Jasper County Democrat, Volume 6, Number 36, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 December 1903 — GOVERNMENT POSTAL AFFAIRS. [ARTICLE]

GOVERNMENT POSTAL AFFAIRS.

SMotow*e Report Shows Reform and Bl( Appropriation Needed. Fourth Assistant Postmaster General Bristow’s annual report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1903, says the government haa been robbed for yean by contractors and dishonest postal officials, but that a reformation is scheduled. “An investigation, which la still in progrtaa, has shown that for a number of years supplies for the free delivery service have not been purchased with an eye eingle to the public interests,” says Mr. Bristow. “Both in the matter of quality and the cost of equipment the ruling hae been Individual gain. This applies to articles furnished under regular contract, such as street collection boxes and carriers’ satchels, as well as to those bought in the open market under exigency privilege, which haa been much abused. “Favored contractors, abetted by a trusted but unfaithful official, have corrupted the public service. An early and thorough reformation will be undertaken along the line of service equipment with the prospective result of improved service at reduced cost. Fraudulent contracts have been abrogated. In the reletting of contracts honest competition wiif hove fair and free play." Mr. Bristow makes recommendations as follows: An appropriation to construct Inspectors* lookouts in postofflees wherever necessary in the opinion of the Postmaster General, that the interstate commerce law be amended so as to prohibit common carriers from siding and abetting in the green goods, lottery or any other scheme carried on partly by mail and partly by common carrier in violation of the postal laws; that special agents and postal inspectors be designated rural agents; that the provision that rural carriers shall not be prohibited from doing an express package business be repealed; that the maximum of a rural carrier be increased to $750 per annum for a route of twenty-five miles or more in length and that a law be enacted requiring assistant postmasters, cashiers and other employes to give bonds to postmasters direct and holding postmasters responsible under their own bonds. The estimated expenditure for both city and rural free delivery service during the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1904, aggregates about $47,060,000. There are now in operation 19,896 rural free delivery routes. It is estimated that 3,260 additional routes can be established out of the appropriation aow available, the total to be in operation or ordered established by March 1, 1904. To maintain the service on these routes during the fiscal year from July 1, 1904, to June 30, 1905, will require $13,500,000.