If it should appear by actual experience that the heads of departments in fact have not time to perform the additional duty imposed on them by this bill, the force in their offices should be increased or the duties devolving on them personally should be diminished.  An undersecretary should be appointed to whom could be confided that routine of administration which requires only order and accuracy.  The principal officers could then confine their attention to those duties which require wise discretion and intellectual activity.  Thus they would have abundance of time for their duties under this bill.  Indeed, your committee believes that the public interest would be subserved if the Secretaries were relieved of the harassing cares of distributing clerkships and closely supervising the mere machinery of the departments.  Your committee believes that the adoption of this bill and the effective execution of its provisions will be the first step toward a sound civil-service reform which will secure a larger wisdom in the adoption of policies and a better system in their execution.(Signed) GEO. H. Pendleton.  W. B. Allison.  D. W. Voorhees.  J. G. Blaine.  M. C. Butler.  John J. Ingalls.  O. H. Platt.  J. T. Farley.  It would be difficult to mention the names of higher authority in the practical knowledge of our Government than those which are appended to this report.

POSTAL SAVINGS BANK SYSTEM

The Postal Savings Bank System has been extended so that it now includes 4,004 fourth-class post offices’, as well as 645 branch offices and stations in the larger cities.  There are now 12,812 depositories at which patrons of the system may open accounts.  The number of depositors is 300,000 and the amount of their deposits is approximately $28,000,000, not including $1,314,140 which has been with drawn by depositors for the purpose of buying postal savings bonds.  Experience demonstrates the value of dispensing with the pass-book and introducing in its place a certificate of deposit.  The gross income of the postal savings system for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1913, will amount to $700,000 and the interest payable to depositors to $300,000.  The cost of supplies, equipment, and salaries is $700,000.  It thus appears that the system lacks $300,000 a year of paying interest and expenses.  It is estimated, however, that when the deposits have reached the sum Of $50,000,000, which at the present rate they soon will do, the system will be self-sustaining.  By law the postal savings funds deposited at each post office are required to be redeposited in local banks.  State and national banks to the number of 7,357 have qualified as depositories for these funds.  Such deposits are secured by bonds aggregating $54,000,000.  Of this amount, $37,000,000 represent municipal bonds.

PARCEL POST