New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-01-22
Tells Something About What Has Been Done in His
Department, But When 1t Comes to Plans for the
Future He Is So Reticent to Make the
Proverbal Clam Appear Garrulous.

DRY, and which testified that President Taft
had appointed him Postmaster General a
look of grim determination on his clean
ShaVeh race. and bunch OF secretiveness
concealed about his person which would
nave been worth it's weight in gold to any
Masonic order. Do you suppose that postal
deficit knew what this unassuming but de-
termined looking young man purposed to
do to 1t? Not much Possibly-onlv DOS
sibly, mind you, Not probably. Frank
Harris Hitchcock confided his ambition, in
the silent watches Of the night. in the
security Of his bachelor chamber ana with
the doors and windows all locked, 10 him
self, Then, possibly, he did, he did not.
For as has bean said, Postmaster General
Hitchcock is a sccretive individual not
given TO condolences. In fact, they tell
story Of how. in his infantile days. he al
most starved to death once because he
wasn't willing TO confide TO the other men,
hers or Ills family that he was hungry, but
that may be base libel. Certainly there
Is nothing now to prove II except strong
ctrcumstantial evidence that 1t is probable
So more confident than confding, Frank
Harris Hitchcock tackled that postal deficit
and laid it low in the third round. He be-
gan by laying a foundation, and the first
essential OF mis- foundation was that the
efficiency Of Uncle Sans postal service
must be in no way diminished. The second
was that il is impossible to get good SER
vice from underpaid men. and consequently
The saving must not affect the salaries paid.
The third was the importance of an &C
counting system which would enable him
at all times TO answer accurately that per-
tinent If ineeganUy phrased interrogatory
Of a noted statesman, Where am at?"
Upon these foundations. Mr.. Hitchcock be-
gan the erection OF the business system
which was TO accomplish the complete
elimination of the aforesaid time honored
and hoarv headed deficit.
But why try 10 describe the process when
Mr. Hitchcock has consented to describe il
himself? Before presenting his explanation,
however, It is i'm order to say another
word about the personal characteristics of
the =. NJ. g." as he Is termed by his
several thousand subordinates in the postal
service Without absolutely committing
ones self to the witty remark Of another
member of President Taft's Cabinet who
said Frank Hitchcock is composed of
secrecy. rlodesty and ability and the great
est Of these is secrecy" IT is pertinent right
here 10 remark that modesty has taken to
itself a full share of his component parts.
II is said that as a college student hs
could never even think OF the nickname
given him by his college mates without
blushlng-but that is telling tales out Of
school It is solemnly asserted that at
Cabinet meetings he never replies to the in
terrogatories Of the President with the per-
sonal pronoun T." but invariably resorts to
the editorial we" and. joking aside. there
is no man in the federal administra ton as
little given to blowing his own horn as
Frank Harris Hitchcock. When he Is con-
graduated on the great work lie has done
he bushes like a girl and it actually hurts
him TO talk Of his achievements. At least
that is what his most intimate friends as
sert with vehemence. With this preface,
therefore, you will realize how much more
credit Mr.. Hitchcock actually deserves than