w would be the prevention of a large number of bills constantly
introduced for the erection of public buildings at places, and involving
expenditures not justified by public necessity. I trust that this
measure will become a law at the present session of Congress.

Of the total number of postmasters 54,874 are of the fourth class.
These, of course, receive no allowances whatever for expenses in the
service, and their compensation is fixed by percentages on receipts at
their respective offices. This rate of compensation may have been, and
probably was, at some time just, but the standard has remained unchanged
through the several reductions in the rates of postage. Such reductions
have necessarily cut down the compensation of these officials, while it
undoubtedly increased the business performed by them. Simple justice
requires attention to this subject, to the end that fourth-class
postmasters may receive at least an equivalent to that which the law
itself, fixing the rate, intended for them.

Another class of postal employees whose condition seems to demand
legislation is that of clerks in post-offices, and I call especial
attention to the repeated recommendations of the Postmaster-General for
their classification. Proper legislation of this character for the
relief of carriers in the free-delivery service has been frequent.
Provision is made for their promotion; for substitutes for them on
vacation; for substitutes for holidays, and limiting their hours of
labor. Seven million dollars has been appropriated for the current year
to provide for them, though the total number of offices where they are
employed is but 358 for the past fiscal year, with an estimated increase
for the current year of but 40, while the total appropriation for all
clerks in offices throughout the United States is $5,950,000.

The legislation affecting the relations of the Government with railroads
is in need of revision. While for the most part the railroad companies
throughout the country have cordially cooperated with the Post-Office
Department in rendering excellent service, yet under the law as it
stands, while the compensation to them for carrying the mail is limited
and regulated, and although railroads are made post-roads by law, there
is no authority reposed anywhere to compel the owner of a railroad to
take and carry the United States mails. The only alternative provided by
act of Congress in case of refusal is for the Postmaster-Gener