The Washington times., 1911-02-05
POSTOFF|CE PROBE
SOON By! CONGRESS
Aroused by Business Inter
ests' and Department En-
ployes' Complaints.
CONTINUED from First Page.)

also is an excellent official, and people
most familiar with the conditions, and
having no bias in favor of the depart
ment, do not believe there was any
political reason for the change. They
do insist, however, that II was one OF
the things calculated to Generalization
Of service.
Postmaster General Hitchcock has
taken hold with great vigor to improve
conditions and end whatever insubordi-
nation exists. The statement OF his
purposes was given out from the
department in a declaration that
"A condition of inefficiency, insubordi-
nation, and mismanagement has been
developed in the operation of the Nrail-
way mail service that is likely to result
In an upheaval in the service and per-
haps in its reorganization"
The statement continues:
Postmaster General Hitchcock Is
thoroughly incenSed over the situation
as It has been disclosed. and he makes
no concealment Of the Indignation.
Results Likely to Be Drastic.
For a considerable time he has been
conducting a personal investigation into
the operation of the railway mail serv-
ice. His inquiry is not ended yet but
the facts thus far developed indicate
plainly that its results are likely to be
drastic.
"RumorS reached Washington yester-
day from several points that changes in
prominent officers of the railway mail
service were imminent; indeed, II was
reported that designations of the Second
Assistant Postmaster General, Joseph
Stewart, and the chief of the railway
mail service, Alexander Grant had been
submitted to Postmaster General Hitch
cock.
1T can be said, on authority of Mr.
Hitchcock himself, that neither one of
these officials mas resigned, and that
their designations have not been called
for. Mr.. Hitchcock last night expressed
himself as entirely satisfied with the ad-
ministration of the office of Second As
siStant by Mr. Stewart, for whom, per-
sonally and officially. he entertains
high regard, but he expressed himself as
much dissatisfied with-the mana cement
of the railway mail service, particularly
as respects the personnel of the service.
His investigation, he indicated, had
disclosed the fact that orders had been
issued by subordinate officers or the
service, placing upon the employees un-
reasonable burdens, in some instances
humiliating burdens. These orders were
promulgated in the name OF the POST
master General. although he knew moth
ing about them until his investigation
brought them to light.
Goodwill of Employees Necessary.
The orders were issued, too, MIR.
HltChc0Ck pointed out, HOl"lIHSIdHu-
ing the fact that I had issued general
instructions that, in the carrying out OF
proposed improvements in the service.
no additional burdens should be placed
upon the employees, as / believed that
in the development of our efficiency Sys-
tenn the hearty good Will OF the en-
ployes was absolutely necessary.
MIR. Hitchcock said that the only
change in the status of the railway mall
clerks was caused by an effort Of the
department to effect reasonable read
iustment Of hours of service, so as to
euualize the hours throughout the coun-
try. Through the operation Of this sys-
tenn the hours of service OF some clerks
were slightly increased, while those OF
others were reduced. The general pur-
pose was to have the maximum OF en-
ployment not to exceed six and half
hours a day. In the working out OF
this system, Mr.. Hitchcock suggested
the railway mail clerks had not been
denoted, and the service in no respects
had ben curtailed; on the contrary, the
departments efforts had been to obtain,
through Congress, improved physical
and financial working conditions, while
striving to keep the service apace with
the development of the country.
THE investigation instituted by Mr..
Hitchcock probably will not be con-
cluded for some days. 1t is not possible
to foreteIl accurately the precise re-
suits, but a thorough overhauling of
executive officials of the railway mall
service is probable, If not imminent"
Sprinq Flowers In Pleasing Profusion