Jasper Republican, Volume 1, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 January 1875 — Circular to Postmasters. [ARTICLE]

Circular to Postmasters.

Washington, Dec. 28. The Postmaster-General wiU soon send to all Postmasters of leading cities a circular, of which the following is an extract : “The increasing deficiency in the Postoffice Department is assuming such proportions as to demand a strict and rigid effort to reduce expenses, with a view to curtail this great deficiency. One of the largest items in the annual expenditures of this department is the expenses of the Postoffice. This, upon examination, is found to differ very materially in offices of the same class which are influenced by the same condition of service. The appropriations for these expenditures for the fiscal year are $3,250,000. The expenditures at the present rate will be $3,340,000, leaving a deficit of $90,000. I have determined upon an investigation of-all the offices, to be made by agents of the Postoffice Department who are thoroughly versed in all the details of Postofllce work and requirement, with a view of discovering the amount necessary to be appropriated for the next ensuing year. “In connection with this I deem it advisable to reorganize the clerical force of all the offices of the higher grade, systematizing the labor and basing the compensation of the clerks upon the quality and amount of the service performed and introducing a system of appointments and promotions that will enable you to reduce the force and expenses to the lowest limit, End increasing the efficiency of the service to the greatest

extent; while at the same time the pay to individual eletks may be increased zation is absolutely necessaryto carry ont the object proposed, and will receive the attention of the agents detailed for the examination of the offices.” The Postmaster-General suggests to Postmasters that they forthwith submit a draft of such a scheme of organization of their respective offices as they may think necessary.