New-York tribune., 1908-10-12
WORK
BY REPUBLICANS
EFFICIENCY IN THE DE
P4RTMENTS.
Postal .Ser,ice Has Made U'onder-
fd Developments in the Last
Ten Years.
---o-. III. rrth,,ne Rur.au.i

r0r
----t,i---o7 oct Il-with the successful ao-
LIBERATION Of President Roosevelt as one OF
=. -s-ar,oun- issues OF the present campaign
- r7aoublican leaders take especial pride IN
-.,s--i-e 20 the upbuiGing work that mas oeeh
,-77r,7ssfe5 in the last seven years by the van
o,,e Governmental departments in washington
=, --na II these departments do they point
,ra-a consistently and logically than to the
-7,z-,47oe Department which. institution.
~,---z into more intimate relations with all the
-r,a ,,e the country than any other branch Of
t7a government
r., +be unusual number Of requests for data
-~s statistics made TO the PostofTice Depart
--,ar- bv Republican state and county leaders
r--- ssrf-ants for Congress. by campaign orators
and r.uhlicitv agents. II is evident that the rec
-5 furnishes q forceful argument to voters
Although plentifulIy supplied with campaign
material by the various literary bureaus Of the
national committee. there is a mass Of data
v,,,f-b the individual campaigners gather at first
hand for their own locality. and every mail
+,-s-rs requests TO the Postoffice authorities 10
4,-7-a-5 The latest information. This is only
--s--7raI when the record Of the department is
considered. for its dealings are. perhaps. more
readily appreciated by all who use the mails
man those Of any other field Of Uncle Ems &C
tiv5ties-
No man more fully realizes the popular ap-
--zcfati0n which has been manifested over his
Efforts and those Of his predecessors than the
Postmaster General. George Won Lengerke
Never. who has administered the affairs Of the
de7srtmen- since February. 1907. and who, even
n that comparatively brief time. has made such
marked progress. besides familiarizing him
self rith the workings Of the vast service, as to
s1-ing al once into the first rank Of postal
authorities
In conversation day or two ago Mr. Meyer
pointed out some OF the salient Improvements Of
The last ten years under Republican admin
ts-raco- as an evidence Of the constructive pol
icy of that party and as a reason why it should
ae continued in power through the election Of
Arr Taft For the Civil Service rules do not
extend their protection TO the thousands Of
capable. experienced postmasters throughout the
country. and a change of administration from
Republican 70 Democratic would undoubtedly
mean the substitution Of Untried and inefficient
men in all branches Of the service, with conse-
Quent disorder and disorganization, which could
not be corrected for several years.
PosToFFTCE PROGRESS
A mere glance at the postal receipts, accord
ing to the Postmaster General demonstrates
that the department has been conducted on the
most efficient business principles. and shows
that the country has steadily prospered- In
1897. the last year which saw a Democratic ad-
rninistration the postal receipts were Ss2665,-
4ts2 and they mad increased but 100000 since
the first year OF the Cleveland administration.
In 1907 the receipts were S1S3,5S5.005. more
than SIOO o0l. 90 greater than fn 1897. with an
average annual increase Of $10.0O0O00. which
was greater than the entire gain in four years
under Cleveland
TO the Republican administration of Presi-
dent Mckinley must be credited the introduc-
Ton Of the rural free delivery" said Mr.. Meyer
TO the Republican administration Of President
Roosevelt must be credited its enlargement and
Improvement until today II is in operation on
5a2-8 routes, serving more than 100000 per
sons Its value TO the farmer has been incal-
-ufalle- L has had wonderful educational in
aue1r4. and has given those living IN rural com
-1--iries opportunities for reading and study
which they never before knew. Il has caused
rh= Improvement Of roads. for without good
roads here could be 10 delivery. and, in short
f- has been z greater boon 20 farm life than
s7y ether single influence Of the last century
liz s --r hope that the next few years viii
see rrz Introduction Of the parcels post, and il
is ny intention 10 use every effort 70 bring this
about I VIII be no added expense 10 the ma
-fa-. IN fact Il VIII DO much TO wipe out the
d=H-st caused each year by the delivery Of sec
ou5 -lasz natter and II IL an improvement
which once Instituted. would never be given
u7 Il IS second in Importance only TO the rura
t-ea delivery itself and viii prove as great q
benefit 70 the farmer.
Another reform continued the Postmaster
General which I hold u be Of vast l0lpor-
tz--- IS the strict and systematic enforcement
o- --= statutes empowering the Postmaster
General 70 exclude from the mails all matter
relating 20 fraudulent schemes These pTac-
-f-ez grew out q failure 10 enforce the Ia"
- --e letter and this reform has resulted IL
me saving Of thousands Of dollars By hundreds
~ persons who would ultimately have been
Geec=5 by such schemes"
GUARANTEED SAVINGS BANKS.
To RI Meyer VIII belong the title OF Father
q the Postal Savings Bank when that institu-
tgr is rart Of the Postofice Department, for
Re has been the most aggressive champion OF
TINS system. both before Congress and before the
country Postal savings banks are not an ex-
pertinent" ne said. but 4 demonstrated fact
There are few governments in the civilized
word with the exception OF the United States
and Germany. which have not adopted the
postal savings bank system. and its success IN
the Philippines makes its hearty Endorsement by
fne people Of this country 4 certainty"
AT- Meyer Is extremely confident that the bill
noE before Congress providing for the estab-
Asla-ent Of postal savings banks. which was
iAForabIy reported by the Committee on Post
oElces and Post Roads. VIII become law at the
4 a---