The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1906-12-10
POSTMASTER GENERAL, HOW.
EVER, is MORE CONCERNED
ABOUT ITS EFFICIENCY.
IMPROVEMENTS NEEDED
In All Branches He Says in His An
nual Report in Which HE Points
Out Many chsnges--Wants
Increased Appropriation

report of the Postmaster General re-
views the work of the department for
the pasr year, gives In detail the
postal revenue and expenditures, dis
icusses important changes that nave
been made in departmental organlza-
tion, and makes suggestions and
recommendations as appear to be war
Irantad.
After discussing various reforms ia
the organization OF the department,
The Postmaster General says:
y repeat what | stated a year ago.
that while 1t would be a gratifying
circumstance If the Postoffiee depart
ment were self.sustain.ng, | am le s.
concerned about the deficit tran
about the efficiency of admins ration
Te public demand for postal facilities
is constantly growing. II the instala.
tion of the rural service had depended
upon the existence oi a surplus in the
postal revenues under the existing
System Of accounting, that service
could not have been given. The same
considerations apply to number OF
other branches. The financial returns
from certain branches are SO inter
woven with and dependent upoa
Others that tere is much force In the
contention that II is unreasonable IN
charge any one Of them with the re-
sponsibility of the deficit.
THE rural delivery has undoubted
ly increased the bulk of first-class
mail matter. The circulation of the
second-class mail also very large af-
fects the bulk OF the higher class, to
what degree Is practically impossible
determine. OF course, rapidly In
iereasing deficit for. apoIi0d OF years
may be matter or some concern,
but | think present conditions war.
rant ns in turning our attention.,
rather to an investigation and i'm.
provement of every branch of the
departments work. We must have an
increasing recognition of merit, both
in position and In compensation; we
must have a better system of account
ng a ndmore accurate statistics; we
must make the service meet the
needs of the people. II we improve
the character of service We shall
the cost of the service, for II has
been the experience of many postal
administrations, not only here but
abroad that the giving of additional
facilities. within reasonable limits, is
almost invariably followed by an in
creased use of the malls and consc-
luent additions to the revenue.
"In spite of defects the efficiency
OF the service has been In many re
spects remarkable. as witness Of rec.
ord of the registry service for the
half century of its existence, showing
a percentage of loss from all causes
including burglary. theft and fire
for the fiscal year ended June 80. 1904
Of only three onethou andths of PER
cent Some private business enter.
prses may IN certain dire. tious yield
better financial returns, but they can
not show higher standard II integ-
rity nor more faithful performance cf
luty."
The following are further extracts
from the report:
Compensation Of Clerks and Carriers.
Especially do the foregoing com
ments apply 10 p toffice clerks. rail
way mail clerk. city carriers. and
rural carriers. many Of whom are in
ny judgment yey ,aaaequateiy co L
)ensated. Tn view Is coacIrred in
~ the Assistant Postmast General
having immediate supervision OF the
york Of these employees and By many
fher officials Of he department who
ave had occa ion TO inYestig tie n
lit.ous urruunding heir employm mt
: comprehensive plan for tfe rcfd-
ustnent e s8lar . # posfofics
Jerks and city letter earr.e-s vill ic
presented iu enc report ~ the FIRST
Assisfsuf Postmaster General.
The department has already B.
nitted Inmates for cer1ia inc7ea 9
Il salaries. and nos submits the n
sfal subject for the Cors drrat'cn of
,orrress. Naturally there vii 10 IF
-ctences cf op uion a. TO &c anOuTt
# Increases de irable in the s-y raj
-lssses = e-ap'oye-. The gra1t'ns Of
,dequa relief would b. measure
v true &C -t5my and would insiH n "
ife into the catire service.
While favorable aci on by the cor
rre-s looking TO 81 Increase in the
.ompcnsat on Of large numbers OF
.rniorcs V-uid necessiiste sub
tantlal increase in the appFOpiIs-
ions. il is believed that hv an eq'Ti;
Die adjust fmeut and an aIl-tment Of
be suna auprup lated. g between the