Democratic Sentinel, Volume 7, Number 40, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 November 1883 — HATTON’S REPORT. [ARTICLE]

HATTON’S REPORT.

A Year's Operations of the General Postoffice. » Annual Report of the First Assistant Postmaster General The annual report of Frank Hatton, First Assistant Postmaster General, has been laid before tbe Postmaster General The reporter says: The average amount of work porformed in eaoh division of the office exceeded that of any previous year, and the bureau has, so far as the appropriation would permit, endeavored to meet the necessities. It Is believed that in no preceding year have fewer complaints been made concerning incompetency or dishonesty of Postmasters or delay or confusion in the delivery or dispatch of mail matter in the different postoffices. The whole number of postofflees on June 30, 1883, was 47,863, an increase of 1,632 during the year. Apportioned by sections, the increase in the New England States was 36, Middle States 223, Southern States and Indian Territory 725, Statos and Territories West and Northwest 580, and the Pacific slope 68. Pennsylvania had the largest number of postoffices—3,7l6. New York followed with 3,082, and Ohio third, with 2,620. The number of money-order offices is 5,857, an increase of 421. The removals and suspensions during the year were 316 less than for the year before, an indication undoubtedly of the improvement in character and habits of the persons now serving the public as Postmasters. During the year 10,795 letters were written to Postmasters and to private individuals involving decisions under the postal regulations and laws, and $2,000 was collected from publishers of second-class matter for the violation of the law in inclosing third-class matter in second-class publications. Publishers of legitimate newspapers are specially interested in sustaining the department in its efforts through tbe division of postal lawtmnd regulations to exclude from the pound rate all publications designed primarily for advertising, purposes or for free circulation, or for circulation at nominal rates. The enforcement of that law will enable legitimate publications (favored by statute as an instrument of popular education) to sustain themselves by securing such locabadvertising support as would naturally come to them. The adjustment of salaries of Presidential Postmasters is now far enough advanced to warrant the statement that the result will be satisfactory, and for the first time in the history of the department the salaries of Presidential Postip as torS will be equalized and placed upon a basis of the gross receipts of their offices. ■ Beyond the benefits of the free-delivery service as at present restricted is a class of towns in densely-populated portions of the country which it is believed could be served by carriers with benefit to the people and economy to the department. These are towns within short distances of one another, which have not singly required the qualifications in population or gross revenue. The law should be amended so as to authorize the department to extend the system to such places by establishing it at the principal or central office of the group and discontinuing the other offices, or substituting for them inexpensive branches of the main office, from which carriers could serve the surrounding localities. Excess of postage on local matter over tha cost of free-delivery service, and taking into consideration the fact that local correspondence increases in proportion to the facilities offered, it should be extended and liberal appropriations made to bring it up to the highest practicable standard in' cities where it is now in operation. This service meots the general demands of business and social lifq, but fails to meet the dispatch required in the delivery of letters of exceptlanal importance. Under the present system letters received’ after the carriers go out upon their trips, whatever their importance, must lie in the office till the next trip. At 0 o’clock p. m., when the delivery closes for the day, they must lie over till next morning, and this delay frequently fails to meet the object of the communication. Out of this want of more speedy delivery, have grown up in several large cities private enterprises, which are now conducted in competition with this service and are diverting from the legitimate revenues of the department thousands of dollars yearly. The patronage bestowed upon them evinces a public demand for a more speedy delivery of a certain class of correspondence. To meet this want it is suggested that a special stamp be provided,’ which, when affixed to a letter, whether local or otherwise, entitle the letter to immediate delivery up to 10 o’clock p. m. To provide for their delivery It is suggested that boys be employed, and required to procure receipts from the party addressed, or some authorized person. In view of the excess of the receipts of postage on local matter alone over the cost of its delivery ($1,0&1,894), it seems the time has arrived when the postage on local letters at offices where the carrier system is in operatior can be reduced from 2 cents to 1 cent. Such a reduction will surely result in a rePy large increase in local business.