The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-12-21
SAVING EFFECTED
DURING THE YEAR
Annual Report of First Assist
ant Postmaster General
Charles F. GrandfieId.
SHOWS THRILLING DEFICIT
Recommendations Concerning In
creased Pay for Expert Distribu-
ters of Mail.

I'll
Grandfield. first assistant postmaster
general. I'm his annual report submit
ted to Postmaster General Hitchcock.
shows that the number Of postoffices
in operation on June 80. 1910. was So
$50. The gross revenue Of the postal
service during the fiscal year amounted
70 Slz4, lzb,65l.62. an Increase OF 500
2eo'Z4f.55. The expenditures for the
year aggregated 1928, 977, 2245O. an in
crease OF SS.973,121.61. The deficit
was S5,SfS. 566.SS. as compared with
Sla 4f1,1l9 for the preceding year.
Athough the business Of the postal
service increased during the last fiscal
year more than 10 per cent. the eN-
pendttures decreased from an average
OF SOC per cent for each OF the ten
years preceding to f.06 per cent in 1910.
The number OF postoffices established
during the year was 1909. and the num-
offices 2.556 postmasters were appoint
ed and at fOurth-Class offices 9.42S
postmasters were appointed.
The net increase in the expenditure
for pCstoffice clerks during the year
was S2.S11,000, making the total ex-
penditures S31,5s3.5s7; for letter car
resulting in an aggregate cost Of $780,
392.579. which was s16.O47 less in 1910
than in the previous fiscal year.
Changes Only for Cause.
The policy Of the department to make
their services were satisfactory was
followed uniformly throughout the
country during the year.
An urgent recommendation Is made
that the department be given authority
properly to adjust the salaries OF as
Sistant postmastcrs. Under the present
system IL frequently happens that an
assistant postmaster receives a smaller
salary than some Of the clerks whose
work he supervises. The department
has estimated appropriations to adjust
this anomalous condition.
Il also Us urged in the report that
somewhat increased salaries be pro-
vided for supervisory employees, in
Guiding superintendent. assistant SUI
perintendcnts and forcmen, some OF
whom now receive less in salary than
is received by some clerks and letter
carriers. It is pointed out that many
efficient supervisory officers have re-
Ceived no promotion since their ap-
pointment. although they are subjected
TO greater responsibilities than the sub
ordinate employees. greater expenses
and longer working hours. The entire
amount requested for the promotion Of
supervisory officers is about $4,000.
lt is recommended. too. that provision
be made for the promotion TO higher
grades and increased salaries or eN-
pert distributors Of mail in various Of
fiCcs. Tt is pointed out that the serv-
ices Of these men are invaluable. and
that they are difficult TO replace when
they leave the service.
Provision In Case Of Death.
An urgent recommendation is made
that in the event Of the death OF
pOStOILlCe clerk IN the line OF MS duty,
provision be made for the payment Of
a reasonable sum to his heirs. precisely
as now is done in the event OF the
death OF a railway postal clerk I'm the
/ line Of duty. 1t Is shown that the In
creasinE use Of labor-saving machinery
in the modern city pOstoffice makes
/ greater the liability to accidents. In
the office at New York alone, four en-
plOyes have been killed and siXty-fOur
inCapacitated since 1908, as the result
/ OF injuries received in the performance
or nrsrfH= not hoo rlrf
BILE FOR the department to afford them
/ or their families any assistance.
II is earnestly recommended that an
] appropriation Of $4,000 be made to re-
/ ward postal employees who present to
] the department patented devices or pro-
] cesses that may prove OF value TO the
The difficulty Of obtaining compe-
/ tent postal employees in remote sections
/ OF tho United states postoffice terri
! tory is urgently called to the attention
] Of Congress. II often is impossible 20
, obtain efficient clerks for the salaries
fixed by law. and it is urged that the
postmaster general be authorized to use
the regular appropriation for clerks
and letter carriers in the payment Of
higher salaries I'm such places; for in
stance. as the postoffices in Alaska.
Clerks and Carriers.
/ In a discussion OF the clerical and
carrier forces of the postal service. II
is shown by figures presented in the
report that no part OF the reduction in
whole was due to any disCrim ina tiOT
against clerks and carriers. As a fact
the average salaries OF clerks and car
riers during the year 1910 was higher
than at any time in the previous his.
tory OF the department.
It is the policy OF the department
as shown by the report. not to require
any more work in postOffiCes on sun
days and holidays than is absOlutely
necessary. To this end an endeavor Is
being made to bring about a greater
degree Of uniformity OF Sunday wOrl
in postoffices and to provide for on
day OF rest in seven Tor each or thi
employees. Or. Grandf.c1J says:
There is very strong sentimen
throughout the country On favor Of thl
discontinuance Of the delivery OF mai
on sundays, and This sentiment shoql'
be respected. II the plan OF c.SCOntin
uing entirely Sunday service by lctte
carriers. which is now being tried in
number OF the larger cities. where TIN
sentiment Of the communities is strong
Is In favor Of Sunday closing. prove
practicable. it would seem that the de
. sired result may be attained withou
Legislation
A renewal Of the recommendation
that a thirty days leave Of absenc
with pay be allowed postOfficc clerk
and city letter carriers IS made. Tn
der EXISTING law not exceeding fifteel
days leave Of absence with pay ma,
] be allowed clerks and carriers.
From the viewpoint OF economy an
efficiency I'm the service. Congress /
urged in the report to take actiOl
reasonable pension provision Of the su
perannuated employees Of the postoffic
department.