Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-30
Postmaster Generals Report
Is Full of Suggestions.
RURAL PARCELS SYSTEM
Postal Savings Banks Also Urged by
Mr.. Meyer.
< FOR A DIRECTOR
Appointment of Permanent Deputy
Equalization of Salaries.

The annual report of Postmaster Cen
eral Meyer for the year ending June 30,
1908, fairly bristles with suggestions for
the betterment of the postal service and
the enlargement Of its usefulness to the
people. especially those in rural commu-
mites.
1t urges the establishment of limited
parcels post system confined entirely to
rural free delivery routes that will enable
the farmer to have small parcels deliv-
cred at his gate, to live better and to
easily obtain the necessaries of life; the
creation of postal savings banks in con-
'nection with post offices, where wage
earners and people of moderate means
may safely deposit their earnings with
out curtaiing the circulation: the APP
pointment of postmasters of the second
and third classes by the Postmaster Gen.
eral, in order to relieve the President OF
the burden attendant thereon; the modifl-
cation of the law which forbids the es-
Establishment of postal stations more than
five miles beyond the corporate nmtis OF
a city. although no such restriction exists
with reference to the extension of the
free-delivery service; the cheapening OF
the rate of postage for and the increase
in the limit of weight of fourth-class mall
matter: the increase of the leave OF ao-
sence period from fifteen to thirty days
to employees in post offices: the amend
ment of Anticipated laws which hamper
the service; the enactment of Dill Dy
Congress at it's coming session providing
for postal notes. such as will enable the
public more cheaply and conveniently TO
transmit small sums through the mails;
and increases i'm the salaries OF post once
inspectors. The report reneWs many OF
the recommendations made In the past
and furnishes additional argument in their
support.
Considerable space is devoted to the
condition of the postal service in New
York city and to the action taken by the
department in meeting its demands.
Improved Business Methods.
The report states that a number of inn
provements in business methods have been
made to the advantage of the department
and the postal service, among them the
following:
closer inspection Of all supplies pur-
chased.
The consolidation of accounts in journal
form. recurring one signature instead OF
hundreds.
The transfer of the printing section
from the Postmaster Generals once 10
the division Of supplies.
The fixing of the functions and respon-
siblitv of the different bureaus in the
purchase of supplies
Further increasing the efficiency of the
division Of supplies while decreasing the
number of employees from 1U2 to 81.
The taking Of an annual inventory of
stock in the division OF supplies.
Revision and standardization of form
blanks and the elimination of unnecessary
forms.
General improvement In the fling sys-
TENS of the department.
The substitution of card systems for
book records-a policy that will be ex-
tended.
The installation of adding machines
loose-leaf ledgers and carbon processes
whereby several circular letters to uif-
ferent persons are written at the same
time These improvements will also be
extended.
The qualification Of methods in the di-
vision of dead letters, increasing the out
put of work without additional clerical