The National tribune., 1906-09-06

Acting Postmaster-General Hitch
cock, after a years close observation,
has decided to abolish the flning of em-
ployes as a means Of enforcing disci-
pline in the Postal Service, a system
that has been in operation for many
years.
Mr.. Hitchcock has concluded that 1t
Is detrimental rather than helpful. In
its place he proposes to establish a uni
form system of efficiency records. which
will be put into operation as soon as
perfected.
To that end he has started Assistant
Supt. John A. Holmes. OF his Bureau.
on a tour of inspection of the largest
post offices in the United States. Mr..
Holmes will confer with the Postmas-
ters and their assistants regarding the
change.
The present practice OF subjecting the
employees to the liability of being fined
for making errors in handling mail or
for misconduct. Mr.. Hitchcock believes
to be too humiliating and degrading.
Owing to the fact that there Is no
definite schedule Of fines applicable to
specific cases of dereliction, and that
their imposition is left to the discretion
Of the administrative officers, wide
variation has occurred in the relative
imposed by the different OFF,
GERS.
In criticism of the system. Mr.. Hitch
cock said that in the absence OF an ef-
ficiency record that enables the clerk
to receive full credit for the amount
and character Of work done. the plan
Of fining for errors is likely to discour-
age rapid work because of the Increased
liability to mistakes.
Mr.. Hitchcocks new plan will be used
as a basis for all increases and reduc-
tions in salary. and under 1t employees
who become generally careless or in
efficient will be reduced. The amount
Of reduction in the salary OF an inefl-
cient clerk will not be lost to the De-
partment. as In the case OF fines. but
will be utilized in the promotion Of the
most deserving.
The President has sent out letter
calling for aid for Chile.
1--WE of this Nation" he said. "at this
moment see the city Of San Francisco
struggling upward from the ruins in
which q like catastrophe overwhelmed
her last Spring. We keep keenly In
mind the thankful appreciation we then
felt for the way in which the people of
Europe. Asia ana both Americas came
ance. In this time Of WOO of our sister
Republic ask that our people out Of
their abundance now strive to do to
as others last Spring did to US.
The National Red Cross Association has
taken measures to collect any
that may be offered for
this purpose. and I trust that there
will be a generous response"
The President has done exactly right
In declaring his intention to abandon
Fort Brownsville. Tex. The citizens of
the Long Horn State undertook to die
tate to the War Department, and they
are simply getting what they deserve.
We may not all get the thing we want.
and II certainly is not within our prov
ince to say to the United States Gov
ernment when and where 1t shall send
its troops and when or whether they
shall be black or white. And 1t is not
at all q sure thing that Northern boys.
Yankees" II you will. had been sent
there that they would have received a
bit better treatment. At the maneuvers
at Manassas two years ago there were
members of the National Guard from
several Northern States, and though
these young men were of some of the
very best and Oldest families in the
country. because OF the fact that they
hailed from Northern States they were
snubbed and fouted by the young wo-
men of the vicinity of Manassas. 1t is
more than likely that they would have
met with the same treatment down in
Texas. Possibly the President would
get along all right IL he would send
only Southern men to garrison Browns
Vile.
President Roosevelt has written g
letter to Representative James e. Wat
son. of Illinois. urging the election of a
Republican House of Representatives in
order to avert economic disaster from
the country.
Bids have been asked by the Isthmidn
Canal Commission for $500 Chinese
coolies to work on the canal.
A report of the clerks of the two
Houses of Congress shows the appro.
priations of the last session of Congress
to have totaled sS79.5s9,1s5. an in
crease of s59,000.000 over last years
appropriations.
Well. well, ]. Edward Addicks say.
that Senator Alice, both Of Delaware
has split the Republican Party Of tha
State in two.
Judge John C. Bell, of Montrose. Cal.
formerls a prominent member of th'
House. has recently been visiting Wash
ington. Judge Bell has been suggested
for a number of high places in his State
but says that for the present he is ou
of it all, and is not taking much inter
est in politics.
The State Department is informed
that Mexico is much disturbed over tn
statements sent broadcast that Mexic'
is fathering an anti-foreign movement
The Secretary of the Interior for Mex
leo sends out an explicit denial of any
| thing of the kind.
Once upon a time Senator ingalls,, o
Kansas, declared that the observance 0
the decalogue was an irridescent dream
| Senator Beveridge. of Indiana, declare
| in a speech the other day that I'VE ar
| in the renaissance of the decalogue il
American commerce." whatever tina
may mean.
Now. what does he mean? In hi
Congressional Convention the other da
Uncle jos Cannon was renominate
for Congress, of course. and then hi
convention proceeded to indorse hir
for the Presidency Then your Uncl
Joseph declared that no man woul
refuse the nomination for the Pres
dency if it were offered him. Now, doe
he mean that he is q candidate tenta
lively or subjectiveiy. OF at all in an
way, shape or form?
Mr.. Secretary Root, who is skylarl
ing on National business intent dow