The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1912-04-18
TAFT REFORMS IN
POSTAL SERVICE
Governments Biggest Business
Concern Now Run on Mod
ern Basis.
PENNY POSTAGE POSSIBLE
Economy and Efficiency In Adminis-
tration Under Hitchcock Make
Cheaper Postage Rates imml-
nent-Poiicies Should Be
Continued

| No branch OF the public service
comes closer to the people than the
postof1ce department In this depart.
ment the Taft administration has &C.
complished 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 II. Hitchcock has put an end to
the annual deficit In the postofilce de-
partment and made possible the seri-
Gus consideration Of further reforms
and improvements, not the least i'm.
portant Of which Ii 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 $240,-
100000 business institution complete
ly on q business basis.
At the beginning OF the present ad-
ministration the postal service was In
arrears to the extent Of Sl7.47s.77047.
which was decidedly the largest de-
ncit on record. Last year the reve-
nues exceeded the expenditures by
sa19.11sla
The wiping out OF the deficit has
been accomplished without any cur
tailment Of facilities On the con
trary. there has been established STA
new postofices. delivery by carrier
has been provided In 1856 additional
cities, and 2.516 new rural routes, ag-
gregating 60.67s miles. have been au-
thorixed. Mean while 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.o00 greater
than two years ago. The average an
nual salary has been increased from
1863 to 1857 for rural carriers, from
1919 to s1.083 for post Office clerks,
from 3i.021 to S1.084 for city letter
carriers. and from 81 ,163. to $1,1S3 for
railway postal clerks. Thus q marked
extension Of the postal service and
Increased compensation for its en-
ployes 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 Is, 1919. Of the act
creating the postal savings system,
which Is now In operation at prac.
ucally all the 1900 presidential post
offices Preparations are being made
for its extension to 10000 fourth.
class postoffices. II is confidently
anticipated that the deposits at the
close OF the present fiscal year will
aggregate $4,000. 900, and that the In.
come OF the system will be sufficient
10 pay all operating expenses.
Under President Taft the postoffice
department has engaged In an aggres- |
sive crusade against the fraudulent
use OF the malls. Last year the In |
spectors investigated many cases In
yolving the sale of worthless stock In |
mining companies and 9th.
er fictitious concerns. There were al |
together $40 indictments and 1874 con.
with but twelve acquittals
The other cases are pending. The con-
victed swindlers had defrauded the
people OF many millions OF dollars. A
great number OF similar concerns
have gone out OF business owing TO
the rigid enforcement Of the law.