The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1910-12-06

n1enfs. bat a system has noxr been a..
vised which e believed 10 be naorD
economical and simpler IN It's opera tton
than any similar system abroad Ar
raugements have been perfected 50
that Swings banks VIII be opened IA
some cities and towns on the LIST Of
January, ana there will be gradual
extension OF tho benefits OF the plan
TO the rest OF the country.
wipins out Of Postal Deficit.
As have said. the FDostofFice depart
nent is a great business Department.
and am glad TO note the fact THAI
ander frs present management prKn-
.Iples OF business economy and enc
cheney are being applied. For many
Gears there has been "A deficit In the
operations OF the postofice department.
which has been met by appropriat ton
from the treasury. The nppropria ION
estimated for last year. from the treas
ury over and above the receipts OF the
department was $11, 100000.
1 am glad to record the fact that of
that 81. 100000 estima ted for $11,5Oo.-
900 were saved aud returned to the
treasury. The personal efforts OF the
postmaster general secured the eRec-
tive cooperation OF the thousands of
postmasters and other postal officers
throughout THE country In carrying out
his plans OF reorganization and re-
trcnchment The result is that the
postmaster general has been able to
make his estimate OF expenses for the
present year so low as to keep within
the amount the postal service is eX-
Dected to earn. 1t is gratifying to re-
port that the reduction in the deficit
has been accomplished without any
curtnilment of postal facilities. On the
contrary, the service has been greatly
extended during the year in all its
branches. A principle which the post
master general has recommended and
sought to have enforced in respect TO
all appointments has been that those
appointees who have rendered good
service should be reappOinted.
This has greatly strengthened the
interest of pOstmasters throughout the
country in maintaining efficiency and
economy in their Offices. because they
believed generally that this would Sc
cure for them further tenure.
Extension OF tho Classified Service.
Upon the recommendation of the
postmaster general | have included in
the classified service all assistant post
masters, and believe that this giving
n secure tenure TO those who arc the
most important subordiuateS q: post
masters will add much To the et3cieuc::
of their offices and am economical al
miulstr;l ton. \ large number az tbs
fourth class rOStmaStcrS are nos i:
the classified service.
think it would be wise to Put in tle
classified service the first. second :'nG
third class EustmGstu.rS. II is moe
logical to do this than 10 classify Tho
fourth class poStmaStesss. for the rel
son that the fourth class pOSt0itces
are invariably small and the pest MAS
tcrs are Ecc2s%arily msn who must
comIi,c SOME other business With the
pOstma rr<rif. whereas the first. sec
oud and third class poStnlasters are
paid sufficient nmnEnt TO Justify the
requirement. that they shall have no
other business and that they shall de-
vote their attention TO their postomce
duties.
To classify first, second and third
class postmasters would require the
passage of an net changing the method
of their appointment SO as TO take
away the necessity for the advice and
consent OF the senate. 1 am aware
that this is, inviting from the senate
concession in respect to its quasi exec
utive power that is considerable, but
believe it to be In the interest Of good
administration and efficiency Of serv-
ice
To make this change would take the
postmasters out of politics. would re-
lieve congressman who now are bur
dened with the necessity OF making
recommendations for these places OF
responsibility that must be irksome
and can create nothing but trouble,
and 1t would result in securing greater
attention to business, greater fidelity
and consequently greater economy and
efficiency in the postoffices which they
conduct
The Frankins Privilege.
The unrestricted manner in which
the ranking privilege is now being
used by the several federal services
and by congress has laid it open TO Sc
rious abuses, fact clearly established
through investigations recently insti-
tutcd by the department. While 1t
has been impossible without better
control of franking to determine the
exact expense to the government OF
this practice, there can be no doubt
that it annually reaches into the mil
lions
1t is believed that many abuses OF
the ranking system could be prevent