East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1907-06-29

year next Monday many important
Legislative acts by the last congress
will become operative. One of the i'm
portant measures to become effective
is the new immigration law. All the
sections of this law will go into effect,
with the exception of the section re-
lating to japanese coolies which be-
came effective when the act was pass
ed. The law contains many new feat
ures designed to bring in better class
of immigrants. The head tax Is in
creased to $4 and the excluded classes
are considerably enlarged. Secretary
| of Commerce and Labor Strauss and
Commissioner General of immigration
Sargent have had a number of confer
ences with the immigration officials
at the chief ports of entry in order
that there may be no friction or mis-
conception in the execution of the
laws.
Uniform Bookkeeping.
Another of the important measures
to come into force Monday is that
provision of the rate law which auth
orizes the interstate commerce COM
mission to require the railroads to in
stall a uniform system of accounting.
The system will cover operating reve-
nues and operating expenses, and the
railroads will be compelled to file
monthly reports. The method adopt
ed is Intended to insure a correct
statement of revenues from opera
ton and is expected to result in keep
| ing the cost of improvements out of
operating expenses and therefore ex-
| clude them from the cost of per-
forming current business. The ex-
pense of soliciting traffic Is separated
| from the expense of hauling traffic.
The construction accounts are to be
so drawn that a current record of the
| physical value of railway property is
always accessible.
| The lack of uniformity in account
ing methods has been recognized by
railroad men as well as by the finan-
cial community as the source of no
| little confusion in dealing with rail-
road affairs, and 1t is expected that
much good will follow the introduce
ton of improved accounting methods
among the railroads. The standard
ization of railroad accounts, it is
thought, will serve to rveeal more
clearly than ever the relative position
of railroads, and will help the inves-
tor to judge more intelligently of the
value of railroad securities.
Postal Service Salaries.
The postoffice department has re-
ceived sort of broadside of legisla-
ton effective next Monday. Here are
the more important things provided
| for:
| Clerks in offices of the first and
second class carriers in the city de-
livery service will be divided into six
grades.
In the first grade the salary will be
$500; in the second grade, $500
| third grade. $500: fourth grade.
$1,000; fifth grade, s11OO; sixth grade.
$1,000.
on the first day of the month clerks
and carriers AT first-ciass offices will
be promoted successfully to the fifth
grade and clerks and carriers at sec
ond-cass offices will be promoted sue
cessiyely to the fourth grade. Every
promotion is TO be gased on efficiency
tna faithfulness.
ANY clerk viii be eligible for trans
| fer to The service OF a carrier, and any
| carrier viii oe eligible for transfer
| 10 the service of clerk.
Every ,ity carrier now regularly
employed at salary of $500 a year
will be promoted to the fourth grade
at $1,000 year provided there is sub
| mitted at the postoffice department
| evidence of efficiency and faithful
ness.
Substitutes may be employed for
clerks and carriers at the rate of 80
cents an hour, and substitute be-
comes eligible for appointment to the
first grade.
Employees in the railway mail serv
ice are classified and nearly every
| body in this branch of the service
will receive an increase of 500.
Rural letter carriers who cover
what is known as full route will re-
ceive $500 year instead of 1920.
Railroad Compensation.
The compensation paid the railroads
for carrying the mails is to be read
justed, and the pay considerably re-
duced.
In making promotions under the
new legislation the department will be
guided by the recommendations of
postmasters so far as postoffice EN-
ployes are concerned and of division
| saperintendents in dealing with the
| employees in the railway mail service.
The aggregate increase in the pay
! OF the postoffice clerks and carriers
| win amount to nearly s4,50O,000
year. But the economy that will be
achieved by the reduction in the
amount paid the railroads for carry
ing the mails will also foot up well
into the millions. Under the old con-
diuons there have been in the railway
mail service costing when new about
$4,000 each, for which the government
has paid In rentals more than $780,
| 600 In 25 years. Under the read
justment the government will save at
least 25 per cent in the rental paid for
the railway mail cars.
|