New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-02-28
THE DAWN WASHINGTON

accurately OF the cost of the seFefai
branches of the postal service taat al
though all accounts pass through nine az
ferent hands no check has been feAcheu NJ
the conclusion of the process; that uhoer
the present system, II such II can ne called
II is only necessary to advise the postai
officials what it is desired to prove, and hg-
ures can be promptly furnished TO prove
the proposition This. by the way. is anal
seous 10 the conditions which secretary
Never found in the Navy Department,
where the constructors found 10 difficulty
in demonstrating that given piece of work
had cost $1,000 while the engineers proved
with equal facility that 1t cost $4,000. and
vice versa. In the light of these co EDITIONS
Mr. Carter urges that the first WORK under-
taken be a reorganiza ton Of the service and
the installation of an adequate system OF
cost accounting after which the determlha-
ton of the exact cost OF carrying the sew
eral classes of mail matter will no longer
be a matter of pure conjecture
POSTAL. REORGANIZATION PROBA-
BLE-The experts who investigated the
postal service reported that were any large
railroad run similar system, 1t "oulo
he in the hands of receiver within year.
It has been the time honored custom 10
change all the responsible heads every re"
years. and to fill their places with men
chosen almost exclusively for political con-
siderations. The proposed plan OF Ieorsan-
ization would change this by providing 1or
a responsible executive head, subject 10 re-
moval only for cause, paid a compensation
adeque te 10 secure a man of broad business
experience. and with sufficient authority to
enable him TO carry on the work inteih-
gently. Another feature OF the plan is the
decentralization of the system. As the ser
vice is now organized. every postmaster is
obliged to send to Washington for every
sort OF supply. The postmaster on the fur
thest limits OF Alaska who needs few let
ter heads must send TO Washington for
them. IT, as occasionally happens, he
grows impatient orders them on the ground
and charges up the cost It takes $50 worth
OF time In the auditors office to ascertain
the fact and inform the postmaster that he
must stand the expense OF the s. 20 item
himself 1t is precisely as II eve-'y section
boss on the Pennsylvania Railroad had to
send 10 New York for every spike he re-
ouired Such effective work has been done
bv the Senator from Montana in the inter
est of the reorga nization bill that there is
an excellent prospect that il will BE- enacted
at this session.
Mr.. TAFT'S INFLUENCE-Tae effect
iveness of the influence of President Taft
has never been better demonstrated than it
was Yesterday. when the House Committee
on Interstate Commerce decided informally
to report the administratio interstate COM
nerce bill, court clause and AL. practically
In the same form as it was reported from
the Senate committee. While there is still
bitter opposition among the insurgents, it
is generally believed that this bill VIII pass
pra ctically in the form urged by the admin
istration The Senate will pass 7he postal
savings bank bill on Thursday. When II
reaches the House it will be in the land of
its enemies but 1t Is expected that it will
be made the subject of caucus which Will
insure its passage The determined oppo-
stion of Samuel Gompers, president Of the
American Federation of Labor may pre-
vent the passage of the Moon antf-injunc-
ton bill at this session, and the prospects
for statehood legislation not brilliant,
but with the railway rate law strengthened
all along the line, postal savings anks es-
tab1ished and some comprehensive conser-
walton measure the statute books, the
administration will have accomplished far
more than at one time seemed possible.
C. G. H.