Evening star., 1915-12-18
Examination and CIassifica-
ton Have Been Completed, i
Mr.. Roper Reports.
TELLS OF STEPS TAKEN
TO BETTER MAIL SERVICE
Two Division Plan" Increases Ef-
/. 6ciency in Great Mail
Centers.

The work Of examination and classin-
cation of fourth-class postmasters un-
der the Presidents order of NAV :.
1918. is completed. and that in connec-
ton with the appointment of presiden-
tial postmasters is up to date. ac-
cording to the. report of Daniel C. Roper.
first assistant postmaster general, which
has just been made public.
The work Of reorganizing post offices
on what Is known as the two-division
plan also is announced to be rapidly
nearing completion. In the language of
the report, it has gone hand. in hand
with that of standardizinS and perfect
ing methods of operating and account
Ing" The natural trend of the delivery
and collection service has been marked
during the past year toward the more
general use of vehicles and. with the
cooperation of the second assistant
postmaster generals bureau. it is stated.
important economies. have been effected
and better service rendered in several
cities by combining provision for We
hicles for collection and delivery serv-
ice with those for screen wagon service
under one contract.
Surplus Shows Big Growth.
"A surplus ,Ol 90 VI lHc dppTOe
priations for the bureau. the largest in
its history. remained unexpended at the
close of the fiscal year. June 80. 1915.
and estimates for 1916, 1t is stated. call
for an average increase of but 2.59 per
cent as against an average of slightly
more than per cent for some years
past.
Fifteen branches Of the division Of
dead letters have been established at
post Offices for the disposition of un-
deliverable third and fourth class mail
Of obviously no value. and the number
of these branches is to be increased.
SO that all unsealed dead mail may be
handled as near the points of origin
as possible. The departmental division
now handled at the branch located in
the Washington post Office, together
with the disposition of unbelievable
sealed or first-class. mail. Effective De-
of cent is to be imposed for the re-
turn Of unbelievable letters, or their
delivery through the dead letter
office.
postmasters have been appointed. and
the rule has been enforced requiring
the personal attention of the post
master to the duties of his Office.
Tenure of Office Assured.
In the fourth-class post Offices. it Is
stated. appointments are now maze
only to fill vacancies caused by death.
resignation or the removal of the in
cumbent for cause, or upon the estab-
lishment of a new post office. selection
being based upon merit and efficiency
under the civil service rules" The
number Of appointments during the
fiscal year. however, is not stated. AL
though a table in the appendix of the
report shows there are 47,460 fourth
class post Offices and a total of $3.50
presidential and fourth-class offices.
The report suggests that post
masters of all grades. as well as other
officers. should be appointed for in
transfer and promotion to amy position
in the postal service"
AS result of the two division plan"
in post Offices. which probably will be
completed during the current year. the
report states, a higher degree of eff
great mail centers. and a double check
Is provided on every transaction, so
that the revenues are e6ectually safe
guarded.
General Delivery Discouraged.
In the interest of public morals. as
well as efficient service, every effort
is to be made to prevent the use OF the
general delivery by other than tran
sients or those who cannot be served
by city or rural carriers.
Efght-hour schedules for clerks and
carriers within daily period OF twelve
hours and weekly aggregate of IT,
ty-eight hours and the appointment of
third -class postmasters by the Post
master General are other recommends