The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-12-21

New Y ork, lS unucTsloou 10 bt III 'outH-
crn California
tho number discontinued 2o7s At
presidential Offices 257e postmasterr
were appointed, and at fourth class
offices 9,i2S postmasters were APP
pointed.
The net increase in the expenditure
for post office clerks during the year
was s291I, 900, making the total eH-
pendtures sSl.5S3.5c7: for letter car
rlers the net increase was sl,S5o.s25.
resulting in an aggregate cost of sSe,-
S92,51o. which was slsoi7 less In 1910
Than IN the previous fiscal year.
rolicy to Make No Changes.
The policy of the department to make
no changes in postmastcrs so lonS as
their services were satisfactory was
followed uniformly throughout the
country during the year.
An urgent recommendation is made
that the department be given authority
property to adjust the salaries OF as
sistant postmastcrs. Under the pres
cnt system 1t frequently happens that
an assistant postmaster receives
smaller salary than some of the clerks
whose work he supervises. The de-
partment has estimated appropriations
to adjust this anomalous condition.
1t also is urged in the report that
somewhat increased salaries be pro-
vided for supervisory employees. IN
Guiding superintendent. assistant SUI
perjntendcnts and foremen, some of
whom now receive ] SIS in salary than
is received by some clerks and letter
carriers. Ii is pointed out that many
efficient supervisory omcerS nave re
ceived no promotion since their APP
pointment, although they are subjected
to greater responsibilities than the
subordinate employees, greater expenses
and longer working hours. The entire
amount requested for the promotion
of supervisory officers Is about S'5,-
600.
1t is recommended, too that proNi-
sion be made for the promotion to
higher grades and increased salaries
Of export distributors of mail in va
rious Offices. 1t Is pointed out that the
services of these men are invaluable,
and that they are difficult to replace
when they leave the service.
Payment to Heirs.
An urgent accommodation is made
that in the event Of the death of a
most office clerk in the limo of his duty
provision be made for the payment
of a reasonable sum to his heirs. pre-
cisely as now is done in the event of
the death OF a railway postal clerk
in the line of duty. 1t Is shown that
The Increasing use of or-savinS ma
chlncrv in the modern city post office
makes greater the liability of accl-
dents. In the Office at New York alone
four employees have been killed and
sixty-four incapacitatcd since 1905 as
The result of injuries received in the
performance of their duty, yet 1t has
not boon possible for the department.
IN afford them or their families any
assistance.
It is earnestly recommended that an
appropration of $4,000 be made to
reward postal employees who present
to the department patented devices or
nroccsses that may prove of value TO
the service.
The difficulty of obtaining competent
I.postul employees in remote sections OF
the United states post-otice territory
I is urgently called to the attention OF
Congress. 1t often is impossible TO
obtain efficient clerks for the salaries
nxed by law, and 1t Is urged that the
Postmaster General be authorized 70
use the regular appropriations for
clerks and letter carriers in the pay
mont Of higher salaries in such places;
4 for instance, % Wv P'S' -
Alaska,
In discussion OF the clerical AM
carrier forces OF the postal serFics, II
is shown hy figures presented IN tno
report that no part of the reduction
in the deficit of the department. rs
whole was due to any DISCRIMINATION
against clerks and carriers. As TACT,
thes average salaries of clerks anil car
riers during the year 1910 was higher
than at any time In the previous ms
tory OF the department
sunday and HOLIDAY Work.
II is the policy of the department.,
as shown by the report moi 70 re-
uulre any more work in post-cflices
on SUNDAYS and HOLIDAYS than Is abso-
mteIy necessary. TO this end enaeavor
IS being made to hiring about greater
degree of uniformity In the amount ~
Sunday work In post offices, and to
provide for one day ofrest in seven
for each OF the employees pr Grand
field says:
"There Is very strong sentiment
throughout the country In favor Of the
discontinuance of the delivery OF MALL
on sundays. and this sentimen. should
he rsspccte1 II the plan Of isscon-
unuing entirely SUNDAY service by
letter carriers, which Is now peins
tried In number OF the larger cities.
where the sentiment of the communi-
ties Is strongly In favor. OF sunday
closing proves practicable, II would
seem that the desired result may "
attained without legislation, ..a... &. !.