The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1907-06-05
LETTER
LSpecial COrrespondence.l

Especial Correspondence
Senator Carter Of Montana. who is a
member of the postal commission ap-
pointed to consider the question Of
better business methods for the post
| office department, was a recent visitol
| at the White House. The senators and
members composing this commission
have a good deal of work ahead Of
them, but are going to try hard to
have something to report ut the next
session of congress-.
The Postal Department.
Speaking of one Of the features of
the situation which has presented it.
self during the time the committee has
been Mt work, the senator said that it
had been charged that the money order
department Of the government loses
$1,000 per day. The committee had not
found this charge substantiated, but
| the senator expressed the opinion that
undoubtedly there was considerable
laxity in various bureaus Of the postal
service that ought to be remedied. For
instance, 1t Is said the government
loses Z cents a pound on every pound
Of second class newspaper mail sent
through the mails. When the commits
sion called on the department for an
explanation, the senator said, 1t found
the officials had no means Of giving
/ any information on 1t. All was guess
| work. Expert accountants will be en-
| ployed to 60 over the records and see
II the charges are substantiated.
A Director Of Posts.
There is a proposition for the ap-
pointment of a director Of posts, who
is to hold his position irrespective Of
any changes there may be In the office
Of the postmaster general. which the
senator admitted had some merit, and
the commission will consider the pro-
priety Of recommending the creation Of
such an Office.
Y. N. c. A. Needs Funds.
The officers, directors and secretaries
| of the Young Mems Christian associa-
ton have started on n still hunt among
the people of washington for $4,000
| According to the statements issued by
the association, the annual budget Of
the organization, rs 1t Is being carried
out in the District, for the year 1907
aggregates $4,000. OF this amount
the members will pay about 100000 in
dues. Income from property and from
several other sources will amount to
about $4,000. This leaves current x
penses of $4,000 to be raised among
the friends Of the association outside.
Besides that amount, this year $10,-
600 will be required to remodel the
boys building. This expenditure was
considered as very necessary to make
the work in that department practica.
BILE and give the best results. This in.
creases the total to be raised to $4,000
Associations Expenses.
This sum is divided among the vari
Gus departments as follows: Army and
navy department, with headquarters al
Fort Myer. $4,000; colored branch
Twelfth and U streets, $500: boys
branch, $500; central building, in
GLIDING evening educational classes
$4,000: student work, $1,000; reli
gious work in central building ant
mems meetings in public auditorium:
and churches, navy yard. marine bar
racks, four street car barns, George
town repair shop. engine houses, etc.
$4,000: remodeling boys building. $40.
600.
One Of the advances which will b.
made possible by the raising Of tn
$4,000 will be that a secretary will b
placed at the marine barracks In thf
city. There most of the marines II
the service are sent for varying pc
RODS. and it is regarded as imperative
that a proper religious influence shoul'
be felt there. In the new marine bar
racks, now nearing completion, spac
has been provided for such a depart
9 ment, and 1t is hoped by the assocfa
ton directors that they will be able I
improve on this opportunity as soon n
the buildings are completed.
> White House Fire Escapes.
4 The White House is now equippe
: with fire escapes for the first tim,
Two of them We're fastened to tn
a walls Of the south front Of the mar
sion, ono on each side of the sem
circular portico, and experiments wer
conducted by the workmen to sho'
: that they operated smoothly and boz
the requisite weight. The apparatus
, not like any of the forms usually u
tached to office buildings and hotel
but each fire escape consists of a chat
L and pulley. which do not seriousl
dlsigure the house. The fire escape
g We're not provided to conform to. IL
local ordinance, but because some
the White House servants who slee
In the attic are afraid of fire. II
house Is only two stories high Abo,
the basement.
N Spring Visitors.
h Washington for several weeks HI
been thronged with visitors from eve
section Of the United States and Ca
= ada. She hotels have been taxed
g their utmost in handling the lar
D. crowds, and the overflow has made
y. rich harvest for countless boardil
% house keepers.