Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-12-06
SPOSTOFFICE DEPARTMENT.,

] IL
POST0FFICE DEPARTMENT.
At its last session Congress made
| provision for the establishment of saw
nss banks by the postoffice department
| Of this government, by which, under
the general control of trustees consist
ing of the acknowledgement the sec
rotary of the treasury and the attor-
| ney-general the system could be be-
gun in few cities md towns, and en-
larged to cover within its operations,
many cities and towns and as large a
| part OF the country as seemed wise Ar
engagements have been perfected so that
| savings banks will be opened In some
cities and towns on the first of January
and there will be a gradual extension
OF the benefits OF the plan to the rest
| of the country.
WIPING OUT OF POSTAL DEFICIT.
AS ! have said, the postof1ice depart
ment Is a great business department
! and am glad to note the fact that un-
| der Its present management principles
| of business economy and efficiency are
being applied. For many years there
has been deficit In the operations OF
the postofilce department which has
been met from appropriation by the
treasury. The appropriation estimated
| for last year from the treasury over
and above tho receipts of the depart
mcnt was s17,5o0.0oo. / am glad to
record the fact that of that ST, 500 900
estimated for, s11,5oo.Ooo was saved and
returned to the treasury. The per-
sonal efforts of the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
secured the effective cooperation Of
the thousands Of postmnsters and 9TH
er postal officers throughout the coun-
try In carrying out his plans OF re-
organization and rctrenchment. The
result Is that the postmaster-gener
has been able to make his estimate of
expenses for the present year so low
as to keep within the amount tho
postal service is expected to earn. It
Is gratifying to report that the ,educ-
ton In the deficit has been accomplished
without any c,irtailment of, postal IA
cilities. On the contrary. the service
has been greatly extended during the
year In all Its branches.
EXTENSION OF THE CLASSIFIED
SERVICE.
Upon the recommendation of the
postmaster-gen have included in
the CLASSIFIED service all assistant post
masters. and I believe that this giving
q secure tenure to those who are tho
most important subordinates OF post
masters will add much to the efficiency
of their offices and an economical adj
;ninistration. large number of tbs
fourth class postma sters are now IN
the classified service. think 1t would
be wise to put In the classified service
the first, second and third class post
masters. 1t Is more logical to do this
than to classify the fourth class most
masters, for the reason that the fourth
class postotiices are Invariably small
ana the postmnsters are necessarily men
who must combine some other business
"a NC net. III
first. second and third class postnasters
are paid sufficient amount to 1ustlfv
the requirement. that they shall have
no other business and that they shall
devote their attention to their post
office duties. TO classify first, second
and third class postmasters would re-
nuire the passage of an act changing.
the methods Of their appointment so as
TO take away tho necessity for the
advice and consent OF the senate. 7
am aware that this is inviting from tho
senate concession In respect to lis
quasi executive power that is consider
able but believe 1t to be in the in
terest Of good administration and eff
cheney of service. To make this change
would take the postmasters out Of pol
tiles: would relieve congressman who
now are burdened with the necessity Of
making recommendations for these
places OF responsibility that must he
irksOme and can create nothing but
trouble; and It would result In secur-
Ing creator attention to business, great
or fidelity. and consequently greater
economy and efficiency in the postotllccs
which they conduct.
THE FRAMING PRIVILEGE.
The unrestricted manner In which the
franking privilege Is now being used by
the several federal services n nj, nv Com
gress has laid 1t open to serious abuses,
q fact clearly established through in
vcstigations recently Instituted BY the
department. While it has been inpos-
sible without better control of frank
Ing to determine the exact expense to
the government of this practise, there
can BIO no doubt that II annually