Amarillo daily news. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 19??-current, 1913-06-07
HtRLEsON II RAPIDLY M.
rhoNiNG THE SERVICE,
MAKING III EFFICIENT.
IMPOVERISHED SER Y | CE
bufieson Contends That Former Ad-
ministration Placed Undue stress
on Economy Thereby Grip.
pling Efficiency of Service


By Associated Press.
WASHINGTON. ID. c., June C.
Immediately upon his induction into
Office on March 3, Postmaster Bur
lesson "as confronted with persistent
and serious complaints throughout
the country OF generally unsatisfac-
tory mail facilities Realizing that
efficient postal facilities are vitol to
the commercial prosperity of the
country, and to the social happiness
OF our people. Mr.. Burleson set about
at once In business-like way to
remedy the defects. Naturally his
iirst action was TO ascertain the
causes responsible for the deplorable
conditions, and TO this end appoint
ed committee consisting of the four
assistant postmasters general and
the chief clerk of the department.
and charged the committee with the
duty Of ascertaining the financial.
physical and working conditions OF
the department. and of the entire
service. A thorough investigation
was made by the committee and
report OF their findings promptly
submitted. Tn report traced the
causes of the complaints of ineffici-
ent postal facilities and made sug
gestions "a to how relief could be- se-
cured and the services restored to
that high state OF efficiency deman-
ded and required by the public. Brief
~ stated. the causes OF the condi-
tions complained OF were attributed
to:
l. The undue stress placed l..
the former administration of the de-
partment on economy at the hazard
of injury TO postal facilities. which in
some instances so impoverished the
service as to make II necessary FOR
the new administration TO act quick
ly and drastically In order to save
the integrity OF the service and
bring relief to the people.
2 The difficulties of the situa-
tion were intensified by the rapidly
volume of business
brought by the parcel post. which
went into operation January !. 1913.
and from the adjustments made nee
essary under the eight-in-ten-law.
The business-lke and effective
in which Postmaster Gener-
al Burleson has grasped the situa-
tion and launched the necessary
plans to meet the emergency which
the service is forcefully
illustrated by the following resume
of some OF the things which have
been accomplished since March I:
Clerical Aid Given
During the ninety days of the new
about 1000 additional
clerks and approximately 500 addi-
tional city letter carriers have been
attached to the various postoffices
throughout the country and besides
these additions to the reg dlar force
approximately sl0O.OO0.00 has been
authorized for temporary clerk hire
and about 100000 for temporary
city letter carriers These unusual
financial demands made II necessary
for the postmaster general 10 20 10
Congress In May for an emergency
OF 100000, which |
was promptly granted, and 100000 |
allotted for temporary clerk hire and
n like amount for temporary car
riers
PoStmasters Appointed
On March :, 1913 there were about
22OO vacant postmasterships OF the |
presidential grade. and some 300 |
have become vcant since OF these !
more than 1900 cases have been |
hriefeJ and about 1909 nominated |
To the senate. or the fourth-class
postmasterships where were found /
vacant ON March 3. including those
which have become vacant since.
amounting 20 about $500 more than T,
I 700 have been filled as the result |
Of Civil Service examinations or in
spectors reports. leaving at the pres
ent time about 1000 Of the Presiden-
tial grade and some 2S00 OF the
fourth class 10 be disposed Of These
are being dealth With espediiiously /
Rural Routes Authorized
Within the last sixty days fSS
FOR rural delivery routes
have been disposed Of. resulting In /
the establishment OF 203 routes. in
yolving an annual expenditure for I
OF approximately $3.50 4
p00 By the establishment OF these
new routes and the extension OF
old routes more than 2o0. 900 people
are noW receiving their mail at
their doors Instead Of al remote
Rackstamping 81 Mail
In pursuance OF the policy %
the delivery OF mail the
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