The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-05-21
BIG SHORT AGE
IN POSTAL FUNDS
Congress Will Be Asked to Make q
Deficiency Appropriation Of
1927 ,467.
Postmaster General Payne for the
First Time Publicly Criticizes
Superintendent Machen.
Shortage Is Wholly in the Regular
and Rural Free Delivery
Departments.

Washington, May 21.-Congress will be
asked at the opening Of it's next session
to make an Appropriation to cover dehc-
iencies in both the regular free delivery
service and the rural free delivery serv-
ice of the postoffice depar tment. POST
master General Payne to-day announced
that this deficiency now aggregates ex-
actly $227,467, of which $105, 900 is in the
free delivery branch and $121 600 in the
rural free delivery service. The postmas-
ter general said he very much regretted
the existence of the deficit, and for the
first time publicly criticized the admins
tration Of a. w. Machen, the general su-2
perintendent of the free delivery sys-
TEN, who is out on Indefinite leave Of alb
sence.
This is not the first time that a de-
fciency has occurred in the free delivery
service, said Mr.. Payne, "but regret
it's existence. At the opening of the last
congress Mr.. Machen pointed out that
without additional appropriations no more
routes could be established beyond those
ready to be installed Jan. 1. He said how
ever, If congress appropriated 100000 for
the purpose the work could be continued
during the rest Of the fiscal year. This
appropriation was promptly made but it
was exhausted.
Despite this fact the free delivery office
was going on increasing the deficiency and
if we had not taken steps to curtail the
expenditures and suspend the establish
ment of routes until the beginning Of the
next fiscal year, the deficit would have
been much lager. It was not good admin
istration.'
Continuing the postmaster genral said
that part Of the deficiency was discovered
before Mr.. Machem was given his leave of
absence.
.He reported a part of it himself Mr.
,ie.fo oo%e
General Wynne recently reported to me
that $4,000 deficiency existed In the rural
service and Mr.. Wynne and I agreed that
by economical measures the department
might eliminate that. I suppose that was
the amount reported to Mr.. Wynne.
Immediately following that report the
postmaster general sent the following let
ter to Fourth Assistant Bristow, dated
| May 9th: SszsIEs r.
| ION the 18th inst. General Wynne adj
vised me of the probabilities of a deficit
| of. sac, 900 in the rural free delivery ac-
counts and said that II the activity OF
I the bureau is kept up IN the work of pre-
barring to install additional rural free de
Livery routes until July 1st this deficit
would be largely increased.
ut is my wish that there should be me
deficit. Congress at its last session made
Ian additional appropriation of 100000 fol
| the rural free delivery service, making
l the appropriation m1ne diately available
and we should SO conduct the business Of
the Office as to not exceed this appropria-
ton.
II have, therefore, to request that yor
/ will Investigate the situation promptly
and curtail the expenditures so that IL II
is possible we will not have a deficit al
! at the end Of the fiscal year. In accom-.
plishing this, however, 1t Is advisable tha'
i great care should be taken not to suspend
the actual investigation Of proposed rura
| free delivery routes more than is abso.
.lutely necessary I should not think i
entirely practical to bring about economic!
in other branches of the bureau which
would accomplish the result desired
Mr.. Bristow subsequently reported t,
the postmaster general with a detailed
statement showing that the amount ag
gregated $227;O00 in round numbers. Mr.
Payne said that it. was not feasible t,
cripple the service by suspending any o
the, service now maintained and that
deficiency appropriation would be aske,
from congress.