The New York herald., 1921-10-30

rauon's business depends on the postal
service
Universally. business men do about
rs per cent. of the postal business and
should know all about 1t and have more
TO say concerning methods Of improve
nsent. ! wish I could impress upon BUSH
ness men how earnestly the postal man
agement is looking for suggestions, con-
structive criticism and complaints of
poor service. We want these for pur-
pose---that there may be action on them.
This IL absolutely the one best way to
improve the service.
We had a representative from the ex-
porters OF the country go to Buencs
Aires with our own Official to attend
the Pan-American Postal Congress, now
in session there, from which we expect
conventions which will facilitate the
rsrcel post and other business with the
South American republics.
The savings bankers have advised with
us on the postal savings changes which
have been recommended to Congress.
We got representative big manufac-
tuIer to come to Washington in connec-
ton with the cost Of keeping record Of
parcel post.
A traf.ic expert from one OF the big
railroads of the Northwest Is to-day Sec
ond Assistant Postmaster General.
We had the general purchasing agent Of
one Of the largest railroads go over care
fully our methods Of ptrcha sing supplies.
The vice-president and expert OF one
Ct the big life insurance companies is
serving in the department indefinitely
without salary, improving working con-
ditions of the postal employees.
The president OF one Of the largest
motor i,aulage companies in New York
city. serving without pay. is going to
reorganizc the motor vehicle service Of
the Post Once Department. which oper-
ntes almost 1000 motor trucks and has
q. personnel Of nearly 5000 people. This
service is conf1hed to the delivery Of
mail within cities.
We are calling to Washington experi-
enced postmasters who deal directly with
business men, These postmasters re-
main here several weeks and sit in on
cur semi-weekly departmental confer
ences to keep us In touch with the actual
conditions during this formative period.
We have regarded the Post Office Com
mittees of Senate and House as a board
OF directors and the Joint Postal Com
mission as an executive committee. They
are In touch With everything we are try
ing to do and the department Is in touch
with them continually.
Ohea~x-n hour cnanItoo ,,r, <ta vxao N va
fiected saving to the business COM
munity of $1,000 a day on a 5ta per
cent. interest basis In New York city.
We made change Of method Of pouch.
ing and distributing incoming registered
mail for the financial district OF New
York. and during one OF the weeks In
July an average Of 100000 daily was
collected through the Clearing House on
the day Of receipt which under the old
late for clearing.
AS bueiness men know, a business is
nc stronger than its weakest link. Often
that link Is It's personnel. That has of
late been the weak link in the postal
service. II we can improve the spirit
and actual conditions of the 100000
men and women who do this Job that
In itself is an accomplishment. and it Is
just as certain to bring a consequential
Improvement In the service as to-mor-
rows sun is to appear.
When we took hold of the administra-
ton of the post Office 1t seemed 10 me
that the field In which tie greatest prog
-ess could be made in the shortest time
was In improving the morale Of the SER
vice. I was sure that by merely intro
ducing q different spirit into the rela-
tions between the department and the
employees, by making them more COM
Portable and giving them assurance
about their future commensurate with
their worth and Importance. as = mat
ter Of simple justice--by merely doing
this ! felt confident that we could ac-
complish the equivalent Of adding many
thousands Of employees to the depart
ent. and Il has succeeded. j am deter
mined In all seriousness to so to great
lengths to develop in the department the
spirit that we are 100000 partners. The
working conditions in many places are
unsatisfactory and a large amount Of
Improvement must be made in that d.
iaction. There Is no doubt about the
quality Of our employees. They have
the brains and they have the hands to
do this job well. and now again their
full heart Is coming into the service.
We are developing a welfare depart
ment just as definite in its duties and
certain in its functioning as the fiscal
department or any other department.
Every other large industry Of the coun-
try has adopted welfare measures Why
1t has not been seriously attempted be-
fore IN the Post Office Department I
don't know. Uncle Sam must be just as
good a boss as any private employer.
In many of the larger cities the post
Office buildings are wholly inadequate 10
meet the constant growth Of the postal
service. As an Illustration. In New
ycrk city. where the situation is most
acute, there has been no increase in
postal facilities since 1912. and yet the
growth Of postal receipts at that Office
increased 2se per cent.
The Joint Postal Commission has been
working on this problem for some time
They have Just submitted report on
th, New York city postal problem. 4, la
order that we may Lave every possipie
assistance in solving this big problem /
have appointed citizens committee,
CO mposed of leading business men OF
New York city to act in an advisory
capacity as to the best method Of pro-
ylding the most urgent postal needs at
ti'is point, which might sptly he termed
IA. nccls of tne bottle