Arizona republican., 1912-04-23
REFORMS
 POSTAL SERVICE
Governments Biggest Business
 Nov Run on Modern Basis.
PENNY POSTAGE POSSIBLE.
Economy and Efficiency In Administra- tion Under Hitchcock Make Cheaper Postage Rates Imminent - Policies Should Be Continued.

Should Be Continued
 In thorough accord with the policy )f economy and efficiency of the Taft administration, Postmaster General Frank II. Hitchcock has put an end to ehe annual deficit in the postoffice de partmeut and made possible the serious consideration of further reforms and improvements. not the least important of which is the imminent possibility of penny postage. Many other reforms that have the support of President Taft will be inauGurated this year. Another term of the Taft administra. zion would place this S240.G00,000 buSi' ness institution completely on a busi- ness basis
 At the beginning of the present ad- minisuatiOn the postal service was ill arrears to the extent of $I7.479. .T7O4T, which was decidedly the largest deficit on record Last year the revenues eX- ceeded the expenditures by $21911S.12
 The Wiping out of the deficit has been accomplished without any eur taiment of facilities. On the con- trary, there have been established 3,744 new postOffces. delivery by carrier has been provided in 1SG additional cities. and 2.J1G new rural routes, az Cregating G0GI9 miles, have been au- thorized. Meanwhile the force of pos tal employees has been increased by more than 5000, and last year the to- tai amount expended for salaries was approximately S1i,0OO.0OO greater than two years ago. The average annual salary has been increased from $SG9 to &9G7 for rural carriers. from S9T9 10 $1 0S2 for postoftice clerks, from $1.021 to $1,OS4 for city letter carriers and from S1.163 to $1,193 for railway pos tal clerks Thus q marked extension of the postal service and increased compensation for it's employees have gone hand in hand with a vanishing deficit
 Postal Banks Great Success. By persistent effort the present Re publican administration secured the passage on June 23. 1910. Of the act creating tho postal savings system. which is now iu operation at practical ly a1l tha 7.:00 presidential postOfices. Preparations are being made for ifs extension 10 10000 fourth class post offices. It is confidently anticipated that tho deposits at the close of the present fiscal year will aggregate $J0,- OO0CC0 and that the income of the sys- tem will be sufficient to pay all operat- ing expenses.
 Under President Taft the postoffico depar; ment has engaged in an aggres sive crusade against the fraudulent use of the mails. Last year the in spectors investigated many cases in vOlvin@ the sale of worthless stock in imaginary mining companies and other fictitious concerns. There were alto cethcr .29 indictments and lS4 cOnvic- tons, with but 12 acquittalS. The oth- or cases are pending. The convicted Swindlcrs had defr2uded the people of many millions of dollars.
 Sunday service by employees has been reduced to a minimum. with lit tie objection from patrons
 Rsfo-ms Under Way. Many other improvements have been made in the postal service during Pres l ident Taft's term of office. such as the shipment of periodicals in carloads by fast freight. which has reduced the l cost of transportation and expedited tbe handling of first class mail. and the consolidation of the star route and 1 rural delivery services. So that it has been possible to establish many new