Omaha daily bee., 1910-12-22
POSTAL BUSINESS INCREASES
Assistant Postmaster General Re-
ports Expenses Are Less.
WOULD RECOGNIZE EXPERTS
Advises More Money 60 THOSE IN
supervisory CBpacittes--Cnrrier
and Clerks lIave Not
suffered.


wAsH1NGTUN, Dec a.-Dr Charles ?,
Grandfield. first assistant postmaster gen
eral in his report, submitted today TO
Postmaster General Hitchcock, shows that
the number OF postoffices In operation on
June 80 1910 was $3.50. The gross revenue
OF the postal service during the fiscal year
amounted TO 1924 12S, $50 GO, an Increase OF
$50 J66 24755. The expenditures Tor the year
aggregated S229. gN. 40. an increase OF
s. 9IS, t2l6l. The deficit was S5,StS.566SS, as
compared with S17,44L7i9S Tor the preceding
year
Although the business o. the postal SER
vice increased during the last fiscal year
more than 10 per cent. the expenditures de-
creased from an average Of sos per cent
for each Of the ten years preceding TO
4O6 per cent in 1910
The number Of postoffices established
during the year was l50o, and the number
discontinued, 2.07S At presidential offices
2576 postmasters were appointed, and a.
fourth-olass offices 9,42S ipostmasters were
appointed.
The net increase in the expenditures for
postoffice clerks during the year was
$2,9t7OO0 making the total expenditures
sS1,5SS5S7; for letter carriers the net increase
was $1,S5OS25, resulting in an aggregate
cost OF 9OS92,579, which was a6,Oi1 less
The policy of the department to make no
changes in postmRsters so long as their
services were satisfactory was. followed
uniformly throughout the country during
the year.
More Authority whnted.
An urgent recommendation Is made that
the department be given authority TO ad-
just the salaries of assistant postmasters.
Under the present system II frequently,
happens that the assistant postmaster re-
ceives a smaller salary than some OF the
clerks whose work he Rupervises The
department has estimated appropriations
to adjust this anomalous condition.
II Is urged in the report that somewhat
increased salaries be provided for super
visory employees, including superintendent
assistant superintendent and foremen,
some of whom now receive less In salary
than is received by some clerks and letter
carriers. 1t is pointed out that many eff
cient supervisory officers have received
no promotion since their appointment, al
though they are subjected to greater re-
sponsibilities than the subordinate em-
ployes, greater expenses and longer work
ing hours. The entire amount requested
for the promotion OF supervisory officers
is about $4,000
1t Is recommended too that provision
DC ildut AuI Allb pibihblbu W HlHhNA bleeta
and increased salaries OF expert dstribu-
ters of mail in various offices. 1t is pointed
out that the services Of these men are
invaluable and that they are difficult 70
replace when they leave the service.
Deaths While Duty.
An earnest recommendation Is made that
In the event Of the death of a postoffice
clerk in the line Of his 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 in the line of duty. II is shown that
the increasing use of labor-savlng ma
chinery in the modern city postoffice
makes greater the liability ytoi accidents
! In the office at New York alone four en-
ployes have been killed and sixty-four in
capacitated since 1908 as the result OF in
Juries received in the performance of their
duty, yet It has not been possible for the
department to afford them or their fami-
lies any assistance.
II IL earnestly recommended that an APP
preparation Of $4,000 be made TO reward
postal employees who present to the de-
partment patented devices or processes
that may prove of value to the service
The difficulty OF obtaining competent
postal employees In remote sections Of the
United States postoffiee territory Is
urgently called to the attention Of CON
gress. 1t often is impossible TO obtain
efficient clerks for the salaries liked by
law and it Is urged that the postmaster
| general be authorized TO use the regular
| appropriations for clerks and letter car
riers in the payment OF higher salaries in
such places, for instance, as the pOstoffices
In Alaska.
In a discussion of the clerical and carrier
| forces of the postal service IL is shown by
figures presented in the report that no part
| OF the reduction in the deficit Of the de-
partment as a whole was due 20 any dis
| elimination against clerks and carriers. AS
fact, the average salaries of clerks and
carriers during the year 1910 was higher
than at any time in the previous history
of the department.
| 1t is the policy Of the department, as
shown by the report, not to require any
more work in postoffices on Sundays and
holidays than is absolutely necessary. To
| this end an endsavor is being made TO
| bring about greater degree OF uniformity
in the amount of Sunday work in post
offices and to provide for one day Of rest
in seven for each Of the employees. DR..
Grandfed says:
There is very strong sentiment
throughout the country IN taVor OF the
discontlnuance Of the delivery OF mail on
! sundays. and this sentiment should be re.
! spected, II the plan Of disseminating en-.
| tirely sunday service by letter carriers,
which Is now being tried in number OF
the larger cities, where the sentiment OF
the communities are strongly in favor Of
! Sunday closing, proves practicable, It
would seem that the desired result may be
attained without legislation"
! From the viewpoint OF economy and
| efficiency In the service. congress is urged
In the report TO take action looking 10 the
| retirement with some reasonable pension
! provision Of the superannuated employees
/ m