The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-06-10

oAiCS oH MdTcn .. Postmaster General
Burleson was confronted with persist
ent and serious complaints throughout
the country OF generally unsatisfac-
tory mai facilities. Realizing that
eflclent postal facilities are vital TO
the commercial prosperity Of the
country, and to the social HAPPINESS
OF our people, Mr.. Burleson set about
OF once IN a buSineSS-like way TO rem
10y the defects. Naturally his first
actlOn was to ascertain the causes re-
spOnsible for the deplorable condi-
lions, and to this end appointed a
committee consisting of the four AS
sistant Postmasters General and the
Chief Clerk of the Department, and
charged this committee with the DUTY
OF ascertaining the financial, physical,
and working conditions Of the Depart
ment, and of the entire service. A
thorough investigation was made by
the committee and a report of their
findings promptly submitted. The re-
port traced the causes Of the com
plants of inefficient postal facilities
and a suggestions as to how re-
lief could be secured and the service
restored to that high state of eff
cheney demanded and required by the
public. Briefly stated, the causes of
the conditions complained Of were
attributed to:
Cd The undue stress placed by the
former administration Of the Depart
ment on at the hazard Of
injury to postal facilities, which in
some instances so impoverished the
service as to make it necessary for the
new administration to act quickly and
drastically in order to save the integ-
rity of the service and bring relief to
the people.
CD The diffic ulties Of, the situation
were intensified by the rapidly increas-
ing volume of business brought by the
parcel post, which went into operation
January /, 1913, and from the adjust
ments made necessary under the
eight-in-ten law.
The business-like and effective man
ner in which Postmaster General Bur
Lesson has grasped the situation anC
launched the necessary plans to NEE
the emergency which confronted tn
service is ~foreefully illustrated by tn
following Of some Of tn
things which have been accomplished
since March 4:
Clerical Aid Given.
During the ninety days Of the new
; administration about 1000 additional
clerks and approximately 500 addf
1 tional city letter carriers have beel
, attached to the various postoffice
Throughout the country, and beside
. these additions to the regular fore
/ lapQIOAludLSly 4I.VVV,VVV AAc OOCA "
E thorixed for temporary clerk hire an
about $500, 900 for temporary city let
ter carriers. These unusual fnancia
demands made it necessary for tn
Postmaster General TO go TO CorHres
Y in May for an emergency apprSprla
e ton Of 5000. 600: which was prompt
r granted. and 100000 allotted fo
temporary clerk hire n a lk
y amount for temporary carriers.
/, Postmasters Appointed.
On March 5. 1918, there were abot
a 2. 200 vacant postmasters OF the Pres
S dental grade, and some 500 have be
come yAant since. OF les NOR
than 1870 cases h4e been briefe
and about 1900 nominated to the Ser
0 ate. Of the fourth-class p~ostnaastel
ships which were ound vacant o
March 5, including those which haN
q becomev acant since. amounting
: about 4,510, more than LOO haS
:. been filed as the result Of Civil Sc
.e vice examinations or inspectors r.
ports, leaving at the present tin
II about 1000 of the presidential grae
q, and some 80 of the fourth class
q, be disposal Of. These are being dea
, with expeditiously.
Rural Routes Authorized.
Within the last sixty days 4SS p
G titions for rural delivery routes ma
4 been disposed of. resulting in the e
= Enlistment Of 2O3 routes, lnFOi\li
4 an annual expenditure for maint
X nance of approximately $685. 600. /
T. the establishment of these e rout
and the extension Of old routes mo
than zoe, 900 people are now recel
ro ing their mail at their doors, lnste'
of at remote postofhces.
Backstamping Of Mail.
q In pursuance of the policy OF exp
o. diting the delivery Of mail. the Pos
Oh master General has ordered the q
- cOntin of the backSta mplnS.
all ordinary mail which heretofore n
IS DELAYED its delivery anywhere fro
twenty minutes to one-half hour.
a. investigation Of b conditions sho
that the slight benefits from bac
sta were far Outweished bE I
ia ADVANTAGES that would be gained
III the public by it's dEcontinuance. q
~, hence ths prompt forward step by I
e. department
Railway Mail Service.
IL - =: H. =, ~