The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-02-28
Weeks Bill Orders Reorganiza-
ton of Department from
the Bottom Up.
A NEW OFFICE PROPOSED
A DIRECTOR OF POSTS. APPOINT
cd UNDER CIVIL SERVICE.
WOULD REPLACE ASSISTANTS
IN THE SERVICE.

Washington. Feb. 2S.-lf congress
makes good on its talk about reorgan-
izing the postoffice department. that
most aacient branch OF the govern
ment service will not be recognized by
Postmaster General Hitchcock. Con-
gresham Weeks, chairman OF the
house postoffice committee, has intro
duced {. bill which crystallizes the re-
organization plan. And not the least
significant thing about the Weeks bill
is that il specifically mentions the
rates for second class mail and pro-
vides that they shall remain as they
now are.
The Weeks bill. which is the same as
the Overstreet postal commission bill.
does away with the assistant postmas-
tiers general II leaves the postmaster
general at the head of the department.
but creates a new office. that oil Ill
rector of posts" who is intended 10 be
the most important business official IN
the service. The salary provided Is
$1,000. and it is specified that the
man d, signated shall hold office until
removed for cause
New Director Must Be Big Man,
On every side it is recognized that
the mere creation of a director oil
posts will not save the post office sit
uation. The personality of the man
will be the big thing. He is TO be
selected by the president and confirm
ed by the senate. just as in the case
of great many appointments now
considered political. The department
is to be divided. according to the pro-
posed legislation, into seven bureaus.
I the present organization being entire,
| " set aside. At the head of each bur
eau there will be director. The
names of the bureaus suggest their
functions. as follows: Post offices
| transportation, mail matter. appoint
ments finance. accounts and finally
supplies.
| The bill is strong on coordination
and on trying to weld the department
| into a unified organization. The com
mission has found that at present the
department has no strong, unifying
force.
| Cabinets Will Meet Often.
nCer the new pan IL 10 ISquii"I
that the postmaster general shall have
a meeting of his department cagine'
at least once week. The cabine
will consist of the postmaster general
the director of posts, and - sever
directors in charge of the bureaus.
Provision also is made for unifyin:
the field organizations. The cabine
of each of the fifteen field districts il
TO consist of the district superinten
dent of the post office, the division SUI
perintendent of the railway mail ser
vice. and the post office inspector Ii
charge OF the division. These thre,
officials are to be required to meet il
the field and to pass upon all matter
of administration and policy affecting
their division. The purpose is to pu
the responsibility and initiative upol
the men who view the work at clos
range. All of the voluminous detail
ed reports which now come to Wash
ington would under the new plan go Z
the different division headquarters
There they would be either dispose
OF or boiled dom for final action b
the head officials in Warrington.
Court Of Appeals Purposed.
From the standpoint OF publisher
; and business men. one of the most in
1 portant provisions is that which CT,
" ates a court OF postal appeals. To thi