Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-07-23

Ing the service ana III Intu anu WOIich q
sponsible for it was gone into. What is regarded
as the capstone of the humanizing effort was
put on when Mr.. Hays authorized postmasters
to consult with clerks and carriers or other
postal workers on matters affecting them and
the service. Mr.. Hays confidently looks for a
steady improvement in the mail service as a
result of this system, and that is where the
public will get its reward.
Mr.. Hays travels through the country in his
political campaign days brought him in touch
with many big private commercial enterprises,
and in their plants he came in contact with the
systems of welfare work they have found II
desirable to install and build up. If private
business could benefit from such systems, the
new ~ostmast general saw no reason why the
postal service could not benefit as well, and 1t
postal service would Immediately benefit every
client of the postofices, which means practically
everybody in the United States.
Postal Welfare Work.
Mr.. Hays accordingly secured the services
of DIR. Lee X. Frankel, vice-president of the
Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, known
far and wide as the head of the welfare work
built up among the employees and policy
holders Of that company. DR.. Frankel Is serv-
ing the postoffice department for an INDEFINITE
period without pay.
Another step taken by Mr.. Hays in following
cut his system is a change in the seniority
rights of postal employees who have resigned
and re-entered the service. 1t was Formerly
the practice to put them back at the foot OF
the list. Now and hereafter they may again
become postal employed, just enc grade below
that held when they resigned.
Mr.. Hays found many instances, too, where
CHe retirement law WOlhCu hJdotfNSo " "a.
ployees and hurt the service as well. The arbl-
trary retirement of a clerk whose mental ana
faculties are unimpaired did not please
the new boss of the postoffice department. He
put into effect a policy of continuing for two.
year periods those who were fit and restored
who had been arbitrarily retired. .
To carry the humanizing effort outside the
exact confines of the service and make II Apply
to the public, the postmaste general
interest in commercial clubs, chambers
Of commerce., boards of trades, ana similar
organizations. This is primarily to acquaint
business men directly with how they may help
in facilitating mail deliveries. mainly through
proper addressing and mailing during the DAY
instead of dumping quantities of mail on the
Just at the close of the business day.
Postmasters have been told to encourage con.
,~tructive criticism and legitimate complaints OF
personal and prompt attention to these COM
plants when they come in. Also, these post
have been instructed to get IN toucn
With school authorities with a view or educating
school children in postal matters.
Mr.. Hays is not claiming credit for the sys-
en- as the child of his brain. IT mas neen ursea
yoing to get results from pushing the plan as
lard as it can be pushed.
'Mail Early" Campaign.
In the campaign to induce mailing throughout
he day, the begin at home" policy was
ldopted. The postmaster general nrst TOOK n
I'D with the other members of the cabinet ana
of congress. 1t was found that nearly
very governmental bureau had been hQlding
nail until the close of the day, then deposNing
t all with the postofice. This %clogging Of the
nails naturally resulted in delays which were
,ften unavoidable. |
One of the first results of the plan was that
t was possible to shift many of the night mali
to day jobs, from which these employees
benefited. To business men Mr.. Hays
!ppealed on a give and take oasis. ~ ansrI
nent to hold their mail all day, then dump II
Ill on them at the close of the business day.
1T is just as blessed to deliver mail to the
,osfofica hOIIr nv hour as 1T Is TO receive II
lour by hour" he pointed out. Almost i'm
Mediate results were seem. 80.
interest in the detection of mail robbers, .Mr:
Hays asfonished them by offering a reward OF
$4,000. without any strings to II. TO any posras
md ammunition for the men engaged IN
handling valuable mail were obtained from the
war department. Since this happened there
In the handling of many phases of the bust
men Of the greatest ability in their own lines.
Dr.. Frankel is an example. The purchasing
agent Of a big railroad is serving without com
in the purchasing department OF the
,ostofice department. The proper man Is now
being sought to take care OF the system OF
etass o ; a r an by the zoos dep automobii laei0a Ths
transportation expert Of one of the big rail-
'oads is serving as second assistant to Mr.. Hays
n charge of the railway mail service among
other things. ,
The system is being extended to the parcel
post service, an express business conducted by
he government and handling over 2,OOO,OoO,-
700 pieces of mail in bulky form every year:
Then there is the banking end of the postal
business. Mr.. Hays is authority for the state
that there is a billion dollars hoaroea
away In American socks and chimney corners
which should be in circulation, through deposit
in the postal savings system. to assist in the
nations industrial revival. To lure these dollars
from their lairs, Mr.. Hayes plans to increase
the rate Of interest paid to depositors, to make
interest payments apply to deposits left In Tor
than a wear, to remove the age IHlL v
to provide for joint and trust funds
to extend the postal savings feature OF the
service to SO, 900 postofices. 1t is now estap-
in only $500 offices.