The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1907-12-01

/ iAhNIiiASlfF 6eIltFdl Never mas SHl
matted HIS annual report to the presl
dent IN part os follows:
H Postoffiee Department,
i Washington, r. c.. Nov 30, 1907
70 the President
have the honor to present the am
nnal report OF the postmaster genera
TOT the fIstIT year ended June 80
1907
In order to draw attention to the
enormous expansion and increase IN
1.-THE Business Of the postoffice depart
tment | desire to refer to the year
| 1857 when the receipts Of the postal
tseryice were $s,053,952, the expendi.
lures sll,51S05S, and the deficit ST.,
l45ll06. Since then the receipts have
nearly doubled every ten years and
t the expenditures have increased cor.
lrespondingly
hi the year 1897 the receipts had
risen Ito Ss2,6G5 AGO. tie expenditures
To 94D77,242. and the deficit To sil..
4ll4T7a Ten years later, June 80,
1907, the receipts for the fiscal year
bad doubled, being SlsabsRaD5plwith
expenditures Of sl9023s. 2Ss The de-
iicit. however, had dropped to s6.G53..
zSss. Consequently, if one may Judge
BY the figures OF the last fifty years
every indication points to the prob
ability Of the postal receipts passing
the S35o,Nm.o00 mark In 1917.
The particular and striking needs
| in this immense business institution
Of the government are up-to-lats
business methods, revised system
'nt bookkeeping. permitting the taking
Oh trial balance, aud a permanent
official, corresponding 10 the superin-
tendentro OF "a mill or the agent of a
great consolidated misunderstanding
corporations who world hold office
continuously through various admin
istrations. H. il Of little consequence
whether ne be known as deputy post
master general or director OF posts.
but salary OF not less than 10000
should be provided to command
business man OF wide experience,
who would become familiar with the
various burdens Of the pcstoifice de-
partment and act as an expert ad
wiser 10 the head Of the department
This would insure continuity OF the
policy Of the department, which is
necessary in bringing about the best
results to the service. The methods
al the present time are lacking In
economy and directness. The organi-
cation and system which worked
satisfactorily many years ago are now
cut Of date and Inadequate to the
present increased requirapents.
u is difficult TO conduct the post
Office department on the up-to-date
methods OF great corporation, be
cause of statutory limitaion--wise,
very likely. when enacted, but which
now would have to be removed before
desire,l reforms could be put into
operation
Postal Savings Banks.
earnestly recommend the estab-
lishment Of postal savings banks.
First In order to encourage among
our people economy and thrift.
Second. In order to afford a place
q deposit free from any possibility
cf doubt or suspicion for vast sums
Of mony which might otherwise be
boarded and Kept out OF circulation
through Ignorance or lack OF con
fdence
Wherever II may be. this money
has lost lis proper functions and the !
business OF the nation not only re-
oeiyes no benefit from II, but even
the prosperity Of the country suffers |
end may be eventually destroyed. |
Money deposited in postal savings
banks would be absolutely safe. as
the government would be back OF IT, |
More than seven millions Of immi- |
grants landed in this country during |
the past ten years. and it has been |