The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-12-06

make his eSC1mdte Oh expenses Lux TIC
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
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 Offices, because they
believed generally that this would Sc
cure for them a further tenure.
Extension of the Classified Service.
Upon the recommendation of the
postmaster general l have included in
the classified service all assistant post
masters, and 1 believe that this giving
q secure tenure to those who are the
most important subordinates Of post
masters will add much to the efficiency
of their offices and an economical adj
ministration. A large number of the
fourth class postmasters are now in
the classified service.
1 think it 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 postofhces
are invariably small and the postmas-
tiers 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 postoface
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. 1 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 q
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 postomces 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 it open to Sc
rious abuses, fact clearly established
through investigations recently insti
tuted by the department While II
has been impossible without a better
control of franking to determine the
exact expense to the government OF
this practice, there can be no doub
that 1T annually reaches into the mil
| lions.
It is believed that many abuses o,
the ranking system could be prevent
ed and consequently marked ecOno
my effected by supplying through th'
! agencies Of the postal service specia
official envelopes and stamps for thu
free mail Of the government, all sucl
envelopes and stamps to be issued OF
requisition to the various branches O.
the federal service requiring them ant
such records to be kept of all officia
stamp supplies as will enable the post
Office department to maintain a prop
er postage account covering the entir'
volume of free government mail
AS the first step in the direction o
this reform special stamps and stamp
ed envelopes have been provided TO
use instead of franks in the free trans
j mission of the official mail resulting
from the business of the new posta
savings system. By properly record
ing the issuance of such stamps AM
envelopes accurate records can be KEEP
of the cost to the government of han
ding the postal savings mail. which i
certain to become an important tier
of expense and one that should be SEP
arately determined.
In keeping with this plan it is hope,
that congress will authorize the sui
stttution of special official stamps an
stamped envelopes for the variou
forms of franks now used TO carr
free of postage the vast volume of de
partmental and congressional maj
matter. During the past year method
of accounting similar to those employ
ed in the most progressive of our bus
ness establishments have been intro
duced in the postal service, and moth
| ing has so impeded the department
plans in this regard as the impossible