The Washington times., 1916-04-02
Useless P. O. System
Protected by Fdlldcy
Misapprehension in House Prevents the Passage of
Measure Providing for Much-Needed Change
in Cumbersome Accounting Scheme
Now in Use in Department.
By JUDsoN C. wELLIyER.

The difficulty OF getting administra-
tive reforms introduced into the great
postal system Is being illustrated anew
I'm connection with the conference on
postoffice appropriation bills.
An utterly unexpected and seemingly
unjustihable row has been kicked up
which threatens to prevent the execu-
ton of one simple reform that was ex-
pected to save great deal OF money
and greatly simplify the methods OF the
department.
The complexities OF postoffice book
keeping and accounting. together with
the difficulties of buying, distributing.
protecting. and keeping track OF all
manner OF supplies, are such that Tor
many years the best administrators
have given attention to them.
II has been realized that anything
which looks to simplify these opera
tions would add to the efficiency and
reduce the expense OF the department.
Better Supervision Planned.
In it's last annual report the de-
partment outlined a scheme that had
been devised contemplating much
better supervision OF the minor post
offices. and At the same time lesaen-
ing the expense of that supervision.
Briefly. II was proposed TO reduce
the number OF accounting postoffces
from $4,000 to 5000. under a plan
that would make all the minor Of
fees in given county subsidiary. "a
the most important office In that
| county.
At present. every fourth Gloss post
| master, though his office may not
| transact 5000 OF business in year. II
accountable directly to Washington
| nf ha =
visit his establishment and see thai
| II Is properly conducted and the pub
| lie efficiently served. Auditors iuusl
investigate his accounts. and grea'
| number OF reports must be made for'
| warded, and checked up.
| Despite all this intricate mechanism
OF supervision, the small postofncei
are inevitably left with less detailed
supervision than they ought TO have
The average country postmaster Is
1 crossroads storekeeper who keep!
the office In his store, or some elder
lily person who ls willing to look aftel
Uncle Sans business as sort oj
side line.
When country po.tmaster take
charge of his office there is likely Il
be no competent official to instruc
him in his duties and he must learI
by experience. usually at the expense
of the public's serious Inconvenience
unless he Is fortunately able to sc
the assistance OF an inspector
A Cumbersome System.
Even after he has reasonably learne,
his duties. the department has no mean
OF keeping intimately in touch with hin
and knowing what kind OF service h
renders except through the occasiona
visits OF the inspectors. complaint
from the public. and perhaps report
from the auditor inspired by failure I
render accounts promptly. or to de
posit Government funds regularly.
| Under this old system. which make
every country postmaster absolutely In
dependent OF everybody else except tn
department at Washington, IL is neces
sary that tbout llJ000o monthly, quar-
tcrly. and annual reports be prepared
transmitted. and examined. In addition
lover 100000 separate remittances mus
be made annually, many of them cor
Sisting OF only few dollars, at an eN
pense that sometimes is an appreciabl
proportion of the amount remitted
the depository.
: Finally. this cumbersome system.
addition to increasing greatly the eN
pense for clerk hire, necessitates III
Z maintenance OF much larger money oI
der reserves and increases the losst
by burglary. fire, and other casualties.
Tho country postoffices must be keT
supplied with stamps and other necei
stiles, and at times the amount
flee is so large that II In a temp0 tic
: to thievery. The great number of pos
office robberies committed nowada,
. testify TO this situation. The countr
postoffice Is a good deal easier pickir
{ for the yeggmen than the average coui
try bank
To Make County the Unit.
u Contemplating all these conditions. Il
department worked out scheme
e making the county the unit for superv
sion and accounting services. 1t Wi
proposed that all the minor postofrces
{ a given county should be subsidiary
( the main office at the county seat.
The postmaster at the main offi
would have general supervisory autho
t ity, would be required to visit the min
offices. see that they were properly 60
Quoted, that their accounts were prope
4 ly kept, their remittances made, etc.
All supplies for the offices within 4
D county would be sent to the main coun
= Office direct and distributed from II
small quantities; at the same time su
plus funds would he turned In to Il
central office at the time OF getting a
ditional supplies. possibly weekly,
even oftencr. In this way the stocks
stamps on hand, money order form