Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-07-30
NOT AN APPEAL BUT A DEMAND

planned for nearly Ave and a half
million reduction in expenditures
from the appropriations now brings
this matter Of economy home 10 each
individual postmaster throughout the
country, and informs him that Presi-
dent Hard!ng's ca!l for economy is
no; an appeal but u demand born Of
tho NECESSITY
The department letter calls this a
sranscendent duty. 1t Is The Presi-
dents remark that We must have
more business in Government and
ie3s Government in business" is APP
piled 10 The postal affairs, where it
Gnoulc 20 especially applicable. Dis
tribut!ng the mails is Of itself bust
ness Of tremendous Importance and
great magnitude. The Government
win not permit this to be done as a
private business and so is under spe-
cial obligations to have it done prop
erIy AID on business principles II is
interlocked with the business Of the
world and unless properly handled
becomes a dead weight ON progress.
While the administration should in
sist on economy and rigidly inspect
and improve methods it should cor
rect condition which has al along
been an incentive to extravaganza,
the pruning of estimates submitted
from the various Offices rather as a
matter OF system apparently, than
according TO the dictates OF inforrna-
ton, respecting the actual needs.
Indeed ii appears to have become
proverbial among the suhordinates
that 10 obtain what they thought to
be actually necessary ore must sub
nit excessive estimates. 1t is but
natural to suppose the subordinate
viii magnify the Importance of his
needs, but pruning should not be done
on general principles. The actual
need should be inteliigently deter
mined by DISTINGUISHED inspection if
pOss!blca big job by The way--and
the subordinate should he shown
wherein his demand was exorbitant
and informed that If persisted in
would resul, in penalty. But all this
does not explain some of the condi-
tons complained Of in the depart
ment letter.
incident TO the war, the volume of
business and receipts of many post
offices doubled and trcbled, and
clerical and carrier forces were in
creased accordingly, including ex-
traerdinary expenditures for auxiliary
and substitute service, as well as for
overtime. This was justified IN
measure on account of economic and
labor conditions. However. this
emergency has long since passed,
generous increases in the salaries of
postal employees have been made by
Congress, and there is now a surplus
instead Of a shortage of labor. Not
withstanding these changed condi-
tons. the falling off in population
era! reduction in receipts, few if any
offices have made any appreciate
curtailment in expenditures or vol
unfairly surrendered any clerks or
carriers On the other hand eX-
penditures for auxiliary help have
continued unstinted. overtime has APP
parently been employed excessively
and unnecessarily, and repeated re-
quests have been made for additional
clerks and carriers"
The patrons q the local offices
in this vicinity are aware of
little evidence warranting the sup
position that these offices have
had excess OF help; indeed quite
general impression is that she days of
the post Office employees have been
filled full especially under strenuous
conditions existing the past few
Years. ON the other hand it mani
festly is incumbent on the depart
emnt to Immediately and mistakenly
remedy the situation il describes.
That it will need practical. hard
headed but fair minded men for in
spectors and instructors and a fund
Of inspiration to better service con-
stantly on tap, goes without the say
ing. Otherwise conditions against
which Just complaint rests will lee
made worse and the public is not in
mood to tolerate it, II is further
more evident to the public that sew
eral screws are loose in parts OF the
postal system outside the post Offices
Otherwise copies of publications
would not be on sale ut news agencies
two on three days before they are re-
ceived in the post Office for distribu-
ton TO the regular subscribers. We
think the public is willing to pay for
good service, and if so should have it,
-s-----~-~Ss-------