Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-06-10
POSTAL DEPARTMENT CHANGES
New Manager of Mail System Docs
Much Work, ....

Postmaster General Burleson has
just given out statement summarize
Ing various measures adopted or con-
templated in the administration Of the
postal service. The statement says In
part: 80.
During the ninety days of the new
administration 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 regular force
approximately s1.000,000 has been au-
thorized for temporary clerk hire, and
about 100000 for temporary city let.
ter carriers. These unusual financial
demands made II necessary for the
postmaster general to go to congress
In May for an emergency appropria-
ton of 100000, which was promptly
granted, and 100000 allotted for tenn
porary clerk hire, and a like amount
for temporary carriers.
"On March s, 1913, there were about
1900 vacant postmasterships Of the
presidential grade, and some 800 have
become vacant since. OF these more
than 1900 cases have been briefed and
about $500 nominated to the senate.
"Of the fourth class postmasterships
which were to be vacant on March 5th,
including those which have become
vacant since, amounting to about H.
500, more than 1,700 have been filled
tions or inspectors reports, leaving
at the present time about 1000 Of the
presidential grade, and some $500 Of
the fourth-class to be disposed Of.
These are being dealt with expedi-
within the last sixty days 488 Pc
titions for rural delivery routes have
been disposed Of, resulting In the es-
tablishment of 203 routes, involving
an annual expenditure for mainte-
nance Of approximately $190,000. BY
the establishment of these new routes
and the extension Of old routes, more
than 100000 people are now receiving
their mail at their doors, instead Of at
remote postofiices.
I'm pursuance Of the policy Of expe-
diting the delivery of mail, the post
master general has ordered the dis
continuance Of the backstamping Of
all ordinary mail which heretofore has
delayed Its delivery anywhere from
twenty minutes to one-half hour.
"The condition in the railway mail
service was found to be most urgent
where through mistaken ideas of
economy, the clerical force had been
so reduced as to effect efficient service
and car space cut down to a danger
point. With the advent Of the parcel
post system on January 1st, which in
creased tremendously the volume of
business handled, additional clerks
and Increased car space were most
imperative. But nothing was done to
relieve this, 1t being left to the new
administration to restore the efficien-
cy of this important branch Of the
service. Nine hundred and ten ad-
ditional clerks have been added to
the service since March 4th, and in
year has been provided. Already q
marked improvement is noted in this
service. . 7
"The parcel post regulations have
been modified so as to permit the de-
livery ts the addressee, without addi-
tional charge, Of matter reaching the
office of address with improper stamps
affixed.
by an arrangement made with the
Canadian postal service the rates of
postage on Sunday editions Of daily
newspapers mailed to subscribers In
Canada, who also are subscribers to
the weekday editions, has been fixed
at one cent q pound or fraction there
Of instead Of at one cent for four
ounces or fraction, as formerly" \
In conclusion the statement says:
1T Is Postmaster General Burleson's
desire and earnest endeavor to estab-
lish, in the interest Of economy and
efficiency, uniform methods and prac-
tices throughout the entire service
and to direct postmasters to the best
way of administering the postal facil-
tiles. To this end he proposed to keep
in close touch with their operations,
and thus bring the service to the
highest possible degree Of efficiency"