The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-08-26
1t Will Also Revoluionize the Business Methods
of the Department in Keeping Accounts
with Sixty Thousand POstmasters.
Every Vessel Being Built for the New
Navy Under Heavy Penalty fcr Delay.
Preparations for the Coming Knights Tenn.
Growing CropS-The Day at Deer Park.
PosTmAsTERs, ACCOUNTS.

A Change in the Method of Keeping Them
Recommended by the Sixth Auditor.
Special 10 the Indianapolis I0urnaI.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 25.-Sixth Auditor of
the Treasury Coulter has recently proposed
important changes in the business methods
of the Posroffice Department. The accounts
Of 10000 postmasters are kept by the Third
Assistant Postmaster-general,a and they are
audited by the Sixth Auditor. The con-
templated alteration in the system of keep
ing these accounts would be radical and
far-reaching in their results. Dir. Coulter
has addressed a letter to the Postmaster
general, calling his attention to delay which
obtains in receiving and handling certif-
Gates of deposits made by postmasters in
settlement of their quarterly accounts. 1t
has been the custom to have the certificates,
original and duplicate, returned to the de-
positor, who thereafter sends the original to
the department and keeps the duplicate as
his own voucher. The present system causes
delays at most important times, in that,
when the postmaster makes bis deposit, the
depositary sends both certificates TO the
postmaster, whereas as in the judgment of
the Sixth Auditor, the original certificate
should be sent direct to the Postmaster
general and only the duplicate be sent to
the depositing postmaster.
This change may be better appreciated
when 1T is remembered that about $1,000
of the postotfices are small ones, having
inferior mail services: MANY of them being
supplied with mail only once or twice
week. All of these offices now receive
their certificates and cannot forward them
to the department until next mail day.
Frequently it happens that ignorance and
careleSsness on the part of pOstmasters ne
cessitates the writing of letters from the
department., calling for certificates before
they are forwarded. Meantime. accounts
are held up in the Third Assistant POST
master-generaPs Office and the clerks OF
the Sixth Auditors Office are unable TO
proceed with their work. Mr.. Coulter pro-
poses that this delay and extra work shall
be dispensed with. by the sensible and
to send the original certificates to the
Third AssistaI Postlnaster-general direct.
Coming thus the great bulk of certificates
will reach the department during the first
week of each quarter, and be disposed of, SO
that the clerks in the auditors Office may
proceed with their business.
Under the present system there are
quarterly thousands OF accounts suspend
more time than would ordinarily be re-
quired to make the settlement. 1t will also
facilitate the work of both departments by
putting the settlement Of accounts for
ward at least fifteen days. If the original
certificates of the depositaries were sent
direct to the department, moreover. it will
save the work of writing and addressing
about fifty Thousand letters each quarter,
and as each postmaster is required now To
send his certificate in d letter. separate
from all other communications. there will
be diminution of about two hundred
thousand letters annually. The reader
with business knowledge or proclivigies will
see what an immense saving of labor there
will be in this item alone; but the Sixth
Auditor looks upon that as small item
when compared with the time saved in
each quarter. 1t will revolutionize the
business methods of the Postoffice Depart
ment if this scheme shall be adopted. and,
as it seems feasible and inst, the POstmas-
ter-general will no do Do adopt il. The
letter of Sixth Auditor -oulter is lengthy
and fully explains I'll opposed system,
which is outlined 1t affects the
business of whole ole throughout
their 10000 postmaste and. if adopted,
the status of every postmaster's account
can be told by a glance at the register. 1t
is one of the most important changes ever
proposed in the Department. and reflects
credit upon the business ability and sagac-
city of Mr.. Coulter