The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-04-01
Postmaster General Takes
Drastic Action in Reorganiz-
ing Railway Mail Service.
CHIEF CLERKS REMOVED
OR REDUCED In RANK
General Superintendent Given
Charge of a District, With
Loss of $1,000 in Pay.

WASHINGTON. March 3l.-Drastic
action was taken tonight by Postmaster
Hitchcock in effecting a reorganization
of the railway mail service. A dozen
changes OF the most important officers
were made by Mr.. Hitchcock as re-
suit of careful investigation and con-
sideration.
Theodore ingalls, OF Kentucky, super
intendent Of the division of rural mails,
was appointed general superintendent of
the railway service at $4,000 year In
succession to Alexander Grant, who was
transferred 10 st. Paul, Mimi, as a di-
vision superintendent, reduction TO
$4,000
Norman Perkins, division supcrinten'
dent at st Paul, becomes superinten-
dent of the Washington division, sue
ceeding Charles w. Vlckcry, who is APP
pointed chief clerk of the Cincinnati
division, vice A. j Ball, reduced to rail,
way postal clerk.
CLYDE NJ. Reed, district superinten-
dent of the Cincinnati division to sue,
cced Charles Rager. who was reduced
and appointed chief clerk of the Allan
tic division in place of John F. Blod-
gett, removed,
John C. Koons. postof1ice Inspector in
the Washington division was appointed
railway mail superintendent in charge
of the Cleveland division.
Texas Man Promoted.
George G. Thomson. formerly superin-
tendent of division of supplies, post
office department. and now inspector in
charge at Austin, Tex, was appointed
superintendent Of the division of rural
mails in succession TO Mr.. Ingalls,
Charles B. Anderson, inspector an
charge at st. Louis, will succeed Mr.
Thomson as inspector In charge of Aus
tin, and Inspector George Daniel of the
New York division was appointed in
spector in charge at St. Louis.
The affairs of the railway mail serv-
ice were overhaued thoroughly by Mr..
Hitchcock personally, and the outcome
is the most sweeping change ever made
III the history of the railway mail serv-
ice
While signing the necessary orders for
the changes, Mr.. Hitchcock said:
''1he investigation, which we con-
Quoted so long and so carefully. indi-
Gated clearly that the action which [
have taken was absolutely necessary.
The railway mail service has suffered
from poor management and lack of su-
pervisiOn.
Chief Clerks Inefficient.
"In certain divisions it was found
that the chief clerks had not been in
specting their lines as was their duty.
'Some of the routes had received no
inspection for several years.
''lt also was found that in many in
stances these officers were giving little
or no attention to the sanitary condi
tion of the railway mail cars, thus dis
regarding the health and comfort of the
employees under them. The inquiry
showed that the business methods of the
service in several offices were antiquat-
ed and that as a consequence there was
much duplication of work,
instructions from the department
directing improvements, as for example
the proper consolidation of mail mat
ter and the conservation of equipment,
received only perfunctory attention.
There also has been lack of co-opera-
tion in carrying into effect certain re-
forms which / had indicated and it was
made evident that no proper spirit Of
coordination with the department ex-
listed in the railway mail service.
"The changes which ] have made in
the executive department, will tend, in
nay Judgment, toward the accomplish
ment in a satisfactory way of the re-
forms in methods and practices which
we have instituted throughout the pos
tai service
The changes will become effective to-
morrow.
The necessary transfers will be made
as RAPIDLY as possible