The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-01-11
MAIL SERVICE
GROWING FAST.
GROSS REVENUES or PAST FIs-
CAL YEAR ADVANCED TO
a $203i5e2,3s3.

GROSS REVENUES or PAST FIs-
CAL YEAR ADVANCED TO
s2os,5e2,ss3.
Washington. Jan, 11.--As a business
institution the postoflce department,
next to the United States treasury. is
the greatest In the government. Ac-
cording to figures submitted by Charles
F. Grandfleld. first assistant postmas-
ter general, for the fiscal year ended
June 30. 1909. made public in his an
nual report, the gross revenue of the
postal service reached the enormous
total Of $203, 562,383, an increase Of
s12,0s3,720, Of 6.31 per cent over the
preceding year.
There were 1902 presidential postof-
fees on July 1, 1909. OF this number
39S were 1rst-class, an increase of
fourteen; 1,707 were second class, an
increase of 112, and 5,097 were third
class an increase of 23O The total in
crease in the number of presidential
offices was 356. There were 1,444 post
offices established during the year
and 1904 were discontinued, leaving
total of 60,144 postofices in operation
on June 80, 1909. During the year L.
626 postmasters were appointed at
presidential Offices. At fourth class
offices 9,l61 postmaste-s were appoint
ed.
Statement Of Expenditures.
Concerning the routine of his bureau,
DR.. Grandfield SAYS:
The annual rate of expenditure for
the salaries of presidential postmas-
tiers on July 1, 1909, were as follows:
First class, 81, 40S, 600; second class, $4,-
012, 400; third class, 1884, 800, making
a total of $12,765, 800.
At the close OF the fiscal year there
were 1878 assistant poStmasters at
first and second class offices, an in
crease of 116. The number of clerks at
first and second class offices Increased
from 1920 to 29,93O, and the carrier
force at city delivery offices from 26,352
to 1880, being net increase of Lilo
clerks and 1868 carriers.
THE retention of fourth class post
masters during the established service
has become the established practice of
the department, and the policy of rec
ommending the reappointment of presi-
Dental postmasters who have proved
efficient has been followed consistent
ly, with highly beneficial results.
Psuf.ix$$deawi
To Advance Offices at Resorts.
ct is recommended that the law be
so amended as to provide for the ad-
vancement of an office of the fourth
cIaua m fIa oraSidaptfo1 oIosc V,bar
ever the compensation of the postmas-
ter amounts TO $1,000 and the gross an
nIlaI receipts to $1,000 for four success
sive quarters. The offices that would
be affected by such a change in the
statute are mainly those located at
summer and winter resorts where
large business equivalent TO that of
presidential office is transacted during
one or two quarters.
TN number Of cases at rapidly
growing offices the salary of the as
sistant postmaster Is actually less than
that allowed the principal clerks, due
to the operation Of the law governing
the promotion Of clerks and carriers
and the fact that the appropriation for
assistant postmasters for the current
fiscal year does not provide an ade-
quate number of positions in certain
gre des There should be a maximum
and minimum. salary for Ass.s ant
postmasters fixed by law and sufficient
latitude allowed in the appropriation
act to prevent this anomalous c.ndi- I,
tioE.
Fay Too Low for Good Man.
an some sections of the country, es-
I'D, "a \.
west, it has been difficult to make ap--
pointments to the clerical and carcier
forces at initial salary prescribed by
law. Wages in all lines of employment
are high in these communities and the
entrance salary of $500, fixed by tie
act of March 2, 1907, is not sufficient to
induce competent men to enter the
postal service, even with the assur-
ance Of annual promotion. To eet
such emergencies 1T has been necessary
in some instances to grant postmasteTs
an allowance for the employment Of
clerks and carriers at the rate of 10
cents an hour. and in others to make
allowances from the appropriation for
unusual conditions 1t is realized shat
1t was not intended that these appro-
priations should be used in that man
ner but the department has been CON-
PEELED TO grant such allowances in or
der to keep the postoffice manned with
competent employees
DR. Grandheld makes a strong argu-
ment in favor of thirty days annual
leave for clerks and carriers in first
class and second class offices.
Nearly 100000 for Rent
cat the close of the fiscal year there
were 1900 postoffices of the presidential
class. OF this number S,217 or 44,6 per
cent were housed in leased quarters.
for which the annual rate OF rental
was $2,726,S95. On June 80, 1909, there
were 434 offices located in federal
buildings, an increase OF fifteen DUR
ing the year, 1t is expected however,
that this number will me largely aug
mented during the current fiscal year
On the date last mentioned there were
1912 numbered stations, I'll delivery
stations, and 241 branch postoffices"
Some minor recommendations here
tofore made by the first assistant are
renewed and an elaborate statistical
statement Of the bureau is presented. ]
HCr TnnNr mr.