The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-11-30
ANNUAL REPORT ON
POSTAL SERVICE
Largest Deficit In History Is
Shown BY the Records
IMPROVEMENT TO BE MADE
Most Important Recommendation Is
To Have a Director of Posts
Employed at High Salary,
Position Permanent.
IMPROVEMENT TO BE MADE


s16,s7S,222. the largest in the history OF
the department, with an additional loss
from fire, burglar, etc, of $s7, 056. The
deficit of 1909 1t is estimated again will
exceed s1e0OO.O0O.
Attention is particularly called to a
number of improvements in business
methods of the department as tending
to its advantage and the saving of con
siderable amounts. Recommendation is
again made for the creation of the po-
sition' of director of posts at a high
salary and who shall hold office during
good behavior. the object being to have
continuity of policies for the benefit
of the postal service and the people OF
the United States.
Good Roads Needed.
The necessity for good roads is point
ed out in connection with the develop
ment of the rural free delivery service.
1t is suggested that should Congress
grant the department authority to utilize
rural routes still further by the estab-
lishment of a limited parcel post con-
fined entirely to rural delivery routes 1t
would then be possible to earn additional
revenue amounting to millions of dollars
and at the same time benefit the farm
er by enabling him to have merchandise
delivered when ordered by telephone or
postal card, which otherwise would not
be purchased. 1.-The special parcel post
says the Postmaster General, will en-
able the farmers to have small parcels
delivered at their gates, to live better,
and to obtain easily the necessaries of
life"
Permission is requested to establish ex-
to exceed four counties in order to dem
onstrate the practicability of the plan.
Postal Savings Banks.
The Postmaster General again urges
legislation permitting the establishment
of postal savings banks or depositaries in
connection with postoffices.
Experiments with stamp vending ma
chimes, says the Postmaster General, are
still being conducted with every prospect
that the defects which developed in the
preliminary tests will be overcome. These
machines. it is expected by the depart
ment, will add UNNECESSARILY to the pub
lie convenience.
The campaign of education in the school
houses in matters pertaining to the or
binary operation of the postal service
| so as to emphasize the Importance of
careful addressing, the placing of the
name and address of the sender on en-
| Neopes, ETC., is recommended to be con-
tinued so as to save hundreds of thous-
ands of letters and packages from go
ing to the dead letter office each year
as is now the case.
A marked improvement in the efficiency
of the service is noted by the Postmaster
| General whoch, he says, is due to the pol
icy of retaining postmasters ofsall grades
whose records have been satisfactory
| He believes, however, that the appoint
ments of second and third class post
masters should lie with the Postmaster
General, is now the practice with
fourth class offices. This, he says, would
| reserve to the President the appoint
ment of postmasters at the more import
ant offices and relieve him of a vast
| amount of routine work that is a tax
upon his time.
Postal Stations.
The Postmaster General puts himself
on record as being decidedly opposed to
the law which prohibits the establish
| ment of postal stations more than five
miles beyond the corporate limits of a
city, although he says no such restric-
tion exists with reference to the extern
sion of the free delivery service. The
department, he declares, should not be
placed in the position of being able to
deliver mail from door to door and at
the same time of being forbidden to sup
ply the district so served with the other
usual postal conveniences. The repeal
of the law complained of is urged
The maintenance of suitable postal
service In New York city, it is stated,
becomes more difficult each year and
requires increased expenditures in or
der to reduce so far as possible the
heavy congestion of mail matter there.
The Postmaster General speaks of
! what has been done toward remedying
this condition, and says that a night
delivery in the residential section has
gone far in that direction.
Leave of Absence
Recommendation is again made that
the leave of absence with pay allowed
| by law to employees of the postal SER
Twice be increased from 10 to 30 days
when ever the postal revenues war
| rant 1t.
While favoring an increase in pay of
the supervisory employees in postof-
| fees. 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 service.
1t is stated that the commission ap-
pointed under the act of Congress of
May 81, 1908, to inquire into the feas-
| ibility of the government acquiring and
operating the pneumatic tube service.
has completed its work and that the
report will be submitted to Congress
soon after it convenes. No hint is
given regarding the commissions
recommendations.
TWo-Cent Foreign Postage.
The recent establishment Of the 2
cent-an-ounce rate of letter postage be-
tween the United States and the Unied
will. 1t is stated have the effect of
bringing about greater postal receipts,
"A lower postage rate will prove an
other bond toward closer social and
| commercial relations between the two
great English-sp speaking countries" 1t
is stated, and it will do much to en-
able our manufacturers to better ad-
vertise their goods and thus increase
| their sales in those countries Mod
ern progress, ii Is added, is annihi-
lating distance, and revolutionizing
! ! methods in shiDhuildipo have rf,pda the