade conditions in
the Far East; also to Norway. Econ
omy and strict accountability have
been enforced in all branches of the
service. While the so-called deficit of
&IaA -
penditures over receipts-is greater by
$4219,447 than for the fiscal year 1903,
it must be borne in mind that the ex-
penditure authorized for the extension
and maintenance of the rural free de-
livery service during the past fiscal
year was $4,902.2S7 greater than the
preceding year."
New Laws Recommended.
The Postmaster Generals principal
recommendations for legislation are as
follows:
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 5 pounds mailed at the dis
tributing postoffice of any rural free
delivery route for delivery to a pa
iron on said route This to apply
only to packages deposited at the To-
cal postoffice for delivery to patrons
on routes emanating from that office.
and not to mail transmitted from one
Office to another.
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 Congress consider the prop
priety of granting an annuity to rail-
way postoffice clerks, who are per-
manently disabled in the line of duty.
To provide penalties for the send
ing of dangerous or destructive objects
or matter in the mails.
THAT a penalty be provided for the
use of counterfeit postmarking stamps
for the improper certif1cation of pen
sion vouchers or for any other pur-
pose.
"That the establishment. or mainte-
nance of private letter boxes, without
authorization of the Postoffice Depart
ment be prohibited
The expenditures by the department
during the year were $152, 1862 lie. 20. an
excess over the receipts of $S,779. 492. SO.
This Is an increase in the deficit over
the previous year of $4,219,447 SO. and
$1,572, 5S5 .4S over the estimated deficit
for the year.
Increase of the Money Order Service.
The report makes a comparison of
the business of the department dur
ing 1904 with that of 1903. as showing
the increase in the postal money or
der service. In the domestic service
there were 4,450.S73 more domestic or
ders issued than in 1903 and $685., $40
more domestic orders paid and repaid.
The amount of orders issued. $37S. 77S.-
4SS.84, represents an increase of s25.-
49, S4081. The amount of orders paid
and repaid, S37S, 511, 407 10, representing
an increase of 1888, 0S6.61. The amount
received in fees was $23S, 617. 81 more
than In 1903. The average amount of
domestic order issued, viz: $7.52. rep
resents a decrease of II cents.
A comparison of international bust
ness with 1908 shows that there were
294 1876 more orders issued, and 161 .692
more orders naid and repaid. The
amount Of orders issued $42, 55O.150. II,
represents an increase of $7,312.215. %.
The amount of orders paid and repaid,
SIS, 800, 1892, represents an increase
of 81 ,619, 1856 S5. The amount received
in fees was $73. 1899 more than in 1903.
The average amount of an information
al order issued. viz, about 1927, repre-
sents an increase of Sc cents.
Destructive Matter in the Mails.
THE sending of any explosive or in
fiammable matter or any poisonous
animal through the mails is prohibited
by postal laws and regulations, but
no penalty is provided for violation of
this regulation. Live tarar tulas. snakes
and scorpions, loaded revolvers and
other explosives are continually inter-
copied in the mails and consigned to
the Dead-Letter Office Museum. Some
adequate punishment" the Postmaster
General says, should be provided for
those who thus recklessly endanger the
lives of mail clerks
The II. II. ID.
On the rural free delivery the POST
master General reports:
During the fiscal year there were