The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1910-07-29
HOPES TO MAKE P. o. DEPART.
MENT SELF-SUSTAINING.
From Thursdays Daily.

district league of postmasters closed
late yesterday afternoon. The at
tendance included about twenty five
postmasters from out of the city, and
no doubt was productive of consider
able good Those present who arrived
too late to report yesterday were A..
o. Lea of New Rchland, A. H. Press
nall of Eagle Lake, NJ. NJ. Clough of
Garden City, Miss Dolly B. Thomp
son of Kasota, and Mrs. Marion G..
Crawford of Lakefield.
Congressman Hammond's address was
listened to with much interest, and he
vas frequently applauded His sent
iment of Long live the postmasters
and long may they retain their Offices
met with a particularly cordial recep-
ton. and seemed to have the approval
of all.
! Annual Deficit in Department.
Mr.. Hammond spoke of the annual
deficit in the postoffice department,
which a year ago reached $4,000 900.
The policy of President Taft of having
a government budget of expenses pre-
pared was very decided step in adj
vance, the speaker thought, because
the government, like private business
concerns. must be conducted on bust
ness principles. There was no reason
why there should be deficit in the
pOstOtficc department, as it was Just
as important as the other departments.
The department now hopes that it will
soon become self sustaining. The
speaker said that he was not an ad-
mirer of the present postmaster gen
eral but it was fact that he had
taken some very effective steps toward
making the department revenue pro-
ducing rather than deficit producing.
Loss in Carrying Newspapers.
Postmaster General Meyer had found
that there was il loss of $G400000O Il
year in CARRYING newspapers, but his
suggestions for raise in the rate had
met with much hostile criticism, and
in some instances very erroneous i'm
pressions were created. President Taft
unfortunately in his message made an
erroneous statement and created a
wrong impression, without intending
TO do So
Mr.. Hammond denied that Canada
has better postal system than the
United States. While it is self-sus-
tanning. it has no rural free delivery.
The rural routes have done great good
in this country. and will be maintain
ed. but they cost the government $2a,'
100000 more than it gets out of them
Without it, this government would
: have "A surplus in the department
which would compare favorably with
the Canadian plan results. The Cana
dian system had not shown itself to
be better than ours.
Considerable consideration had been
given to properly classify the post
Office department employees, including
the postmasters. The country is com
mitted to classified civil service, and
the pOstmasters and employees are
pretty safe from removal. The country
is well satisfied, and the tendency is
to extend it, and it is pretty certain
that no step backward will be taken
: The speaker believed that it would bt
well to have this apply to postmaster<
above the fourth class, as many wis.
No Difference Between Parties.
1t takes man with microscope
to find the differences between the po
litical parties. When the power te
bestow favors out OF personal friend
ship is taken away, the civil service
will be made much more effective. II
is better to have the appontees fec
+. that they owe their appointment tt
no party. so that they will be free tc
act as their cOnsciences direct.
Mr.. Hammond took up the matter
; of postal savings banks, and said that
both political parties had promised to
enact such legislation, and that con
gress was then morally bound to en-
l act such bill, but there had beer
great objections raised to it, particu
! larly by bankers. Five per cent Of the
deposits are to be held as a reserve
thirty per cent invested i'll government
bonds or other securities, and sixty
five per cent i'll banks in the vicinity
. Ill case OF u!StHG SONetHiiltHI Hceu
this money can be taken from the
banks bv the government for its owl
D needs. This is right. Depositors cal
l take two and half per cent bonds
j if they wish to instead of deopsiting
Other countries have had the posta
7 savings banks. England since 1861. II
S would be nice if the bonds of the gov
eminent were held by the people in
. stead of by Wall street. SO the speak
!, Ler was heartily in favor of this prop
osition. Last year l2S,00O people
. bought nostal money orders merely t'
!, keep, that their money might be safe
and it drew no interest. These deposits
s amounted to $S,O0O,000. Tn times O
J, panic let us hope that the money
: withdrawn from banks will be put in
to postal savings banks, and so gel
into business again.
: Remarks BY Congressman Davis.
:. Congressman G. r. Davis of st. Pc
ter was well received and applauded
!, He said that, he had kept quiet il
i the newspapers. because he wanted ant
j expected to get all of the votes il
c the third distric regardless of politics