The Washington herald., 1922-07-02
Postal System Is Making
Great Strides, Says Work
Present Administration Far More Efficient
Than Previous, Postmaster General
Declares, in Review.
By HUBERT WORK
The Fostmaster General.

with fidelity and the greatest dis
\ patch of which human ingenuity Is
| capable. The great postal system
| of the country. manned by nearly
I 250,000 workers. constitutes what
might be termed the greatest busi-
ness institution on earth. But. un-
Ake other business concerns. II
functions for no profit, laudation
or f-glorihcation. but with the
sole object OF rendering that intt-
mately personal service for which
It was created and to which the
| public is emitted.
| Frequently am asked TO discuss.
| In all its ramifcations, matters re-
| lating 20 the economic business ad-
| ministra ton of the postal service.
When the present administration
took charge IL was found that what
had come to be the worlds great
est business was being operated In
some respects on unbusinesslike
principles, and the public had be-
come dissatisfied with an institu-
tion whose inefficient operation
was a matter of daily concern to
them. President Harding's admin
| istration had pledged itself to
| more business In government and
| less government in business" ana
the officials appointed in the Post
Office Department throughout the
nation were. consequently charged
with carrying out these policies
Follows state System.
What is known as the decen-
tralization of post office work was
inaugurated by the present admin
istration. The fundamental prin-
ciple of decentralization is to do
everything in a State for q State
that can be done there. Formerly
a postmaster, whether twenty-five
or $500 miles from Washington.
sent his inquiries and complaints
to the department. Now they take
all such service matters up with
their central accounting postmas-
| ter or their inspector in charge and
get quick and reliable information,
in some localities many days ahead
of the time formerly required. This
system has been instituted without
the cost of one additional penny.
through more intensive organiza-
tion.
| Further. postoffice supplies for
merIy shipped from Washington. in
volving delays, sometimes TO the
embarrassment of the local ONCE.
are now supplied direct from the
central accounting once within the
State.
On July new system OF
handling funds and accounts at dis
trict Offices will be inaugurated
which will enable them TO finance
themselves and will eliminate the
| rendition and auditing OF soc, 900
monthly money order statements
each year. Postal funds and money
order funds from whatever source
Immediately become Interchange
able and available for any expenses
OF the ONCE. They will no longer
need to be kept in separate drawers.
an ancient method of accounting.
adopted when postmasters could not
keep books.
ReorGsnixing Larre omces.
Following the plan Of paying In
sured parcel post claims in the field.
We will on July / also extend this
method to C. o. d. cases. By this
action We expect to materially eK-
pedite the adjustment OF these
claims and establish q closer busi-
ness relation with our patrons.
We have undertaken reorganiza-
tion of approximately 100 of the
largest postofices serving the great
population centers of the country
and which conduct about IS per
cent of the postal business. In one
such once serving 7se,sSs patrons,
We have effected a saving OF $780,
900 annually, without curtailing or
impairing the service.
In this policy of reorea nization ]
have not overlooked my own house
J hold. and a thorough survey and
inspection of my Immediate depart
ment at Washington has been under
way for the past six weeks, re-
sulting in the elimination Of ap-
proximately $50 unnecessary posi-
tions inherited from the previou,
administration and effecting an an
nual saving of s15e.ooo, together
with the transfer of $40 employe.
to another department OF the gov
eminent where they properly be-
longed.
Uses Conference Plan.
There Is wisdom in counsel. Each
week the executive officers of the
department meet in weekly confer
ence, the Postmaster Generals stan
twice weekly. and present their
problems for discussion, upon Which
united judgments are based, SO tha,
when instructions are issued they
are the result Of an exchange OF
"iews which goes far in arriving
at a correct solution. understand
this had never been done before In
the department.
President Harding has appointed
1918 postmasters. OF this number
sos were soldiers, 1,072 were women
and 1,272 were employees who were
promoted from the ranks withou,
examination, the latter being ar
innovation which enables the de-
partment to reward meritorious ser
vice. There have been some 5000
fourth-cass postmasters appointed
also. making a total Of 1888.