The operations of the postal service are conducted by divisional arrangement with the duties of each accurately and specifically defined. Previous to this administration much of the work of the various bureaus was found to be overlapping each other and exercising a separate authority in correlated matters. These officially related duties were each brought under a proper head, insuring prompt attention and fixing a definite responsibility which has been found to be of recognized benefit and value.

OFFICE OF THE POSTMASTER GENERAL

Postmaster General.—Albert S. Burleson, Texas.
Private Secretary.—Robert E. Cowart, Texas.
Chief Clerk.—Ruskin McArdle, Texas.
Assistant Chief Clerk.—William W. Smith, Tennessee.
Division of Solicitor.—

Solicitor.—William H. Lamar, Maryland.
Assistant Attorneys.—J. Julien Southerland, North Carolina.

Walter E. Kelly, Ohio.
Edwin A. Niess, Pennsylvania.
John A. Nash, Pennsylvania.

Bond Examiner.—Horace J. Donnelly, District of Columbia.
Law Clerk.—Arthur J. Kause, Ohio,

Division of Purchasing Agent.—

Purchasing Agent.—James A. Edgerton, New Jersey.
Chief Clerk.—Frederick H. Austin, Missouri.

Division of Post Office Inspectors.—

Chief Inspector.—George M. Sutton, Missouri.
Chief Clerk.—J. Robert Cox, North Carolina.

Appointment Clerk.—Vacant.
Disbursing Clerk.—William M. Mooney, Ohio.

OFFICE OF THE FIRST ASSISTANT POSTMASTER GENERAL

First Assistant Postmaster General.—John C. Koons, Maryland.
Chief Clerk.—John W. Johnston, New York,
Division of Post Office Service.—

Superintendent.—Goodwin D. Ellsworth, North Carolina.
Assistant Superintendent.—William S. Ryan, New York.

Division of Postmasters’ Appointments.—

Superintendent.—Charles R. Hodges, Texas.
Assistant Superintendent.—Lorel N. Morgan, West Virginia.
Assistant Superintendent.—Simon E. Sullivan, Maryland.

Division of Dead Letters.—

Superintendent.—Marvin M. McLean, Texas.

OFFICE OF THE SECOND ASSISTANT POSTMASTER GENERAL

Second Assistant Postmaster General.—Otto Praeger, Texas.
Chief Clerk.—Eugene R. White, Vermont.
Division of Railway Mail Service.—

General Superintendent.—Wm. I. Denning, Georgia.
Assistant General Superintendent.—George F. Stone, New York.
Chief Clerk.—Chase C. Gove, Nebraska.

Division of Foreign Mails.—

Superintendent.—Robert L. Maddox, Kentucky.
Assistant Superintendent.—Stewart M. Weber, Pennsylvania.
Assistant Superintendent at New York.—Edwin Sands, New York.

Division of Railway Adjustments.—

Superintendent.—James B. Corridon, District of Columbia.
Assistant Superintendent.—George E. Bandel, Maryland.

OFFICE OF THE THIRD ASSISTANT POSTMASTER GENERAL

Third Assistant Postmaster General.—Alexander M. Dockery, Missouri.
Chief Clerk.—William J. Barrows, Missouri.
Division of Finance.—

Superintendent.—William E. Buffington, Pennsylvania.

Division of Postal Savings.—

Director.—Carter B. Keene, Maine.
Assistant Director.—Charles H. Fullaway, Pennsylvania.
Chief Clerk.—Harry H. Thompson, Maryland.

Division of Money Orders.—

Superintendent.—Charles E. Matthews, Oklahoma.
Chief Clerk.—F. H. Rainey, District of Columbia.

Division of Classification.—

Superintendent.—William C. Wood, Kansas.

Division of Stamps.—

Superintendent.—William C. Fitch, New York.

Division of Registered Mails.—

Superintendent.—Leighton V. B. Marschalk, Kentucky.

OFFICE OF THE FOURTH ASSISTANT POSTMASTER GENERAL

Fourth Assistant Postmaster General.—James I. Blakslee, Pennsylvania.
Chief Clerk.—J. King Pickett, Alabama.
Division of Rural Mails.—

Superintendent.—George L. Wood, Maryland.
Assistant Superintendent.—Edgar R. Ryan, Pennsylvania.
Chief Clerk.—Lansing M. Dow, New Hampshire.

Division of Equipment and Supplies.—

Superintendent.—Alfred B. Foster, California.
Assistant Superintendent.—Vacant.
Chief Clerk.—Vacant.

OFFICE OF THE AUDITOR FOR THE POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT

Auditor.—Charles A. Kram, Pennsylvania.
Assistant and Chief Clerk.—Terrence H. Sweeney, Minnesota.
Law Clerk.—Faber Stevenson, Ohio.
Expert Accountant.—Lewis M. Bartlett, Massachusetts.
Electrical Accounting System.—

Chiefs of Division.—

Louis Brehm, Illinois.
Joshua H. Clark, Maryland.
James R. White, District of Columbia.

Miscellaneous Division.—

Chief.—Jasper N. Baker, Kansas.

LATEST FACTS OF POSTAL INTEREST
Report of Postmaster General; Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 1917

The long continued agitation between the railroads and the Post Office Department over the method of payment for mail transportation is in process of settlement by actual tests. The contention is whether the basis of payment shall be by weight or by the space used. While the space rate is the higher of the two it lends itself to rational readjustment, and is therefore best for government needs. The tests made show a saving of about $7,000,000 per annum by the space method.

The efficiency standard now required of Postmasters, has it is stated, greatly improved the service and the announced policy of the Department to reappoint all those who render meritorious service has been adhered to and will be continued.

During the year ending June 30, 1917, 38 second class offices were advanced to the first class; 135 third class to second, and 1,203 fourth class to third. Average annual salary of post-office clerks is now $1,142 per annum, city carriers $1,126.50.

Removals of employees for cause are now rarely made, statistics show less than one per cent in both the post office and city carrier service.

It is recommended that where because of unusual conditions, rural carriers cannot be obtained at the maximum rate of pay, advertisements be issued calling for proposals for the performance of such service.

Motor vehicle routes are now in operation on a total length of over 41,000 miles, averaging 54 miles per route, at an average cost of $1,786.49 per route.

There are now 43,463 rural routes in operation, covering 1,112,556 miles. Cost of rural service decreased 0.011 per patron during the year 1917; cost per mile decreased 0.114 cent per mile.

The cost per mile of travel by star-route contractors is $0.1024. Cost per mile of travel by rural carrier is $0.1510. This difference in cost is receiving departmental consideration.

Shipment of parcel post packages increased 14 per cent in 1917, the increase representing more than 25,000,000 pieces. Cooperation of postmasters in bringing the insurance feature particularly that of partial damage prominently to public notice, has resulted in an increase of over 8,000,000 insured parcels over the showing of 1916.

Growing carelessness in addressing letter mail resulted in 13,000,000 letters being found undeliverable during 1917, an increase of 21 per cent.

The report shows an audited surplus for the year of $9,836,211 the largest in the history of the department. The increase over the preceding year was 5.66 per cent, while the increase in cost was 4.45 per cent. The audited revenues for the year amounted to $329,726,116.

Remarkable growth in postal savings is shown. In 1917 there were 674,728 depositors with a total of $131,954,696 to their credit. The average balance for each depositor was $195.57. This was an increase over the previous year of 71,791 in the number of depositors, $45,934,811 in the amount and $52.90 in the per capita balance.