Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-11

inspectors VINO nave Deen detailed 10 ASSIST
him in the investigation.
"As result of the investigation. seven
teen officials were separated from the serv-
ice by resignation or removal Forty-four
indictments were found and thirty-one per-
sons arrested. ten of whom had been con-
nected with the postal service
An increase in the deficit over the pre-
vious year of 81, 622 394.92 Is noted. which
is, however. $1.042, 1873 less than the esti-
mated deficit for the year.
The following table shows the financial
operations of the department for the year,
compared with the previous fiscal year:
1902. 1903.
enuo .$119 95s, 900 40 s131 9s4, 535. 90
Receipts from money
order business. -. 1885. s17.ss 2.2ae,9os "a
Total receipts
from all
sources -. 12l s4s o47 20 1874 224. 44s.24
for the year. 124, 7s5 6s7o7 1ss 7s4, 4s7 OF
Excess of ex-
pend lures
over receipts. 2937 649s1 4,58o.o44.7s
On June 30 1903. at the close Of the fiscal
year, there were "a, 1863 post offices. divided
as follows:
First-class 242: second-class. 1.107; third
class. $780, fourth-class. 69.13O.
Estimates for Next Year.
The estimates of the revenues and ex-
penditures of the department for the fiscal
year ending June 30. 1905. which has been
transmitted to the Secretary of the Treas
ury. follows
Total postal revenue, year ending
june 10, l9os sl3i 20, 4dS.oO
Add per cent. II, 0S0. 1879. 81
Estimat ted revenue for 1904. STAG, 304 ,842 81
Appropriation for 1904. ...... 1851 ,54975
Estimated deficit for 1904. ........ 81. 2O8 08sS
p.t.a., . ,,oo, .1,c 90, go c.
Add per cent? ..'.r-.i.....- 1s.167, 411s5
Estimated revenue for 1905. $3.50 472. 06O u
Estimated expenditures for 1905 16S. 0s5, 1000
Estimated deficit for 1905. So. 6f3. 7092s
The report then continues: This estimate
Ks based upon the ordinary business Of the
service. without taking into consideration
the effect upon the revenues or expenses
of any legislation which may be enacted
by the present Congress.
1.-The gross revenues for. the fiscal year
ended June 30 last are nearly $1.5Oo,G00 in
excess OF the estimates, which attests the
wonderful business activity of our people,
and also indicates that the extension of
postal facilities and the improved methods
Of doing postal business result In largely
increased receipts, and were 1t not for the
very large expenditures account of the
introduction of rural free delivery there Is
no question but that the Post Office De-
partment would be more than self-sustain-
ing at the present time
New Building Proposed.
Congress at it's last session passed an act
looking toward the purchase of block 324.
which Is located Immediately south of the
present department building. for the pur-
pose OF erecting thereon an annex to the
department building. The phenomenal
growth OF the postal service and the conse-
quent increase in the business Of the de-
ny,d
tive that this addition to the present de-
partment building should be constructed at
an early date. The department Is at pres
emit at great Inconvenience, occupying sew
eral buildings and parts OF buildings To-
Gated at considerable distances from the
main office and paying a large amount of
rental therefor which buildings are not
freproof. 1 therefore most earnestly urge
upon the Congress the enactment of suit
able legislation to acquire tine title to the
property referred to-.
The report says that the department had
been endeavoring during he fiscal year end
ed June 80, 1902. to better, wherever possible,
the conditions of the postal employees, es-
pecially so in the cases OF clerks in post
Offices. there having been very great in
equalities and injustice in the compensa-
ton of this class of employees. To remedy
this inequality more than IL, COO clerks were
promoted during the fiscal year ended June
80, 1902. nearly all of whom were receiving
less than $1,000 per year compensation.
Attention Is called to the pay of letter
carriers, the report. saying:
Letter Carriers Pay.
by executive order dated January 81,
1902 postal employees were forbidden. either
directly or indirectly, individually or
through associations to solicit an increase
of pay or to influence or to attempt to In
fuence in their own interest any other leg
islation whatever. either before Congress or
its committees. or in any way save through
the heads of the departments In or under
which they serve, penalty Of dismissal
from the government service.
In consequence of this order there have
been presented to the department. by COM
mlttees representing various classes of pos
tai employees. statements setting forth the
reasons why such employees deem their
claims for increased compensation to be
well founded. Such petitions will be at the
proper time laid before Congress. together
with a request that the representatives of
the employees shall be given an opportunity
to be heard before the proper committees Of
Congress.
In this connection beg again to urge
the propriety of the payment OF substitute
clerks and letter carriers on different
basis from that which now obtains.
THE present system of paying substitutes
provides that they shall receive the full
compensation of the clerk or letter carrier
In whose place they serve. In my opinion
this arrangement works seriously to the dis
advantage of the public service, in that
there are retained in the postal service
many aged experienced employees who have
become, to q greater or less extent. super
animated but who naturally retain their
connection with the service just as long as
possible. and the department IL reluctant to
remove such veteran employees. the greater
number of whom are veterans of the civil
war, and who are receiving the highest
grade OF compensation as letter carriers.
and generally. by reason OF long service,
nnf1 ufd Tort ". aulo rfa lori
''In justice to such employees, and for the
good of the public service, ! would recon-
mend that where clerk or letter carrier
has been twenty-five years In the service
and shall have attained the age OF sixty
Ave years the Postmaster General be em-
powered, upon the Recommendation of the
postmaster, to employ substitute for such
clerk or letter carrier. which substitute
shall receive not to exceed. two-thirds Of his
salary. the other one-third going to such
clerk or letter carrier. II Ia heliaYed that