Rock Island Argus., 1910-12-06
THE ROCK ISLAND ARGUS TUESDAY, DECEMBER

operations of the postoffice department
which has been met by appropriation
from the treasury. The appropriation
estimated for last year from the treas
ury over and above the receipts of the
department was ST., 100000.
l am glad to record the fact that OF
that S17.5OO,oOO estimated for S11,5O0,-
600 were saved and returned to the
treasury. The personal efforts of the
postmaster general secured the etfec-
tive cooperation Of the thousands or
postmasters and other postal officers
throughout the country in carrying out
his plans Of reorganization and re-
treuchment 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. 1t 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
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 the Classified Service.
IJpon the recommendation of the
postmaster general have included in
the classified service all assistant post
masters. and | believe that this giving
a secure tenure to those who are the
most important Subordinates of post
masters viii add much to the efficiency
of their Offices and an economical ad-
ministra ton. 4 large number of the
fourth class postmasters are now in
the classified service.
| think it would be wise to putin the
classified service the first. second and
third class postmasters. 1t is more
logical to do this than to classify the
fourth class postmasters. for the rea-
son that the fourth class postofhces
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 a sufficient amount to justify the
requirement that they shall have no
other business and that they shall de
vote their attention to their postoffice
duties.
To classify first. second and third
class pOStmasterS would require the
passage of an act changing the method
of their appointment so as TO take
away the necessity for the advice and
consent of the senate. | am aware
that this is inviting from the senate a
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 n
responsibility that must be irksome
and can create nothing but trouble.
and it would result in securing greater
attention to business. greater fidelity
and consequently greater economy and
efficiency in the postoffices which they
conduct.
The FranHins Privilege.
The unrestricted manner in which
the franking privilege is now being
used by the several federal services
/ and by congress has laid it open TO Sc
rious abuses. a fact clearly established
through investigations recently insti-
tuted by the department. While it
has been impossible without a 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 franking system could be prevent
ed and consequently marked econo-
my effected by supplying through the
agencies of the postal service special
official envelopes and stamps for the
free mail of the government, all such
envelopes and stamps to be issued on
requisition to the various branches of
Tie 1GOtIdl SSIN ICS lnGLI anu
such records to be kept of all official
stamp supplies as will enable the post
Office department to maintain a prop
er postage accou0t covering the entire
volume Of free government mail.
AS the first step in the direction of
this reform special stamps and stamp
ed envelopes have been provided for
use instead of franks in the free trans
mission of the official mail resulting
from the business of the new postal
savings system. By properly record
ing the issuance of such stamps and
! envelopes accurate records can be kept
of the cost to the government of han
ding the postal savings mail, which is
certain to become an important item
of expense and one that should be sep
arately determined.
In keeping with this plan it Is hoped
that congress will authorize the sub