Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1913-06-03
POSTAL SERVICE
RAN DOWN HILL
KEPUBLICAN ADMINISTRATION
MANAGED AFFAIRS RATHER
LOOSELY-SAVED DEFICIT BY
ADROIT JUGGLING OF BOOKS.
POSTMASTER GENERAL BURLESON
WILL SEE THAT POSTMASTERS
STAY ON THE JOB MORE THAN
THREE HOURS A. DAY.

Especial STAFF Correspondent

- ~ cul.C - OStHldS
ter General Burleson's recent action
with reference to the Brownsville post
Office spells something of his department
policy toward the postal service. Eff
cheney is the one big thing he intends to
demand in handling the mails. This was
first emphasized when he promulgated
notice some weeks ago that postmasters
must stay constantly on the job during
p~OstOffice hours. Candidates for post
master. are realizing that all over the
country. The result is that thousands
OF candidates are forwarding here, with
their applications, written promises to-
devote their time chiefly to the work.
Business had been going along pretty
loosely in the postal service of recent
years. Postmaster General Hitchcock
satisfied himself with a juggling of ac
counts to SHOW that the Department was
running without a deficit. That was her
aided far and wide as evidence that Mr..
Hitchcock was an administrative won
der. As a matter of TACT the postal ser
vice seems to have been running down
hill and, as is well understood now, the
department was mourning a deficit an
nually (as it had been for many years.
if one kept the books accurately.
Postmaster General BurlesOn had
hardly gotten warm in his chair before
he began to reform and in three months
he has gone far. Brownsville is not the
only postOffice where there will be a new
postmaster for there are many others
than Lawyer Rentfro who have been Civ
ing only three hours daily to the post
Office. Inspectors are going up and
down the land carefully scrutinizing
tide work that postmasters are doing
and the reports they make up are being
turned in for the scrutiny of the Chief
Inspector here at Washington. From
his Office they speedily find their way to
the desk of Mr.. BurlesOn. where final
judgment is passed. If the work is un-
satisfactory, the encumbent is removed.
There is no intention to 90 into these
enterprises recklessly, for President
Wilson wishes Republican postmasters
to serve out their terms of four years
This is in accord with his general policy
not to turn good men out Of Office sim
ply because they are Republicans. But
inspectors, as fast as they can get
around to it, will ascertain whether Re.
publican pOatmastera are Going their
full duty according to the standards
Mr.. BurlcsOn is setting for new democra
tic pOstmasters. Officers must be eff
GENTLY conducted and ~pOstmasters mus
be on the job.
There has been some Texas hilarit,
here of recent days over patronage. Ru
NOR has had it that Senator Sheppard
would resist the confirmation Of Tha,
r. Thompson. Of Austin, as minister t
Ecuador and alike of A. $. Walker t.
be internal revenue collector for Texas
Some Lone Star Democrats had it tha
Senator Sheppard would 90 the limit t.
prevent these men from getting thOst
offices, particularly Mr. Thompson. ant
that he had been to the White House
to tell President Wilson so The mo
proved untrue but they had this foun
adtiOn, that Senator Sheppard would &C
the limit to prevent these men from get
ting those Offices, particularly Mr..
Thomson. "Of course. | will favor the
confirmation of Mr.. Thompson, if he
is nominated as minister to Ecuador"
said Senator Sheppard. when the matter
was brought to his attention. But |
have favored other Texas democrats for
diplomatic places, men who came to me
first and to whom l gave my promise of
vunnort Nv prrand to the White House
Offices was altogether different For one
thing the president asked me about the
nomination of Cato Sells to be Indian
Commissioner. which nomination has al
ready been made"
President Wilson is apparently max
ing diplomatic appointments, without
particularly needing requests Of Sena-
tors for their own friends Gut the nom
nation of Mr.. Thompson. if it is made
which some Texans here think doubtful.
will be largely due to Secretary of State
Rryan. He has been dipping quite Il
bit into Texas appointments and that
of Thompson. if made. will be very much
the work of the Secretary of State Mr..
BRYAN wants to provide for Thompson.
who has the support of F.. NJ. House, in
order that Bryan's particular friend, eX-
Judge A. S. Walker. Of Austin. may be
made collector of internal revenue
The attendance Of Texas members OF
tho House at Washington for the next