The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-12-11
BETTER POSTAL
SERVICE, HIS aim.
Oortelyou Declares the Cost Of the
Postoffice Department Is
Secondary.


than the efficiency of administration.
For the fiscal year 1905 the total re-
ceipts from all sources were $lol,S26,-
5S5, and total expenditures $l67 ISL |
$50, leaving a deficit Of $l4 ,572,5S4.
In connection with these figures the
postmaster general directs attention to
the increased amount of free matter
handled, which, he says, averaged 1908
per cent Of the entire weight carried, or
a loss in revenue of $19, 1922, 900:
:" Manifestly, he says, had the mat
ter now carried free been required to
large expenditures for the rural free de-
livery service, there would have been
Better Service First.
with the introduction of rural free de-
livery as yet unfinished and other de-
tails of postal development incomplete,
he thinks it the part of wisdom to pro-
coed conservatively until the present
service is more nearly perfected:
| ."In other words, y he says, . it is be-
lieved for the time being attention can
/ provement in the service already estab-
1 iished than to an immediate consldera-
| ton of such questions as the reduction
| of the rates of postage, a parcels post,
postal savings repositories, a postal tele-
graph and telephone, and kindred sub
/ jects. -.l C
which he complains, the postmaster gen
eral suggests that there are sound adj
ministrative reasons why it would be
better business policy for each depart
ment to pay postage upon Its mall mat
ter according to it's class. than to re-
turn to the practice Of requiring govern
ment free matter to be prepaid by post post
: age stamps in the same way as similar
nottor ,naila1 NV the Dnblic.
The weight Of opinion, he says, IS III
favor Of the plan suggested So modified
as to eliminate the necessity OF attlxlng
stamps but maintaining the principle
that each department be charged with
the whole expense OF conducting It's
=" - Cuts Down Bulk. .ar >~
uFrom this CHANGE he adds, "there
would come some great advantages; the
tendency to use, the mails Tor matte1
that ought to otherwise be transported
would be restrained; merchandise IN
GLIDING heavy quantities Of printed
matter not requiring expeditions haul.
ing would be sent by cheaper modes OF
, of conveyance; only matter requiring
expeditions delivery and on which the
postage can be properly paid as for gov
: and the true relation Of the postotflce
& department to the other departments as
| regards actual receipts and expenditures
$ would be more accurately determined.
Discussing appointments of postmas-
5 ters, the postmaster general says that
under instructions recently issued, a
: careful rating, based on inspectors re.
. this rating carries weight in determln-
{ ing the question Of reappoin'tments. tie
says that fourth class postmasters will
0 be retained during satisfactory service,
and In the case Of presidential postmas-
q tiers their reappointm lent will be deter
: mined blythe ratings given them. w.
Purifying the Mails.
/ The work of purifying the mails is
= not confined to the suppression of frauds
= and lotteries, but includes as we'll the
= exclusion therefrom Of improper matter
and the punishment of those found to
have deposited such matter for trans.
mission. He adds that a more strict
enforcement of these statutes recently
has brought about highly gratifying re-
suits. 80 4t,>.-e
The work of the postoffice inspectors
is praised and the opinion is expressed
that many Of them are urderpaid. a
similar view is expressed with respect
to postoffice clerks and letter carriers
city and rural.
Governmental control Of the. pneu
matte tube service and mail-wagon ser
vice is recommended, and an appropria
ton is asked to purchase wagons Of
approved pattern for carrying. the
mails. 1
An increase of 5.77 per cent in the
amount Of ordinary mail handled, as
compared with 1904, is noted in the
railway mail service, which the post
master general says shows a norma
growth with gratifying maintenance Of
efficiency.
During the year twelve clerks were
I killed while on duty and 125 seriously
injured Every effort, he says, has beer
made to surround the clerks with every
possible safeguard.
The arduous and hazardous duties in
: cident to the service, he declares, cal
for some legislative action that vii
J make provision for clerks worn out IL
, the service and maintain it's efficiency
by the gradual elimination of superan
nuated clerks.
Mail by Fast Freight.
> The present method of determinin,
t the rates of pay to transportation com
regarded by the postmaster general a
altogether satisfactory, and he say
!, that, while he is not prepared to recon
: mend specific changes, he believes tina
inquiries made by him will afford dat
!. on which to base future recommends
= tions.
: He thinks worthy Of serious consid
= Grafton a suggestion that a substantial
> saving would be effected in railway
3 mail transportation by forwardin
: bulky periodicals and mailable mel
? chandise by fast freight, but .whe11
transported by what ordinarily
known as fast mail" such matte
!, should pay extra postage.
> An appropriation of $4,000 for sen6
: ing three experienced postal official
: abroad to study foreign postal system
!, is asked.
: Interest in the enactment Of legisls
y ton looking to the upbuilding and Ell
j couragement of the American merchan
! marine is set forth as reason for in
e proving the transportation of mails t
o foreign countries, and the postmaste
general says that the fast-mail steam
e ers of other countries leaving ports 6
IS the United States will more and MOI
b absorb our foreign mail transportatio
: until such time as the United State
T provides an adequate Compensation fl
n the outward voyage Of steamers
i equal speed and regularity of sche,
!, ule. The unprecedented expansion (
trade and foreign commerce, in IL
:, opinion Of the nOstmaster general III