Albuquerque morning journal., 1910-12-07

maintenance Of independence on the
part Of our judges.
POSTOFFICE DEPARTMENT.
Postal Savings Banks.
AT its last session congress made
provision for the esta ablshment of
savings banks by the postoffice de-
partment of this government by
which. under the general control OF
trustees, consisting of the postmas-
ter general, the secretary of the treas
ury and the attorney general, the
system could be begun in a few cities
and towns, and enlarged 70 cover
within its operations as many cities
and towns and as large a part of the
country as seemed wise. The initia-
| ton and establishment of such sys-
tenn has required q great deal of
study on the part of the experts in
the postoffice and treasury depart
ments, but a system has now been de-
vised which is believed to be more
economical and simpler i'm its opera
tion than any similar system abroad
Arrangements have been perfected
so that savings banks will be opened
in some cities and towns on the first
of January, and there will be 4
gradual extension of the benefits OF
the plan to the rest of the country
Wiping Out OF Postal Deficit.
| AS / have said the postoftice de-
partment is q great business depart
ment, and | am glad to note the tact
that under it's present management
; principles of business economy ana
efficiency are being applied. For
many years there has been a detlclt
| in the operations of the postoffice de-
partment which has been met by APP
| ~. 4vnn
appropriation estimated for last year
from the treasury over and above the
receipts Of the department was S1I-
500, 900 / am glad to record the fact
that of that 17,500,000 estimated
for, $11,500, 900 We're saved and re-
turned TO the treasury, The personal
efforts of the postmaster general se-
cured the effective cooperation OF
the thousands of postmasters and
other postal officers throughout the
country in carrying out his plans of
reorganization and retrenchment.
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
lamount the postal service is ex-
pected to earn. 1t Is gratifying to re-
port that the reduction in the de-
ficit 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. principle which
the postmaster general has recon-
mended and sought to have en-
4 forced in respect to all appoint
ments has been that those APP
pointees who have rendered goou
service should be reappointed This
has greatly strengthened the interest
of postmasters throughout the couI~
try in maintaining efficiency anu
economy in their offices. because
they believed generally that TINS
would secure 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
| postmasters and l believe that this
giving q secure tenure to those VINO
are the most important subordinates
| Of postmasters will add much TO the
efficiency of their oft1ces ana an
economical administration. A large
number of the mourth class postmas-
ters arc now In the classified service.
| I think IL would be wise to put in the
| ola ssified service the first, second.
and third class pcstmasters. 1t Is
more logical to do this than to CLASSIFY
| the fourth class postmasters, for the
reason that the fourth class post
offices are invariably small, and the
postmasters are necessarily men VINO
must combine some other business
with the postmastership, whereas the
first second and third class postmas-
| ters are paid q sufficient amount 70
Justify the requirement that the3
shall have no other business and thal
they devote their attention 10 the,'
postoffice duties To classify trs''
second. and third class postmas'els
would require the passage OF an Aet
changing the method of their aP-
pointment so as to take away w
necessity for the advice and cohsenS
OF the senate. | am aware that 'nlN
is inviting from the senate a cohees
sion in respect to its quasi eNecutiNe
power that is considerable, hut / uo
lieve it to be in the interest OF eoou
administration and efficiency oi stts
ice. To make this change would @ @tah'
the postmasters out of pohuos'
would relieve congressman VINO NV
are burdened with the necessity ~
making recommendations for ines
places Of a responsibility that mus mus
be irksome and can create nouns
but trouble; and it would result y
securing greater attention 10 pnsl-
ness. greater fidelity. and conse-
duent greater economy and e'il'le"e'
in the postoffices which they con
duct
The F'ranlSing Privilege
The unrestricted manner in whl.H
the franking privilege is now penn
used by the several federal SERVE
and by congress has laid II open ~
serious abuses. a fact clearly estev-
lished through Investigations recents
instituted by the department. WIN
IL has been impossible without a ott
ter control of franking to determlne
the exact expense to the government
Of this practice. there can be no oouo'
that II annually reaches into the Hi-
lions II is believed that many ABUSE
iof che franking system could De Ple-