Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-11-25
The POstmaster-Generars Report.

The ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Report.
The report of Postmaster General James,
which has been published this week, is out
spoken in its advocacy of reforms in the man.
agement Of his department. He makes sevo-
raj important recommendations, to which Con-
gress will be the more likely to pay attention
because Mr.. James is able to show far bet
ter balance sheet than his predecessor. For
the year ending June 80 last, the department
spent two and a half millions more than the
post-ofice receipts, and nearly four millions
above receipts will be paid out before the out
standing liabilities of that and two or three
preceding years are settled. Against this Mr.
James estimates show that for the year end
ing June 80, 1888, the deficit will be less than
a million. Much of this saving has been
achieved by the needed reform in the star
route and steambost service, which has amount
ed since Mr.. James assumed Office TO over a
million dollars, and this without Gripping the
service, which has been increased in certain
directions at cost of over half a million dol
lars. The actual amount cut off is S1,691,-
900. 1t is q curious commentary on the LOOSE
ness with which the star route service has been
conducted that in some cases the first notice
citizens living on the routes had that increased
service or speed had been ordered, was when
they learned of Mr.. Jamess order discontinu-
ing it. That is to say, the increased service,
though ordered and paid for, had never been
rendered.
at is a fact which cannot be denied" says
Mr.. James, "that the scandals attending the
administration of the post-office department
during the past quarter of a century have been
very serious in their consequences. The re-
sponsibility for this evil rests largely upon the
Legislative branch of the government, because
the power to remedy it could have been ex-
erted at any time"
Mr.. James holds that the post-office ought
to be self-sustaining, and believes it can with
proper management be made so. He recon-
mends; First, that on money orders not ex-
ceeding five dollars the fee shall be only five
cents, and that the maximum limit of money
orders be increased to one hundred dollars.
Second, the establishment of postal orders"
payable ito bearer" at designated Office for
sums of less than five dollars, such postal or
ders to be issued for three cents. He believes
these would be great convenience to per-
sons desiring to remit small and fractional
sums. Third, he recommends the establish
ment of postal savings repositories, which he
thinks would not interfere with established
savings banks, but be an important conven-
fence in places where there are no savings
banks. Fourth he protests against the post
Office being used to carry merchandise, and
remarks that the conveyance of third and
fourth class matter is steadily unremunera-
tive, interferes seriously with the quick de-
spatch of letter mails. and is burden on the
service and its revenues. Fifth, he expresses
the belief that reduction of letter postage
from three to two cents will be possible with
in three years, without serious diminution of
the postal revenues; and he would favor this,
even though the rates on third and fourth class
matter had to be increased. Evidently he be-
lieves two-cent letter postage possible at once
| if Congress will relieve the department of the
carrying of merchandise. Mr.. James marks
the constant rise in the railroad service, which
cost the last year 81, Al, 100; he thinks il
ought to be reduced, and says he is taking
measures to ascertain If reduction cannot
be effected. Finally, he has some important
words on the tenure of Office of post-office
clerks and other servants:
| Careful observation in this department and else
| where has but confirmed my conviction Of the grea
| public beneft to be derived from conducting the
public business on business principles. Some meth
cd OF relief must be provided from the overwhelm
ing pressure for appointment to clerkshps and 9th
er subordinate positions, and from the equal pres
sure for the removal of capable and experienced
assistants to make room for those who are not more
competent. The public service is public trust to
| which every citizen may properly aspire, and the
| public interest plainly demands that admission Il
| II should not depend upon personal favor, because
| such favor cannot well be impartial and because
system OF appointment by mere influence may be
readily perverted to the promotion of private inter
ests and personal ambition. appointment by In
| nuence naturally results in making the tenure Of
office depend, not upon fidelity and efficiency II
the discharge Of ofical duty, but upon the assidu
| Gus cultivation of the favor Of patron.
| The INST step, in my judgment, toward the RELIEF
of the appointing officers and the promotion OF TN
greater efficiency and economy OF the civil service
would be a method of minor appointment, which
should be Independent Of personal or partisan in
| nuence In some important government offices O
which have had personal knowledge, such a sys
| TEN is already In operation. In those otfces mino
appointments are determined solely by proper quail
| ihcatiOns, ascertained by impartial tests open Il
ali applicants upon equal terms. The great success
which has attended this method Of selection prove
its practicablty while the good results, both IL
| the service and the character OF the Officers thu
| selected, demonstrate Its value. The extension o
this method under uniform conditions is earnestly
10 be desired, both to correct familiar evils In tn
public service itself, and 10 remove the still grave
evils which spring from Them. My view
upon this subject are the result of prolonged ON
cal experience, and am persuaded that the prac
tical application OF these principles would prOmot
public morality, increase the economy and eficien
cy of the public service, and assuage the fury o
party spirit, against which Washington warned tn
country as Its chief peril"
These words of the Postmaster Genera
! deserve the attention of Congress and, a
, Mr.. James is master in his own department
they are guarantee to the public that,
, given the opportunity, he will carry into Ell
feet there the policy he so well understand
t and which he rightly regards as of extrem
importance.