The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-12-12

p n as Wen as the ordinary mail.
naieiy Is the latter OF sufficient VOL
ume to take up more than a smaly
portion OF the mail space in tho oar
Iier wagon. A rural parcel most OF
me KIND posed, Ii successfully con-
quoted, would probably lead to n mora
general system. Before the parcel
service is extended to the whole conn
Wy, however, definite information
should be obtained as to the nature
| a,io volume of the business to be han
alru. - ls accordingly urged that in
conjunction with the experiment ~,
ruiai routes a further inquiry be au-
thorized by Congress in order that tn,
department. may be In better posi-
lfoh 70 develop the system on con-
herVatlVe lines and that a special an
preparation for the inquiry be grant
ed at the coming session.
Postal Note.
is again recommended that con-
sresSiohai authority be secured for the
issue Of money orders in fixed amounts
nov exceeding SO. to be known az
notes and to be payable on prensent-
alton at any post-ofice.
The Franking Privilege.
me unrestricted manner in which
the ranking privilege is now being
used by the several federal services
ana by congress has laid 1t open to
serious abuses, a fact clearly es,ah.
iished through Investigations recently.
instituted by the department.. While
IL mas been Impossible without a better
eoftroi of Thanking TO determine tho
enact expense 10 the Government of
tiiis practic there can be no doubt
,hat IL annually reaches into the nit
! lions. IT is believed that many abuses
VI .he ranking system could be pre-
vented and consequently marked
economy affected. by supplying
| through the agencies of the postal ssr-
! vice special official envelopes and
stamps for the free mail OF the gov
| eminent all such envelopes and
amps to be issued on reqtls,ion Il,
the various branches OF the Federal
service requiring them. and such re-
+ cords 10 be kept of official stamp SUP
pies as Viii enable the postoffice de-
partment to maintain "a proper post
| age account covering the entire vol.
nme Of free government mail
Crusade Agains: Fraudulent Use of
Mails.
. he crusade started by the Post
oflce Department early in the wear
against the fraudulent use of malls
mas been pushed with great viyor.
During the last few months the prtn-
eipal oheers of 81 corporations COM
panies, and firms have been placed
under arrest by post-offiee inspectors
Tor swindltng the public by this meth
cd. In 46 additional cases indieid-
uals have been arrested for conduct
ing similar schemes IT, defraud,
Sisii Service For Presidential POST
masters.
Although recent reforms have great
y Increased the efficiency of tho
postal service. II Is apparent that the
highest degree Of effectiveness in the
conduct OF this tremendous business
establishment eau not be attained
while the thousands OF postmas.ers, en
whose faithfulness much depend
continue to he political appointees
The entir. postal service should ha
taken out of politics. The recent or
der of the president classifying. on
the recommendation of the DEPART
iuent, all assistant pastmasters was an
important step in the right direction.
As still mere important reform
presidential poStmasters OF all grades,
ire III the first class Ii the third. should
be pA5eed In. the classified civil SER
vice. This AEtion. which il earnestly
recommended. would unauestienablg
result In Il stfll better standard OF ser
Fourth-C.ass Postmas,ers.
4 II" Hisai mat s3S b&tsn tested III
several states OF selecting fourth
class postnasters through II eisil-ser~
vice examination does not always bring
satisfactory results. This is partic8-
larry true with respect TO the smaller
foiirthsciass Offices. Al such Offices
the salaries are not sufficient 10 corr
pehSate the postmasters for the time
ana attention required Of them.
Annual Vacation.
In the departing $ last report II
was recommended that a law h,a PASSED
granting thirty days annual leave OF
absence with pay to post ONCE clerks
and city letter carriers and also To
railway postal clerks who are required
To work six days or more a week
throughout The year. such a measure
would place tn. employees in the post
al service outside Of Washington on
the same basis as the depa rtmentaI
employees with respect To vacations
II Is hoped that congress will take the
desired action at the coming session.