Arizona republican., 1910-12-12

ment He points out, also the busi- ness wisdom of the consolidation dur ing the last year of the star route solidation having been the means of effecting a large savings and of in creasing the efficiency of the service.
 MT. Hitchcock reviews the work al ready accomplished looking to the es- tablishment of postal savings banks. A trial of the new system will be made, beginning January l, 1911, at one post office in each state and ter ritory of the union. The amount appropriated by congress for this trial was s1OO,0OO. All of the offices selected for the trial are of the sec ond class. wage earners being par ticularly benefited. It is expected that the new postal savings system will be extended to many other offices before the end of the current fiscal year.
 A renewal of the previous recom- mendation for a limited parcel post service on rural routes is made Mir Hitchcock expresses the hope that congress will authorize the delivery on rural routes of parcels weighing as high as eleven pounds. This scheme can be put into operation with little if any expense to the gov ernment
 A recommendation is made that congressional authority be given the department for the issuance of postal notes in amounts not exceeding ten dollars. at lower fee than is charg- ed for money orders.
 MT. Hitchcock believes that many abuses of the franking system could be prevented with marked economy, by supplying special official envelopes and stamps for the free mail of the government In the present circum- stances, it is impossible to deterrnine the cost to the government of the franking privilege but if it were hedged about by such a plan as MT Hitchcock suggests it would be pos sible to determine definitely the cost of carrying free mail for all executive departments and for the congress.
 It is indicated in the report that the crusade by the Postoffice Department against the fraudulent use of the mails has been pushed with great vigor During the last few months the principal officers of 34 corpora tions and firms have been placed un- der arrest for swindling the public by this method.
 Tt is estimated the report says that the eighty important cases re- gently brought to a head represent swindling operations that have filched from the American people in less ft,11
 MT. Hitchcock strongly urges that of politics. He says:
 The recent order of the president classifying, on the recommendati of the department. all assistant post masters was an important step in the right direction. As a still more im- pOrtant reform. presidential. post masters off al grades from the first class to the third, should be placed in the classified service This action which is earnestly recommended would unquestionably result in a still better standard of service"
 A general extension of the civil service rules to fourth class post masters is recommended. although some disadvantages have developed in the application of the civil service rules to postmasters of that class.
 In conclusion. Postmaster General Hitchcock expresses the hope that congress will see its way clear to grant an annual leave of absence of thirty days to postoffice clerks, city letter carriers. and to railway postal clerks who are required to work six days or more a week throughout the year.