Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 November 1894 — POSTMASTER’S REPORT. [ARTICLE]

POSTMASTER’S REPORT.

Annual Recommendations and Remarks by Mr. BisselL Advises Higher Bate* on Many Publications Now Bated as Becoud-Clas.% Postmaster-General Bissell, Saturday, submitted to the President his annual report for the year ending June 30, 1894. He recommends a revision of the law as to second-class matter so as to place the Department on a self-sustaining basis; advises against expensive experiments and rural free delivery; recominends the extension of free delivery in cities now enjoying that service; thinks that there should be tiirect supervision of all postal affairs by expert officials from classified service. The revenue forhe year was $75,080,479; expenditures, $94,194,414, leaving a deficiency of $9,243,9353.The estimates for the current year ending June 30, 1895. are: Revenue, $84,427,748; expenditures. $90,399.485; deficiency, $5,971,737. The estimates submitted to UmJSimretary_pf the Treasury for the next fiscal year are: Revenue, $80,907,407; expenditures, $91.059,287; deficiency, $4,151,870. This annual deficiency the Postmaster-General says, could lie overcome by the increase of postal rates, but he does not believe this advisai le. Economy has been practiced. but nevertheless great care has been taken that it should not affect the efficiency of the service. Of the obstruction of mall by strikes the Postmaster-General says: “In my last report I called attention to the necessity for legislation such as then was and is now recommended by the superintendent of the railway mull service for the punishment of train wrecking, and for legislative determination and definition of a mail train, bueh legislation would be of great advantage to the postal service.” On the subject of second-class matter the Postmaster-General gives figuiet for the past six years showing that in 18.>8 the weight of second-class matter carried was 143.000.1.00 pounds, and in 1893 it was 25U.0U0.UX). During the year 1>94 there was carried 451.000.000 pounds of all mail matter, of which 299.000,(.00 pounds was second-class matter, the total cost being $30.207,582, an average of 8 cents a pound. Returns (rom postmasters show that the amount upon which postage at the rate of 1 cent per pound was paid was 254.u0(>.0(X) pounds, the remaining 45.000.000 pounds being matter carried free in the county of publication. Iha cost of carrying the second-class matter was S2O 321),000, while nt the rate of J c ’tit a poun<i ib« roilectlons were■s2/47,006, and SBOO,OOO special

local rates in carrier cities, leaving a net loss to the Government of $16,973,000. Mr. Bissell advises the withdrawal of secondclass privileges to pretended periodicals such as the “Fireside Series” ‘Detective Library” and other publications not legitimately known as newspapers and magazines. The Postal Telegraph scheme is condemned as too ex pensive. Mr. Bissell refers to the bill now pending in Congress to relieve the PostmasterGeneral of the responsibility of postoffic* appointments. Commenting upon thh bill, the Postmaster-General sayi: “Whether such a plan is or is not the best that can be devised, it is at least the formulation of a plan which is entitled to the most earnest, careful and immediate consideration and may become a foundation upon which to build. What is earnestly desired, api what daily appears more of a necessity, is legislation of some kind which will insure an improvement upon present methods.” Mr. Bissell closes his report with a request that a new building be provided for the Postofflce Department. He says in* terest on the cost of ah adequate building would be less than the amount of rent paid. —- —■ " < ■ . '' -