Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-12-11


extension OF the postal service and higher |
compensation for it's employees have gone /
/ hand In hand with a vanishing deficit.
Postal savings system.
! An important event OF the year was
the successful organization OF the postal
savings system. On January 3, 1911, de-
positories were opened experimentally at
single postoffce in each one Of the
forty-eght states and territories. After
a careful test for four months at these
offices the system was rapidly extended
and now comprises practically all Of the
1900 presidential postoffices. Prepara-
lions are being made TO establish the
system also in about 10000 fourth-class
offices that do a money order business. |
! Postal savings deposits have kept pace
with the extension OF the system
Amounting at the end OF the first month
to only S6O,252 in the forty-e.ght expert
mental offices, they increased I'm half
year TO s679,31O and now, after eleven
months Of operation, have reached total
OF $l1,0O0,0OO. This sum has been dis
tributed among 2,71O national and state
banks, where II IS protected by bonds
deposited with the treasurer OF the
United States.
| Parcel Post.
Now that the successful operation Of
the postal savings system Is assured, it
| is hoped that congress will promptly
authorize the establishment OF a parcel
post The benefits OF this service are
widely enjoyed by the people OF foreign
countries and should be provided in the
United States. The department not only
renews its recommendation OF last year
for legislative authority to start a par
cell post on rural routes, but asks q
similar authorization for the introduction
OF such a service in cities and towns hav-
ing delivery by carrier. After the or
ganization OF IA parcel post on rural
routes and In the city delivery service
is completed, it's extension to include rail-
way and other transportation lines can
be more rapidly accomplished without
impeding the handling of the ordinary
mail.
II congress will grant without delay
the desired authority and provide the
necessary appropriations 1t is believed
that before the end OF another year a
satisfactory parcel post can be organ
lied on rural reuter- and I'm cities with
carrier service. thus paving the way for
the final step in the organization of a
general parcel post.
The FrankinE Privilege.
In the last annual report It was recon-
mended that the Thanking privilege be
discontinued and that legislative author
ity be granted for the use OF special en-
velopes and stamps in the free transmits
sion OF official mail, such envelopes and
stamps to be furnished on requisltion
through the agency of the Postoffice de-
partment. 1t Is TO be hoped that favor
able action on this recommendation will
be taken at the coming session. The i'm
portance OF such reform is apparent
when It is understood that the annual
cost OF carrying franked mail reaches
into the millions.
Reorganization of Railway Service.
Following the inquiry into the cost of
transporting mail on the railroads the
department started a thorough investi-
cation of the railway mail service. In
certain branches OF that service most
Unsatisfactory conditions were disclosed
as the result OF inefficient management
1t was found that In some divisions the
chief clerks had not inspected their lines
for several years. Employees on certain
lines we're compelled to work exception
ally long hours. while in other parts of
the service a sufficient period OF train
duty was not required.
This reorganization, although not COM
pleted, has gone far enough to bring
about a decided Improvement over the
unsatisfactory conditions reported. I'm
questionably, the final result will mean a
tremendous saving to the government ac-
companied by important benefits to the
employees OF the service.
In place OF the present method of
compromising railway mail clerks, which
is far from satisfactory, the department
will recommend to congress a new system
OF salaries that will insure regular pro-
motions and a higher maximum COM
pensation for those who render efficient
service.
; The plan of assigning TO the railway
mail cars new appolntees without pre-
vious experience in the postal service
} is to be abandoned, and hereafter the
additional clerks required on the cars
will be recruited from the trained em-
, ployes of the postoffices.
: Almost without exception, foreign ma
lions provide for the pensioning OF civil
service employees when they become
! superannuated. Large corporations In
this country are rapidly adopting the
same principle in the retirement of their
( aged employees. On business grounds, IL
= for no other reason, the government
9 should do likewise.
d While the compensation OF postal en-
= ployes has been considerably increased
I during the last few years It is hardly
I more than sufficient to meet necessary
Q living expenses and consequently does
Q not permit the putting aside OF any con-
d siderable savings against old age. It Is be-
Il lieved that u civil pension based on length
OF employment should be granted by the
government. Benefits to the service far
outwelghing the expense of such pensions
=. would undoubtedly result.