The Huttig news., 1916-07-08
INTELLIGENT MANAGEMENT.
Thousands Of Dollars Saved Annually by the introduction of Modern Methods
 in Post Office Department.

The interest of people in public affairs is considerably heightened when they learn that the revenues of the government are judiciousls managed. A statement of eco nomieal expenditure which is suss ceptible of proof will always attract attention and please the thoughtful reader.
 Among the varied industrial en- terprises of the Postoffice Depart ment in Washington is an establish ment devoted entirely to the man ufacture of mail locks and the bag attachments used in mail transpor- tation. When this administration came into power, the Department solely needed an improved type of mail lock The shop was immedi ately reorganized, placed on busi- ness basis, and it's activities en- larged so as to meet this impera- tive demand
 The lock in use weighed 5l2 ounces; the new one weighs 2 4-5 ounces. As 43O.OOO of this new product have been put into service. the difference in weight (the Goy- ernment paying as much for the weight of equipment as it does for the mail itself) can be easily calcu- lated. The locks replaced by this new and better style cost 2 cents each to make; those now being manufactured cost 8l2 cents. di- rect and indirect charges consider ed, the saving thus shown on origi- nal cost of production to date amounting tn $55,z5o. Of the old style, 36,OOO were annually re- turned for repair at a cost of about 9 cents each. Of the new style, out of the great number sent into the service. but oO6 have been re- turned, and as these new locks can be repaired at cost of s cents each, the annual saving on this item will amount to over $2.1OO.
 The Department in this admins tration encouraged it's employees to give their best service to the Gov erment and many instances have recently come to rotice whe en the Department has greatly profited by this wise and public policy. In the lock shop recent achievement in this direction is an improved cord fastener. the work of three of it's employees, for use on bags; also one designed for locking large quan- titles of parcel-post matter, which has heretofore been without this protection. It can be made at very low price, requiring less ma terial and fewer number of oper- ations. The significant part of this lies in the great number required in the service, between three and four millions, the output being 5OO,0oo annually. As the cost has been re- duced by the new method from Az to 5 cents each, 1t will be seen what splendid showing this makes for administrative economy.
 Another valuable improvement has been the perfected locking cord fastener designed for use on tie sacks. something which the De- partment for years has needed and vainly endeavored to accomplish. This device will be of great value to the postal service at large by in creasing the capacity and efficiency of mall bags to a degree dlfflCult to estimate.
 For many years a tremendous expense mas hesn the labeling of the immense quantity of mail bags in use. The form of label used in the past and still used by clerks all over the country is the doubling and refolding of what is known as a facing slip" The preparation of these labels by the thousands has been and is an expensive proposl- tion, yet there appears to have beep no effort on the part of previous ,-;..;c+rof;opc to prOorase ff0Hn