The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1925-08-27
new LAUDS P, 0.
SERVICE IN
ADDRESS
Postmaster General Stresses
Importance of Revising
Rates

CLEVELAND. Ohio. Aug. 81
Importance of the revision CT the
present postal rates by the sixty
ninth Congress upon recommends
tfon, to be made by the Joint Con-
gressionaI Committee, Wnicn
holding hearings in various sections
OF the country, was emphasized ~
Postmaster General Harry S. New
here today in an address Lefore the
1oint meeting of eight postal or
Sanizations. holding their annual
conventions in this city. s
'The future success Of the Post
office Department" said the Post
master General, Gin its service to
the people viii be influenced in a.
Measurable degree by the action
which Congress may take in regard
to the recommendation which may
be made by the present Postal Com
mission. now holding hearings
throughout the country.
Too Early to Predict
'sThe department, as well as the.
users of the mails, has submitted
Co the commission information with
respect to the effect of the recent
Changes in postage rates. These
hearings are not yet concluded and
Il IL too early to forecast specific
changes which may be recommended
teSthe Congress.
As for myself, j. am confident
that Il Is not only ito the best
interests of the patrons of the
mails: but to. the department itself
that changes should be made. Some
OF the rates. enacted by Congress
were not recommended by the de-
parfment and were opposed by Il
before the committees of Congress.
Experience has justified our judg-
uent. It is perhaps too early at
this time, and 1t win come more
appropriately later, to say spectre
any what recommendations the
Postoffice Department viii submit
to the Postal Commission along
these lines. / can at least say TO.
day that some Recommendation VIII
Be submitted .
Postmaster General New voiced
the conviction in his address that
ssours Is the cheapest postal service
IN the worll, - and recommended
those who complain Of the rates
OF postage in the United States to
reflect on this statement.
Dealing with the criticism OF
marry that the Postoffice Depart
nlent should be placed on self
sustaining or paying basis, Mn
New said:
Service Comes First
ar would repeat what have
eaid in every postal address have
delivered since I became Postmaster
Generai-that it Is not the view OF
this. Administrator that the bal
aeinr OF the budget OF the POST
office Department is the prime
ssTsbes matter efor ffrst cousideEa-
ton b the performance OF Eoou ana'
efffcient service and II the cost
az giving this somewhat exceeds the
receipts derived from it no tears
viii be shed. But a deficit Is a
deficit. and. without regard to the
AeDartment In which 1t Is created,
n must be met by drafts upon the
Treasury of the United States and
the balance in the Treasury can
only be maintained by assessing the
taxpayer"
A bit of humor was injected in
the speech when, In dealing with
applying business methods to the
postoffice, Mr.. New said that the
man wl1o can get one unnecessary
cent past General Lord can buy a
suit of clothes off Jew and sell
them TO a Scotchman at a profit.
The recent appointment of Robert
s. Reear. former Chief Clerk of the
Postoffice Department az Third
Assistant Postmaster General was
cited by Mr.. New as evidence that
the civil service laws are being
observed.
Observe Civil Service.
1--WE are accused" he declared.
cot not having proper regard for
the civil service and constant yfo-
lation Of it's provisions. Someone
says the department is used as a
political machine. That was never
90 untrue as 1t is this day and the
facts easily justify me. in this state.
ment.
Look at the appointments and
promotions in the service made by
this administration. They have
been made from top to bottom,
within the real spirit of the civil
service, from the Postmaster Gen
erals assistants down the whole
length of the official time.
within the last two weeks we
have appointed a new Third Assist
ant Postmaster General in the per.
son OF Robert s. Roger. He enter
ed the service sixteen years ago as
q department clerk, and has come
I'D through the grades. He Is
Acting Postmaster General this
day in the absence from Washing.
ton OF the Postmaster General and
the First and Second Assistants"