Tonopah daily bonanza. [volume] (Tonopah, Nev.) 1906-1929, 1910-12-07

reduction in the deficit has been ac-
complished without any curtailment
of postal facilities. On the con-
trary, the service has been greatly
extended during the year in all its
branches.
Extension OF Classified Service
Upon the recommendation of the
postmaster-general, | have included
in the classified service all assistant
postm sters, and l believe that this
giving a secure tenure to those who
are the most important subordin-
ates of postmasters will add much
to the efficiency of their offices and
an economical administration. A
large number of the fourth class
postmasters are now in the CLASH
fled service. | think it would be
wise to put in the classified service
the first, second and third class
postmasters, for the reason that the
fourth class postoffices are inyar-
iably small and the postmasters are
necessarily men who must combine
some other business with the post
mastership, whereas the first, sec
ond and third class postmasters are
paid sufficient amount to Justify
the requirement that they shall have
no other business and that they
shall devote their entire attention
to the postoffice 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.
am aware that this is inviting
from the senate a concession in re-
spect to its quasi executive powers
that is considerable, but | believe ii
to be in the interest of good adj
ministration and efficiency of SER
vice. To make this change would
take the postmasters out OF politics
would relieve congressman who are
now burdened with the necessity OF
making commentators for these
places of responsibility that must
be irksome and can create nothing
but trouble; and it would result in
occurring greater attention to bus
mess. greater fidelity and conse-
1uently greater economy and effic.
iency in the rostoffices which they
conduct.
The Franking Privilege
The unrestricted manner in which
the franking privilege is now being
used by several federal services and
by congress has laid it open to ser.
lous abuses, a fact clearly estab.
lished through Investigations recent.
~ instituted by the department
While it has been impossible with.
out better control of franking tc
determine the exact expense to the
government of this practice, there
can be no doubt that it annual,
reaches into the millions. AS the
flrst step in the direction of reform
special stamps and stamped envel
opes have been provided for use in.
stead of franks in the free trans
mission of the official mail result.
ing from the business of the new
postal savings system, BY properl,
recc riding the issuance of such en-
velopes and stamps accurate records
can be kept of the cost to the gov
eminent of handling the postal saw.
lngs mail, which is certain to be-
come an important item of expense
and one that should be separately
determined. In keeping with this
plan it is hoped that congress will
authorize the substitution of specia,
oiflclal stamps and stamped enyel.
opes for the various forms of franks
now used to carry free of postage
the vast volume of departmental
and congressional mail matter.
Second Glass Mail Matter
In my last annual message 7 in
Vlted the attention of congrass n
the lnadequacy of the postal rate
imposed upon second-class mail
matter insofar as that includes mag
azhes' and shown by figures pre-
pared by experts of the postoffict
department that the government
would be rendering a service to the
magazines, costing many millions in
excess of the compensation paid
An answer was attempted to this
| ny the representatives of tho maea.