Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1914-08-09
LETTERS METHODS
 P. .. DEPARTMENT
Burleson Establishes Pur.
 chasing and Cost Keep ing System.
(By Sidney Espey.)

lDy toluuCy GoPNyJ Washington, Aug. S.-Scientific purchasing and costkeeping is the latest hobby to be put into effect by Postmaster-Genera Burelson. He has just signed an order formally establishing the division of boupment in the bureau of Fourth Assistant Postmaster General Blakslee. In fu- ture any labor saving device, or ms- chanical appliance adopted for use In the postal service must have the ap- proyal of committee of experts in the new division.
 An up-to-date system of costkeep- ing will be maintained. MT. Burleson says that as result of the establish ment of the division of equipment it no longer can be said that the post office department is without scien- tific division or costkeeping system. In the order which formally estab- lshed the new division, there was a new definition of the term "equip- ment" when applied to postal affairs. Thereafter, tine term equipment in- cluded only mail pouches, sacks, locks and keys. Under the new order the definition is extended so as to in- clude any mechanical device or ap' pliance used in the postal service, such as can ceiling machines and their motors, adding machines, type writers, addressing machines, dupli- eating machines, multigraphs, pencil sharpeners, scales, letter balances, vehicles, automobiles, and mail con- veyers and "picg-up tables used in postoffices.
 In addition to the supervision and operation of the equipment shops where mail pouches, sacks, locks and keys are manufactured, the duties ol the new division will be the furnish ing of equipment to the postal service and the designing of such new equip ment as may be necessary, the per- forming or directing of expermineta1 ad research work, and the prepara- tions for equipment, whether manu- factured or purchased.
 In all the new division will consist of several hundred employees and will be of vital importance to the operation of the vast postal system. MT. Burleson recognized the import
 ance of placing the right men at the head of the new division and gave the
 most careful consideration to the matter before making the appoint ment.
 S0utherner In Charge.
 MT. Burleson finally announced that he had selected William I. Denning as the head of the division of equip ment. Denning had just been promot- ed to the Superintendent of the divis- ion of dead letters. From salary of $1,SO0 year he was jumped to a $2.7O0 salary, within few days. Prior to being placed at the head of the division of dead letters, Denning was chief executive clerk to MT. Burleson. In this position, Demming acquired a wide knowledge of postal affairs.
 He is one of the youngest execut- ives in the postoffice department. He was born on a farm near Griswolds- vile, Jones county, Ga., and entered the postal service as an assistant postmaster when only IT years old. In 1903 he became a rural carrier at Griswoldsville as a result of a com petitive examination. He served two years as rural carrier and then was appointed railway mail clerk.
 In 1907 Denning was offered a clerkship in the postoffice department at Washington. He accepted and be- ga work under the second assistant postmaster-ge general. Denning's duty involved the handling of a number of special cases of difficult character and he gained an intimate knowledge of the workings ofthe big depart ment.
 Then MT. Burleson was made post master-general, and Denning, because of his varied experience, was made chief executive clerk to MT. Burle- son, ranking next to the private sec retary of the postmaster general. Fort the last year Denning has been in close touch with all the important affairs of the postoffice department by reason of his colse association with postmaster general, and MT. Burleson also had an opportunity to
 learn of Denning's ability at close range.
 While working in Washington, Denning studied law and was grad uated from Geore Washington Uni versity with the degree of A. B. He passed the law examination and was admitted to the bar of the District of Columbia. Before coming to Wash ington Denning lived one year in Ma con and two years in Atlanta, Ga.