The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1910-12-06
pOs1OFF|CE Department.
Postal Savings Banks-Question oi
DeAcit-Franking Abuses.

Postal Savings Banks-Question Of
DISTRIBUTING Abuses.
At its last session congress made pro.
vision for the establishment of savings
banks by the postofiice 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
cover within its operations as many
cities and towns and as large part of
tho country as seemed wise.
The initiation and establishment of
such a system have required a great
deal Of study on the part Of the experts
In the postofiice and treasury depart.
ments, but a system has now been de-
vised which Is believed to be more
economical and simpler in it's operation
than any similar system abroad. Ar
ranRements have been perfected so
that savings banks will he opened in
some cities and towns on the 1st of
January. and there will be a gradual
extension Of the benefits OF the plan
to the rest Of the country.
Wipine Out oS Postal Deficit.
Az I have said, the postoffice depart
mcnt IL a great business department.
and I am glad to note the fact that
under its present management prin-
ciples Of business economy and effi-
cheney arc being applied. For many
years there has been a deficit in the
operations Of the postoflice 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 17,5OO,O 900.
am glad to record the fact that Of
that SIT 500 900 estimated for $11 $780,
600 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 ofmcers
throughout tho country in carrying out
his plans Of reorganization and re-
trenchment. The result In that the
postmaster general has been able to
make his estimate of expenses for the
present year no 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 defcit
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 ofhces, because they
believed generally that this would Sc
cure for them q further tenure.
Extension ef The Classified Ssrvies.
Upon the Recommendation Of the
postmaster general 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 win add much to the efnciency
Of their ofYiccs and an economical ad-
ministration. A large number Of the
fourth class postmasters are now In
the classified service.
think II would be wise to put In 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 postofaces
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 suficient amount to justify the
requirement that they shall have no
other business and that they shall de-
vote their attention to their postoffice
dutiest
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 IL considerable, but
telieve II to be In the interest Of good
administration and efficiency OF serv.
ice.
To make this change would take the
rostmasters out Of politics. would re-
lieve conGressmen who now are bur.
dened with the necessity Of making
recommendation for these places Of a
responsibility that must be irksome
ma can create nothing but trouble,
and Il would result In securing greater
attention to business, greater fidelity
and consequently greater economy and
cfaciency in the postof,ces which they
conduct.
The Frankins Privilege.
The unrestricted manner In which
the franking privilege is now being
used by the several federal services
and by congress has laid 1t open to Sc
rlous abuses. a fact clearly established
through Investigations recently insti
tutcd by the department While II
has been impossible without better
cdatroI OF franking to determine the
cxact expense to the government OF
this practice. there can he no doubt
that Il annually reaches into the mil
lions.
IL a, believed Thar MANY abuses O!