The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-07
Wiping Out of Postal Deficit

applied. For many years there has been a deficit In the operation of the postoffice department which has been met by ap- propriation from the treasury. The ap- propriation estimated for last year from the treasury over and above the receipts of the department was $17,500,000 l am glad to record the fact that of that $1i,- 100000 estimated for s11,500000 were saved and returned to the treasury. The per sonal efforts of the Postmaster General secured the effective cooperation of the thousands of postmasters and other pos tai 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 amount the postal service is expected to earn. It is gratifying to report that the reduction in the deficit has been ac- complished without any curtailment of postal facilities. On the contrary the ser vice has been greatly extended during the year in all it's branches. principle which the Postmaster General has recommend ed and sought to have enforced in re- spect to all appointments has been that those appontees who have rendered good service should be reappointed This has greatly strengthened the interest of post masters throughout the country In main
 
 offices, because they believed generally that this would secure for them further tenure.
 Extension of the Classified Service Upon the recommendation of the Post master General, I have included in the classified service all assistant postmas- ters, and I believe that this giving a se- cure tenure to those who are the most important subordinates of postmasters rxrfl odl t0 the afftCteQCX or their offices and an economical administration. A large number of the fourthclass post masters are now in the classified service. I think it would be wise to put in the classified service the first, second and third-class postnasters. It IS more los- teal 10 do this than to classify the fourth class postmasters, for the reason that the fotIrth-class postoffices are invariably small, and the postmasters are necessarily men who must combine some other busi- ness with the postmastership, whereas the first second and third-claSs postmaS- ters are paid a sufficient amount to jus tify the requirement that they snail have no other business, and that they snail de- vote their attention to their postoHlce duties. To classify first, second and third class postmasters would require the pass age of an act changing the method of their appointment so as to take away the necessity for the advice and consent ol the Senate I ain aware thai tnls IS il- yiting from the Senate concession in re- spect to its quasi executive power that IS con onsiderable, but I believe it to be In the interest of good administration and ef- hciency of service. To make this change would take the postmasters out of poll ties: would relieve congressman who now are burdened with the necessity of mak- ing recommenda tions for these places oi a responsibility that must be irksome and can create nothing but trouble and it would result in securing from postmas' ters greater attention to business greater fidelity. and consequently greater econ omy and efficiency in the rNstoniceF which they condnct
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