The Clovis news. [volume] (Clovis, N.M.) 1907-1929, 1912-04-25
TAFT REFORMS
POSTAL SERVICE
Governments Biggest Business
Now Run on Modern Basis,
PENNY POSTAGE POSSIBLE
Economy and Efficiency IN A%dministra-
tion Under Hitchcock Make Cheaper
Postage Rates Imminent ~ Policies
Should So Continued.


Should So Continued.
In thorough accord with the policy
of economy and efficiency Of the TAFT
administration, Postmaster General
Frank II. Hitchcock has put an end TO
the annual deficit in the postomce de-
partment 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 win be inaugurated this year.
Another term Of the Taft administra-
ton would place this S24O.O00,O0O BUSH
ness Institution completely on a bust
ness basis.
At the beginning of the present adj
ministration the postal service was in
arrears to the extent Of $17,479, 7TO.47,
which was decidedly the largest deficit
on record. Last year the revenues ex-
ceeded the expenditures by S219,11S.12
The wiping out Of the deficit has
been accomplished without any cur
tailment Of facilities. On the CON
trary, there have been established 3,T44
new %postoflces. delivery by carrier
has been provided in 1856 additional
cities, and 2,51G new rural routes, ag-
gregating 60,670 miles, have been au-
thorlzed, Meanwhile the force Of pos
tai employees has been increased by
more than 5000, and last year the to-
cal amount expended for salaries was
Approximately S14,OO0,O0O greater than
two a ago. The average annual
salary has been Increased from $500
to S967 for rural carriers, from 1910 to
S1,O82 for postofice clerks, from S1,021
to $1.OS4 for city letter carriers and
from S1,1GS to s1,1s3 for railway pos.
tai clerks. Thus a marked extension
OF the postal service and increased
compensation for its 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 %, 1910. Of the act
creating the postal savings system
which is now I'm operation at practical.
" all the 1900 presidential p%ostoaices
Preparations are being made for it.
extension TO 10000 fourth class post
omces. IT IS confidently anticipated
that the deposits at the close Of the
present fiscal year win aggregate $50.
100000 and that the income Of the sys
tenn win be sufficient TO pay on operat
ing expenses
Under President Taft the posrohc
department has engaged in am aggres
siye crusade against the fraudulen
use Of the mails Last year the in
spectors investigated many cases IN
volying the sale Of worthless stock 4
imaginary mining companies and othe
fictitious concerns. There were alto
gether 520 indictments and 1874 conyiC
lions, with but 10 acQuittals. The otl
er cases are pending. The convicte
swindlers had d%efrauded the people @
many millions Of dollars.
Sunday service by employees ha
been reduced TO a minimum, With -
Tie objection from patrons.
Reforms Under Way.
Many other improvements have bee
made in the postal service during Pre-.
ident Taft's term Of Office, such as tl
shipment OF periodicals in carloads D
fast freight, which has reduced li
cost Of transportation and expedite
the handling Of nrst class mail al
the consolidation Of the star route an
rural delivery services, 50 that It ni
been possible 70 establish many ne.