he extensions of the meaning of these terms from time to time have
admitted to the privileges intended for legitimate newspapers and
periodicals a surprising range of publications and created abuses the
cost of which amounts in the aggregate to the total deficiency of the
Post-Office Department. Pretended newspapers are started by business
houses for the mere purpose of advertising goods, complying with the law
in form only and discontinuing the publications as soon as the period of
advertising is over. "Sample copies" of pretended newspapers are issued
in great numbers for a like purpose only. The result is a great loss of
revenue to the Government, besides its humiliating use as an agency to
aid in carrying out the scheme of a business house to advertise its
goods by means of a trick upon both its rival houses and the regular
and legitimate newspapers. Paper-covered literature, consisting mainly
of trashy novels, to the extent of many thousands of tons is sent
through the mails at 1 cent per pound, while the publishers of standard
works are required to pay eight times that amount in sending their
publications. Another abuse consists in the free carriage through the
mails of hundreds of tons of seed and grain uselessly distributed
through the Department of Agriculture. The Postmaster-General predicts
that if the law be so amended as to eradicate these abuses not only will
the Post-Office Department show no deficiency, but he believes that in
the near future all legitimate newspapers and periodical magazines might
be properly transmitted through the mails to their subscribers free of
cost. I invite your prompt consideration of this subject and fully
indorse the views of the Postmaster-General.

The total number of post-offices in the United States on the 30th day of
June, 1894, was 69,805, an increase of 1,403 over the preceding year. Of
these, 3,428 were Presidential, an increase in that class of 68 over the
preceding year.

Six hundred and ten cities and towns are provided with free delivery.
Ninety-three other cities and towns entitled to this service under the
law have not been accorded it on account of insufficient funds. The
expense of free delivery for the current fiscal year will be more than
$12,300,000, and under existing legislation this item of expenditure is
subject to constant increase. The estimated cost of rural free delivery
generally is so very large that it ought not to be considered in the
present c