New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-01-22
Postmaster General Hitchcock Has Wiped Out Deficit of Millions
How Remarkable Business Accelerator" Has Managed
to Put Government Service Sounder
Basis While Expanding 1t to
Meet Growing Needs.

eliminated, and new and modern ideas
which have not only simplifed the man.
ncr Of handling the business but greatly
reduced the running expenses and at the
same time improved the efficiency Of the
service, have been introduced.
Economics were effected by eliminating
certain branches Of the service and con-
solidating others where duplication OF work
existed, one OF the most striking examples
being the consolidation OF the division OF
rural delivery and the star rdute service.
which by the elimination Of conflicting
management and duplication has resulted
dollars.
while muc h has been accomplished In
cutting down the deficit by the intro
duction Of these reform methods. too much
credit cannot be given TO the postmasters
OF the country for the effective manner In
which they have assisted the department
TO carry out its policy Of reform which
was accomplished without impairing the
efficiency OF the service"
Just read the Postmaster Generals own
statement over once more and it's dollars
TO doughnuts that you will agree that,
while Postmaster General Hitchcock is "a
man who does things" he has not mastered
the first principle OF the gentle art Of self
advertising. In that he Is entirely In har-
mony with this administration, which has
achieved more and said less about II than
any other administration in the memory OF
men now living.
Dropping, Just for a moment, from tho
interesting plane Of personalities to the
important II dryer atmosphere OF facts
and figures, the postal deficit for the year
ending June 30 1909, was, In round num-
bers. 81. 900. That was at the end OF
the first round, when those at the ringside
thought old Deficit was destined to carry
away the purse. June 80, 1910, Deficit was
very groggy and disposed to take the count
at every opportunity. 1t had been reduced
to less than 100000. This year, accord
ing TO President Taft, the old fellow has
been yanquished. The receipts Will equai
the expenses and next years estimated
expenses call for no excess over the esti-
mated revenues And with 1t all. MIND
YOU, there has been no decrease in the EN-
cheney of the service. Free delivery mas
been extended, rural routes have been In
creased, salaries have been raised ana
there is a reasonable prospect or even
better things TO come.
The Postmaster General has plans Tor
further betterment OF the service. This
much may be said, "in strictest confidence
of course Il prefer TO talk OF what mas
been accomplished rather than OF what
hope to do" said Mr. Hitchcock, when
asked him. What Of the future?" But
right there, although he did not know IT.
| he made most startling statement
prefer" was the word he used. Aoso'
lutely, honor bright. And yet no one ever
dreamed II before. To prefer Is to like
better" according to the dictionary ahc
10 assert that Mr.. Hitchcock liked to talF
at all is to strain the credulity OF all VINO
know him But then, perhaps II was
sin of the tongue, like that OF the sea
cantain who remarked to his first mate
"Au want from you is silence, and darnet
little OF that
But despite his reluctance to talk o
the future, the Postmaster General ma
outlined his plans for the betterment
the service and for them he mas Won III
cordial support OF the President Inc
incIude the immediate installation, ou
with A limitation Of one year, OF al
effective parcels post on rural routes, pack
ages weighing up to II pounds to be car
r,ed and the experiment TO be made IN
basis for an exhaustive report to Congress
at the expiration OF the year. Risnt ner
II NAV be we'll TO call attention to the rae
that such a parcels post system couid no
benefit the mail order houses at the ex
pense of tie local merchants. because ma
nrder houses are situated in large cities. no
., tho terminals of rural routes, and
therefore, could not avail themselves
this system.
Mr. Hitchcock also recommends that a.
Investigation to determine the practica