The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-02-10
In the Report of a Joint Com.
mission of Congress.
SHOULD PAY ITS WAY
And Can Be Made to Do So by
Adopting Reforms.
Put ALI Under Management of
One Competent Head.

washington, F6D. 1U.-COnST6SS To-
day received a preliminary report of
the joint commission appointed during
the last congress to investigate the
business methods of the postoffice de-
partment and postal service and sub
NIT recommendations for legislation
to effect changes in their administra-
ton. The commission consisting of
Senators Penrose, Carter and Clay
ner On. j. and Moon points out
many objectional methods. of both de-
partmentS. Among the recommends
tions is plan to place the actual di-
rection of the business of the postof-
fee department and service in charge
of an officer, with necessary assis-
tants to be appointed by the presi-
dent, "by and with the advice and
consent of the senate" for long terms
so as to insure the continuity of ef
ficient service. Under this plan the
postmaster general as a member OF
the cabinet is chargeable with general
supervisory control and the determin-
alton Of questions of policy.
The commission also recommends
that the business of the department
congestion at the national capital,
which impairs the efficiency and in
creaSes the cost of the service; that
the bookkeeping, auditing and ac-
counting be simplifed, unified and
centralized to secure greater accur-
acy. more prompt methods and elimi-
nation Of duplication of work; and
that the practice of requiring need
less detailed reports from small post
offices be discontinued. The moder-
ate application of the nonaccounting
system to small offices will eliminate
about 10000 or nearly one-half OF
the postoffice accounts from the pres
ent complex report and bookkeeping
system, or would at least greatly sim
p1ify the same.
The commission says:
"It appears too obvious to require
argument that the most efficient ser
vice can never be expected as long as
the direction of the business is as at
present, entrusted to postmaster
general and certain assistants select
ed without special reference to ex-
perience and qualifications and sub
ject to frequent change. Under such
a system a large railway, commercial
or industrial business would newt
postoffice department has averted
that fate only because the United
States treasury has been available to
meet deficiencies"
Submitted with the report of the
commission is report OF consider
able volume from two New York ac-
counting firms who were assigned to
the investigation of the department
by the commission last May. This re
port goes at length into the abolition
of bureaus, the organizations OF ad-
rutnistrative divisions, the merging of
money order and postal accounts, use
of labor saving devices, classification.
auditing and accounting and all OF
the many branches of the subject. 1t
contains an elaborate synopsis OF
plan for reorganizing divisions. 1t is
pointed out that these criticisms are
directed at methods and not at fndi-
yiduals. The following is summary
of the most important suggestions
made In the report of the examiners:
That the offices of the first. second.
third and fourth pOstmaSterS general
be abolished and that director OF
posts be appointed at a salary sufficient
to attract the best administrative talent
in the country and that he be given
sole charge OF the operauons OF tne
department and service subject only to
the control in matters of policy of the
postmaster general as a cabinet Off
Ger; that assistant directors be ap-
pointed to take charge OF the main
operating divisions of the service, post
offices, transportation, appointments,
finance, comptroller, inspection, pur-
chasing agent and supplies; that the
comptroller should be IN cnarge OF the
whole accounting for the department
and service and that the duties of the
auditor be limited to an audit of all the
accounts in the proper sense OF the
word; that all postofhces not doing
money order business be treated as
"nonaccounting Offices and that a
fixed supply of stamps. etc., be supplied
to them to be replenish ed from neigh
boring accounting offices in exchange
for cash, or it's equivalent; that district
offices be created at convenient points
throughout the country, organized in
miniature on the same lines as the de-
partment in Washington which would
supervise the whole of the work in
their districts under the direction of
responsible officials; that the director
Of posts and the assistant directors
form an advisory board to meet several
times a week and discuss important
questions as they may arise and that
similar advisory board be created at
each district Office that the postmas-
ters' accounts for postal and money
order transactions, heretofore kept
separately, be merged: that promotions
be based on merit and a scheme de-
vised for retiring many of the older
employees; that the liability for ex-
ceeding appropriations be strictly de-
fined and limited: that a perfecting ac-
counting system be installed; that the
cost of services rendered by the post
office department and postal service
should be ascertained in accordance
with methods herein suggested. either
by periods or continuously; that the
use of labor saving machines and de-
vices be largely extended, particularly
the adoption of mechanical systems Of
duQitilS iHoIiey duOpl1On OF the
use of postal notes not to exceed $40.
and elimination of all money order
offices not issuing 500 orders per
annum.
This report classes the cost, accou,lt
ing and auditing system of the post
office department and service as ex
tremely crude and absolutely lacking
in uniformity.
The appointments of posrmasters
clerks in postoffices and many other
grades of the service says the report.
ARE stfll largely affected by political