Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-24


cost $sl. 100 1898. the cost of the foreign
service, less the intermediary service rem
dered to foreign countries. was $3.112,-
300. 46. or total for both of SS4, $751;
1854
The number of routes in the domestic
service was q, 46l. and their length APP
proximatels 44790s miles The number
of miles travelled per annum was BOB .3l2,-
$50. approximately. The increase In the
cost of the service as compared with the
previous year was s96S, O5l.S1. or 10 per
cent, the lowest. except in 1908. when il
amounted to .35 per cent in more than
twenty years.
Trouble Over Facilities.
Another item over which the depart
ment has had trouble with the railroad
companies, is i'm their refusal to furnish
proper facilities 70 rthe distribution OF
mails in transit at terminals without
specific compensation therefor. In some
instances. it is stated. the department
furnished them and charged their cost
against the pay of the compan es. Two
suits have been brought in the Court OF
Gains to determine the justice of this
The advantage to be secured in admin
iStration by the tabulation at w washington
of weights taken during the quadrennlai
weighing, instead of In the offices of the
various superintendent of railway man
service, is again set forth. The clerical
force necessary, the report states. can De
employed and paid under existing law
but legislation to secure the necessary
quarters for housing the force is needed.
Reference is made in the report to the
transfer of Jurisdiction of the star route
service. except in Alaska, to the fourth
assistant postmaster general, that that
work may be regulated in connection with
the rural delivery service, which Is KIN
dred in character.
Although steamers flying the United
States flag are allowed so cents a pound
for letters and cents pound for other
articles-as against 35 cents a pound for
letters and about AZ cents pound for
other articles to steamers under foreign
f1ags-when not under contract. 1t is de-
clared, the department finds difficulty in
securing contracts with the former. The
report declares that 20 per cent of the
mails to ports in Brazil and Argentina
and those of the orient and Australasia
are carried in ships flying foreign flags
over which the department has no control
and can prescribe no schedule.
I'VE have no contract service on the
Pacific" the report states. excepting to
Tahiti, as the two existing regular serv-
ices from Pacific ports to AUSTRALASIA
are provided by the Canadian and New
ices to Japan and Hongkong are pro-
vided for by japanese and British subsi-
died lines"
The mail service to South America. the
the same condition.
Government aid to fast and regular
service appears to be a necessity, which
is recognized by all countries competing
with us for the commerce of the world,
and these are largely secured by mail
subsidies"
Two-Cent Foreign Letters.
The report shows that 20, 7s5,076 letters
were sent to Great Britain and Ireland
at the special two-cent rate of postage.
which saved the senders $644. 023. Is that
would have been paid at the universal
postal union rate as additional postage,
and that 3.4S4,936 letters were sent to
Germany by sea direct at the two-cent
rate, which saved the senders $1O7, GA. 80
both of which sums were lost to the
postal revenues.
There were 446 accidents on railroads
during the year in which postal clerks
were either killed or injured. Twenty
clerks, substitutes and mail weigherS
were killed. and 9S were seriously in
jured and o17 slightly injured.
The report states that, in the number
Of men killed the year was the most
disastrous in the history of the service.
1t urges that Congress be asked to in
crease the amount paid families of clerks
killed in the line of duty from $1,000 to
5000. as well as further extend the
leave. with pay. to clerks seriously in
jured.
Recommendations are made in the re-
port, as follows:
That authority of law be secured for the
rental of quarters in Washington for
tabulatOrs of mail weighings. as we'll as
to enable the readjustment Of compensa-
ton for mail transportation on railroad
routes when diversions of the service ma
terially affect the daily average weight;
That the act Of March 3. 1891, be
amended SO as to permit payment for
services to vessels of the Second-class on
routes to South America, the Philippines.
Japan. China and Australasia, 1000 miles
or more in length, outward voyage. at
rate not exceeding that applicable to YES
sells of the first class:
For the extension of leave during dis
ability, not exceeding twelve months, at
90 per cent of their regular salary. to
postal clerks seriously injured and unable
to resume work;
For granting thirty days leave, with
pay. to postal clerks who run six days
week or more fifty-two weeks in the
year;
For granting annual and sick leave to
tain conditions;
That provision be made for the retire
ment of postal clerks incapacitated for
further duty by reason of advanced age
or physical disability;
For new division Of the railway mail
service;
That authority of law be granted for
the rental in Washington of rooms for
the storage of mail pouches and sacks,
and,
That leave with pay not exceeding thirty
days be granted employees of the mail
lock and mailbag repair shops.