The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-11-30

Ho"eNer, that the appointment of
| second and third class postmasters
| should lie with the postmaster general
! as Is now the practice with fourth
CLASS fomceS. This, he says, would re-
! serve 70 the president the appointment
OF postmaSters. at the more important
! ofnces and relieve him of a vast
amount of routine work that is a tax
upon his time.
The postmaster general puts himself
| on record as being decidedly opposed
10 the law which prohibits the estab-
lshment of postal stations more than
hve miles beyond the corporate limits
OF city, although, he says, no such
restriction exists with reference to the
extension of the free delivery service
me department, he declares, should
not pc placed in the position of being
doie TO deliver mail from door to door
ana at the same time of being forbid
den to supply the district so served
with the other usual postal convent
ences- The repeal of the law COM
The New York Problem.
The maintenance of a suitable pos
TAI service in New York city, it is
stared. becomes more difficult each
lures in order to reduce as far as pos
Side the heavy congestion of mail
matter there. The postmaster general
speaks of what has been done toward
that night delivery in the residential
section has gone far in that direction.
recommendation is again made
that the leave of absence with pay
tai service be increased from fifteen
TO thirty days whenever the postal
revenues warrant it.
While favoring an increase in pay
oftIces, the postmaster general says he
has not estimated for additional pro-
motions for the coming year because
OF the great increase in the deficit.
In regard to pneumatic tube SER
vice, 1t is stated that the commission
appointed under the act of congress of
May 81, 1908, to inquire into the feas-
1bil1ty of the government acquiring
and operating the pneumatic tube SER
wee, mas completed its work and that
the report will be submitted to con-
gress soon after it convenes. No hint
is given regarding the commissions
recommendations.
The recent establishment of the q
cent an ounce rate of letter postage
between the United States and the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland will, it is stated, have the eff
feet of bringing about greater postal
receipts. "a lower postage rate will
prove another bond toward closer So
cial and commercial relations between
the two great English speaking coun-
tries it is stated land it will do
much to enable our manufacturers to
better advertise their goods and thus
increase their sales in those coun-
tries" Modern progress, it is add
ed. is annihflating distance, and re-
volutionized methods in shipbuilding
have made the English markets but
a few days from American ports. 1t
is urged that cheaper and direct mail
service, as a stimulus to business and
friendly intercourse of nations, should
be extended wherever practicable
Figures relating to the railway mail
service show decrease of Is in the
number of railway postal clerks kill
ed and Of 81 injured as compared
with the fiscal year 1907. In 1908
there were four clerks and two sub
stitutes killed and 104 seriously and
536 slightly injured. Recommends
ton is made that railway postal clerks
pay for thirty days and that1w when so
to resume duty at the expiration of
twelve months. They may be granted
disability leave with pay at fifty per
during such disability for not exceed
ing twelve additional months.
The regulations covering Sample"
copies. are treated at length in the re-
port, the postmaster general conclud-
ing with the statement that the pub
fishers, with rare exceptions, have en-
dorsed the position of the department
and commended it for the course it
pursued.
The attention of congress is invited
to the previous recommendation for a
reduction in the rate and an increase
in the weight limit for fourth-class
matter Gin order to remove an unjust
discrimination to our own people %