The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1913-11-11
Will ISSUE POST.
OFFICE REPORT SOON
Postmaster General Burleson's First
Annual Document To Show Record
Of Many Reforms
CATALOGUES HIS ACHIEVEMENT
Has Endeavored To Bring Efficiency
Of Department Up To The Highest
Possible Standard

...fosAble Standard
BY Congressman Clyde H. Tavenner.
Washington, Observation-Disclosures
tar General A. 8. Burleson Is making
a great record for efficiency in his
department. The time Of the year
is approaching when Mr.. Burleson
will submit to Congress his first an
nual report, and it is believed that
this document will show the record
OF reforms and progress such as the
Post Office Department has not
known for years. ~,~.
At any rate, now is good time
to catalogue the achievements of Mr..
Burleson and thus by summing up
his activities show how he is shap-
ing this important government SER
vice to Democratic ideals. He sue
ceeded a man who in many respects
was a superior Postmaster General
a believer in economy ana the first
man in many years to make the Post
Office Department show an apparent
When Mr.. Burleson took hold In
March his first idea was to gain a
comprehensive grasp OF, the work Of
the department. This he accomplish
ed by having his subordinates con-
duct an analysis Of the post office
business In all its branches. The first
result of this study was to show Mr..
Burleson that the service was not as
efficient as the public had the right
to expect. This was due to mistaken
idea of efficiency held by Postmaster
General Hitchcock. In order to save
money Hitchcock had cut the operat-
Ing force until it was not adequate
for the enormous business. ..-
Further investigation showed, too,
that the surplus shown by the last
administration was only an apparent
surplus, brought about by bookkeep-
ing. In other words. the books failed
to charge against the receipts. hold.
over bills from the preceding year,
and carried to a succeeding year OBJ
LEGATIONS rightfully due in the year
showing the surplus. -.
In addition, the former admins
tration had refused promotions, kept
employees at the lowest possible
wages, and sacrificed efficiency for
cheap methods Of administration.
Mr.. Burleson promptly asked Con-
gress to vote him an emergency ap-
preparation of 100000 to take care
of obligations which should have
been met. by his predecessor, and
then began his more liberal admins
tration, which almost Immediately
resulted in Increased efficiency.
When he had accomplished this he
began from an even start to work
some OF his reforms. ... ~
One of: his first actions was to in
crease the weight limit for the par
eel post4and to reduce parcel postage
in the first and second zones. The
public Is, familiar with these innova-
lions. He next turned his attentions
to the postmasters Of the country.
He found 1900 vacant postmas'
terships of the presidential grade
and some 800 additional, commits
sions have since expired. Prior t
filling any of these positions. Mr.
?Burleson promulgated his famous or
der that men applying for positions
las postmaster must be prepared t
drop all other work and give thei1
entire attention to the work OF tn
government. This was revolutionary
since preceding administrations hat
REGARDED. these lucrative position
merely as sineeures to be bestowe'
upon political favorites.. The rea
work Of each office was conducted b.
the lower pair clerks,
MIR. Burleson's order has great
increased the efficiency Of tho ser
vice, and has relieved the department
of the necessity of hiring additional
clerks to take care Of increasing pos
toffice business. And he has obeye'
Ibis own rule by working always eigh
hours and sometimes twelve hours
day.
Mr.. Burleson found, too, that tn
executive orders issued by President
Roosevelt and Taft covering fourth
class postmasters into the civil ser
vice without examination had result
- psSs- IT, &c.