The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1911-01-13

| etloNS dDl S6--luS lacl clearly eSld
ished through investigations rece,
| y instituted by the department.
While it has been impossible W tho,
better control OF franking to d,
ermine the exact expense to tt
government of this practice, thel
an be no doubt that it annual
reaches into the millions. 1t is be
| ieyed that many abuses of Il
ranking privilege could be prevent
ed, and consequently marked ecol
my effected, by supplying through
The agencies of postal service spe-
cal official envelopes and stamps 10
| he free mail of the government, all
such envelopes and stamps to be is
sued on requistion to the various
branches of the federal service re-
quiring them, and such records to be
| kept of official stamp supplies as will
enable the postoffice department tt
maintain proper postage account
covering the entire volume of free
government mail.
Crusade Against Fraudulent Use OF
Mails.
The crusade started by the Postof-
flee department early in the year
against fraudulent use Of the mails
has been pushed with great vigor.
During the last four months the
principle officers of 81 corporations
companies and firms have been plac
ed under arrest by postoffice inspec-
tors for swindl:ng the public by this
method. In 46 additional cases in
dividuals have been arrested for con-
Quoting similar schemes to defraud.
1t is estimated that 80 important
cases recently brought to a head rep
resent swindling operations that have
| filched from the American people in
less than a decade fully hundred
million dollars.
The departments former practice
of issuing fraud orders in such
| cases proved ineffective. While by
that method the offending concern
was deprived of the use OF the mails
it was simple matter for it's promo
tiers to organize under a new name
and thus avoid the law. In the pres
ent crusade the departments plan
has been to secure the arrest, con-
vict.on, and Imprisonment of the
G lore tb yrbio ,,o+l,oJ
which is proving to be most effect
i've, will be continued until the fraud
l'lent use of the mails is brought to
an end.
classification of Presidential Post.
masters.
Although recent reforms have
greatly increased the efficiency OF
the postal service, it is apparent
that the highest degree of effective
ness in the conduct OF this tremen-
dous business establishment can not
be attained while the thousands of
postmasters, on whose faithfulness
SO much depends, continue to be po-
!itical appointees. The entire postal
service should be taken out of poll
tics. The recent order of the presi-
dent, classifying, on the recommen-
dat;on OF the department, all assist
ant postmasters, was an Important
step in the right direction. AS still
more important reform presidential
| q OF oil = ~,
first class to the third, should be
placed in the classified service. This
action, which is earnestly recon-
mended, would un1uestionably re.
suit in still better standard of
service. The policy the department
has followed for several years of re-
appointing presidential postmasters,
with exceptionally good records, has
shown in striking way the advan-
tage of having our postoffices man.
aged by experienced officers. The
old practice of making frequent
changes for political purposes had a
most demoraliZing effect and re-
suited in unwarranted expenditures
due to poor management.
Ocean Mail Service.
change in the law continues to
be necessary that will permit more
liberal compensation for ocean mail
service under the provisions of the
act of March 3, 1891. Unless such
change is made we cannot hope
to secure service to far South Amer
lean ports and ports of the Orient and
Australia in American vessels I'M
der the control of the department.
Inquiry as to the Cost of Railway
Mail Transportation.
In the last annual report mention
was made Of the inquiry which was
in progress as to the cost to the rail
road companies of carrying the mail.
The law provides that the Postmas-
ter General shall request ell com
panies transporting the mails to fur
nlsh under seal such data relating to
their operation, receipts, and expen-