The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-12-06
PosToFFlCE DEPARTMENT:
Postal savings Banh-Question of
 DeAcit-Frsnking Abuses.

At m hst session congress made pro- vision for the establishment of savings banks hy the postofnce department of this government by which. under the general control of trustees consisting of the postmaster general. the secre- tary of the treasury and the attorney general. the system could be begun in . few cities and towns and enlarged to e0vsr within its operations as many Ele1as and towm and ae large a part of xAs country as seemed wise.
 Tho initiation end establishment of such . system have required a great deal of study on the part of the experts ln the postofnce and treasury depart msnt1, but . system has now been de- vls6d which is believed to be more economical and simpler In its operation than any similar system abroad. Ar fangsments have been perfected SO that savings banks will be opened in some cities and towns on the list of January. and there will be a gradual extensiou of the benefits of the plan Ho the rest of the country.
 Wlpins Out sf Postal Deficit.
 Al I have said. tho postoflce depart ment b . great business department, and I am glad to note the fact that under itS present management prin- ciples of business economy and effl- ciency arc being applied For many years there has been a deflcit in the operations of the postof1ce department which has been met by appropriation from the treasury. The appropriat ton estimated for Last year from the treas wy over and above the receipts of the department was $17,5OO, 900.
 am glad to record the fact that of that SIT ,600.O00 estimated for $11, ,5O0,- OO0 were saved and returned to the treasury. The personal efforts of the postmaster general secured the effec- tive cooperation of the thousands of postmasters and other postal officers throughout the country in carrying out his plans of reorganization and re- trenchment. 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- pected to earn. It is gratifying to re- port that the reduction in the deficit has been accomplished without any curtailment 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 se- cure for them further tenure.
 Extension of the Classified Service.
 Upon the recommendation of the postmaster general l have included in the classified service all assistant post masters. and I believe that this giving a secure tenure to those who are the most important subordinates of post masters will add much to the efficiency of their offices and an economical ad- ministration. A large number of the fourth class postmasters are now in the classified service.
 I think it would be wise to put in the classified ser-ice the first, second and third class postnlasters. It is more logical to do this than 10 classify the fourth class pOstmasters, for the req son that the fourth class postofices are invariably small and the postmas- ters are necessarily men who must combine some other business with the postmastership, whereas the first, sec ond and third class postmasters are paid q sufficient amount to justify the requirement that they shall have no other business and that they shall de- vote their attention to their postoffice