The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1912-05-30
POSTMASTER GENERAL HITCHCOCK
WIPES OUT Department DEFICIT
Representative John W. Langley of Kentucky Pays Post
master General Distinct Compliment. Shows Growth
And Condition of Department

tho economics that wiped out lac ie
ficit have enabled the Postmaster
General to ATOP: a more liberal policy
in the compensation OF employees, the
total expended for salaries last year
being s14,O00,OOO greater than It was
two years ago, while the average an.
nual salaries have been substantially
increased.
Thus, gentlemen, you can perceive
the extraordinary spectacle OF de-
ficit wiped out, surplus put in its
place, while at the same time the
service is greatly extended and i'm
proved and the employees are better
paid, and also assured Of one days
rest in every seven.
While | am on the subject Of the
Post Office department ! can not re-
frain from calling attention to the re-
markable success achieved by the
present Postmaster General in his
crusade against the swindlers who use
the mails to defrand These criminals
prey upon class of inexperienced
persons, largely, who can least afford
to do without the money that Is taken
from them. The medical swindlers,
not only take the money Of their vic
Tins, but also leave chem broken in
health, perhaps on the very verge of
heath. Against them Postmaster Gen.
eral Hitchcock has wased a vigorous
war of determination.
At the outset of his administration
he virtually abandoned the fraud or.
der, as being of very little permanent
good, the swindler against whom such
an order was issued often resuming
his practices under another name or
in another place. Under the present
regime the swindlers are arrested as
soon as sufficient evidence is obtain
ed, and then they are put behind the
bars. Very few who have been ar
rested have escaped conviction. Dur.
ing 1911 there were arrested 529 such
persons who had obtained by their
devious methods more than $77,OOO-
900 of the American peoples money.
These arrests and convictions, besides
pr ting out OF business the larger dis
honest operators, act as a powerful
deterrent on the minor offenders.
who are more easily restrained by
fear than are the richer and more
influential get-rich.quick men. The
value of the protection thus given to
the people is almost incalculable.
Another boon to the whole country
is the postal-savings bank, the first
= OF which were opened in January
Of lHll. These experimental offices
moved so successful that the systeIu
was rapidly extended, until now it
includes almost all of the 1900 presi.
dental offices and several thousand
offices of the fourth class. | am in
formed that after ~ months of opera.
tion the deposits reached the sum OF
twelve millions of dollars. | am Of
tho opinion, Mr. Chairman, that this
amount of money would probably not
have been available for circulation Il
II had not been for the postal savings
banks. Some of it would have been
boarded, some of II would have been
sqGGrdered, and large fraction cf
|, would have been sent out of the
'ultry by foreign-born citizens.
Nj. Chairman, when | consider 10
what a successful issue Postmaster
General Hitchcock has brought the
measures for which he has obtained
the authorization of Congress, when
consider his wide experience in the
affairs of the postal service, feel
confident that his recommendation
regarding the parcel post and the re.
adjustment of railway.mail pay, which
he urges If they should be carried
out would result successfully and
10 the great advantage or the masses
If the people.
Let me add that nearly 20 years ago
| was schoolmate of Frank Hitch.
cock. | formed an estimate of his
character then which l have cherish.
ed ever since. | have watched his
career with pride and admiration, and,
in my judgment, there is not in the
Federal service today a more com.
petent, a more faithful, a more cour-
teous and obliging gentleman than
Frank Hitchcock. am glad to have
this opportunity on the floor OF this
House to pay this tribute to my old
schoolmate and friend"