The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-22
Broad and Varied Activities


The postoffice department comes into
more intimate relations with the people
than any other branch of the government,
and its activities during the present adj
ministration are destined to be broader
and more varied than ever before. 4 he
operation of the postoffice department
will cost the government approximately
$3.50 000. .O0O and it may so even beyond
this figure; much will depend upon the
way the public adapts itself TO thesnew
parcel post system. Postmaster General
Burleson liz very much interested in this
branch of the service and will do his
best to see that it becomes popular with
the people.
Il shall aim for efficiency in my adj
ministration of the postoffice depart
ment" declared the Postmaster General.
"Ths is big business institution one
of the biggest in the government and it
should be administered on business lines,
but in such way will be of the great
est service to the people.
"One of the first things ! shall do is
to appoint commission to consist Of the
first, second, third and fourth assistant
postmaster generals and the chief clerk
Of the department to make thorough
investigation Of the postal service
They will be directed to ascertain
whether the greatest efficiency is being
secured and where the service needs i'm
provement They will also seek to as
certain whether the department is actual
ly self sustaining or whether there is a
deficit.
with this information in hand we shall
proceed to administer the affairs of the
department with the view of giving the
people the best service, although / would
also like to be able to say at the end
Of my term that the postal service Is
really self supporting
Newspaper Publicity Law
1t was the intention of the Postmaster
General to direct that proceedings be be-
gun against those newspapers which have
not yet filed their statements as provided
by the act of Congress relating to news
paper publicity as to circulation, own
ers, etc. but the action of the supreme
court in granting an injunction against
the enforcement of this law will prevent
action of this kind until the matter is
finally settled. 1t was learned that 81
per cent of the newspapers of the coun-
try had complied with the law, leaving 9
per cent. including some of the big metro
politan papers, waiting the decision of the
supreme court in the test case. The Post
master General did not believe 1t fair to
the 81 per cent which had complied with
the law not to enforce it in regard to the
o per cent which had not.
Built Up Parcel Post
The parcel post service is of tremen-
dous interest to the people everywhere
said the Postmaster General, and want
to make it of the widest use In bringing
the producers and consumers closer to-
Retfer and facilitate the handling of small
parcels at low cost.
1.-THE work of the second assistant post
master generate office is OF great import-
ance in this connection, as that office
handles the questions of railway mail pay,
the number and size of mail cars Required
for the transportation of mail matters
and the problems connected with contracts
for this service. Mr. Stewart will be re.
tanned in his position until someone who
is as well or better equipped can be found
to handle this work, which requires a
high degree of efficiency and technical
training
Fourth Class Postmasters
Regarding his attitude toward the 4O.oOf
fourth class posunasters placed under the
civil service by President Tafts order,
the Postmaster General indicated that he
thought the mert system ought to obtain
in filling these @ffices, but he thought
there was nice question involved as to
whether the in4umbents ought not to