Bissell's Report

Washington, Xov. 2. - l'ostmaster General V. S. Bissell has subinitted to the president his annual report for the yoar euded SO. 1894. He briefly outlines the policy of the departnient in the following: "Ín general 1 would recomwend that the flrst and most important thing to be done is to revise the law as to second-clasa matter so as to place the postoffice departmeut immodiately upon a self-sustaining basis. (2) Avoid expensive experiment llke the postal telograph, rural free delivery, etc. (3) Develop tlie postal service on existing Unes oL administration, viz: Bxtend free delivery in cities that now enjoy it; accord it to towns already entitled to it under t.he law; quieten railroad transportación. (4) Revise and reolassify organizatlon of the railway mail service and reelassify clerks in postoffices. (5) Provide for district supervisión of all postal aífairs." Wants a Mail Train IVfined. After reí erences to the effect of the depression on the postal systmi,a recapitulation of the financia! affairs of the department and a discussion of the war by the postoffice on the mail matter of "bond investment" compantesj Bissell says in speaking of tlie obstruction of tlie mails by strikes: "In iny last report I called attention to the neceesity for legislation such as then was and is now rooommended by the superintendent of the railway mail service for the pnnishment of trainwrecking and for legislative determination of the deflnition of a 'mail train.' Such legislación would be of great advantage to the postal service." Attank on Necoml Class" Matter. The most interestlng and important part of Bissell's report is his reference- quite at longth - to the matter that is sent through the mails under the present law s "second class. " Ho say that law is groatly abused and gives figures for the past aix years sliowing thac in 1888 the weight of secondclass matter carried was 148,000,1)00 pounds and in 1893 it was 25(S,000,000. During the yoar 1894 there was carrienl 451,000,(( pounds of all mail matter, of which 3i)9,000,000 pounds was second-class matter, tho total cost ljeing!6,áO7,5Tií. au average of 8 cents a pound. The cost of carrying the socond-class matter was $;0,:-i0.fHX), while at the rate of 1 cent a pound the tollections werc $2,427,000, nnd 800,(XKI special local rates in carrier cities. How the LaAV I Abusori. He says he does not advocate " cliange of rates uow upon legitímate newspapers and periodical magazines. My purpose is to urge the withdrawal of low postage rates from the large cities and the pretended periodiicals that are now enjoying thein. Tho most oonspiououg clasg of thene pretendwl periodicals is what is now generally known aa serial paper-covered books. Tlioy are in nu sense aprial, however, except in name. Being usual lygiven sonic such general dealgnatlon as the "Fireside Series," Che "Detective Llbrary." r some othor tiile of like characler. l'hey ire Qothiug luit books, pure and simple, uul niiiny of them vory trashy books at that. Two Otilen Tliat Should líe Barred. "Anothor elass of publlcationa now Largely eujoylng the low postage accordeS X) second-claas matter is what has got to km vji as ihp 'housoorgan, ' being simly a paper oí pamphlet devoted mainly tu ;he advertialng of gome mercantile, manii.n-t uring or other establishment, but purjorting to be devoted to trade, claiming i bona flde list of subsoribers, and nomnally conforming to other conditions of seoond-class matter. The bogus trade paier, not dovotd to tho advertising of any j.urticular house, is another illustration ot he same abuse of the mails." He favors a change in the law limiting he low rate to fraternal and benevole.nC society publications and legitimóte newsapers and magazines.