The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1912-04-18
TAFT REFORMS IN
POSTAL SERVICE
Governments Biggest Business
Concern Now Run on Mod
ern Basis.
PENNY POSTAGE POSSIBLE
Economy and Efficiency N Admins
tration Under Hitchcock Make
Cheaper Postage Rates Immi-
nent-Poiicies Should Be
Continued.

No branch of the public service
comes closer to the people than the
Dostofice department. In this depart
ment the Taft administration has ac-
compished results which have rem
dered this service more efficient than
at any other time in the history Of the
country.
In thorough accord with the policy
of economy and efficiency of the Taft
administration, Postmaster General
Frank h. Hitchcock has put an end to
the annual deficit in the postofice de
partment and made possible the seri'
GUS consideration Of further reforms
and improvements. not the least i'm
portant of which is the imminent pos
sibility of penny postage. Many 9th
er reforms that have the support OF
President Taft will be inaugurated
this year. Another term of the Taft
administration would place this $24O,-
100000 business institution complete
ly on a business basis.
At the beginning of the present ad
minlstration the postal service was In
arrears to the extent Of $17,479,770.47.
which was decidedly the largest de.
felt on record. Last year the reve
nues exceeded the expenditures by
$219, 9,118,12.
The wiping out of the deficit has
been accomplished without any cur
tailment of facilities. On the con
trary, there has been established 3.744
new postoffices, delivery by carrier
has been provided in 1876 additional
cities, and ISIS new rural routes, ag
gregating 60,679 miles, have been au,
thorized Meanwhile the force of pos.
tai employees has been increased by
more than 5000, and last year the
total amount expended for salaries
was approximately $14,000,OOO greater
than two years ago. The average an
nual salary has been increased from
1863 to $967 for rural carriers, from
1919 to $1,082 for post office clerks
from $1,O21 to $1,084 for city letter
carriers, and from $1,163, to $1.18S fol
railway postal clerks. Thus marked
extension of the postal service anC
increased compensation for it's EN-
ployes have gone hand in hand with {
vanishing deficit
Postal Banks Great Success.
By persistent effort the present Re
publican administration secured tht
passage on June 25, 1919, of the &C
creating the postal savings system
which is now In operation at prac
ticaIly all the 1900 presidential pos
offices. Preparations are being mad
for its extension to 10000 fourth
class postoffices. 1t is confldentl
anticipated that the deposits at tn
close Of the present fiscal year. will
aggregate $5O,0OO,OOO, and that the in
come of the system will be sufficien
to pay all operating expenses.
Under President Taft the postoffic
; department has engaged in an aggres
sive crusade against the fraudulen
use of the mails. Last year the il
spectors investigated many cases IL
yolving the sale of worthless stock i
imaginary mining companies and otl
er fictitious concerns. There we're a
together 529 indictments and 1874 col
: victions with but twelve acquittaIl
The other cases are pending, The col
victed swindlers had defrauded tn
people OF many millions Of dollars.
great number of similar concern
have gone out of business owing I
the rigid enforcement OF the law.