The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-11
Postmaster General Says 19O5 Deficit Was Sl4,572,584
MANY RECOMMENDATIONS
Rural Free Delivery Has Increased Expenditures of the Department. Appointments of Post
 masters.

Washington, December 10.-Postmaster General Cortelyou in his annual report for the past fiscal year, says that, while a self-sustaining condition of the postoffee department would be gratifying, he is less concerned about the deficit than the ef- ficiency of administrations
 For the fiscal year 1905. the total ceipts from all sources were sl52,s26,5S5, and total expenditure S16llS1,959, leaving a deficit of s14,5725S4. In connection with these figures the postmaster general di- rects attention to the increased amount of free matter handled. which he says averaged 12.5S per cent of the entire weight carried or a loss in revenue of Sl9.S22, GOO.
 'Manifestly, he says had the matter now carried free been required to have been prepaid, notwithstanding the large expenditures for the rural free delivery service, there would have been no deficit"
 Answering some of the criticisms which he says have been directed against the postal service, he says that much of it overlooks the unusual conditions existing in this country, it's great extent of ter ritory and it's widely scattered population. With the introduction of rural free delv- cry as yet unfinished. and other details of postal development incomplete he thinks 1t the part of wisdom to proceed conservatiyely until the present service is more perfect
 ..In other words" he says, Tt is believed that for the time being attention be more proftably devoted to improve ment in the service already adopted than to the immediate consideration of such questions as the reduction of rates of post age. parcels post, postal savings de- positories, postal telegraph and telephone and kindred subjects"
 As a remedy for the franking evil of which he complains the postmaster gen eral says there aPe many administrative reasons why 1t would be business policy for each department to pay postage on it's mail matter according tts, it's class than to return to the practice of requiring gov- ernment free matter to be prepaid by postage stamps in the same way as sim liar matters mailed by the public. The weight of opinion, he says, is in favor of the plan suggested, modified as to eim. mate the necessity of affiXing stamps but maintaining the principle that each department be charged with the whole ex- pense of It's conducting it's business
 From this change" he adds, "there would come some great advantages; the ttHutiCy iO uSt lue IIldlS LOT matter llldL ought to be otherwise transported would be restrained; merchandise, including heavy quantities of printed matter not requiring expeditions hauling would be sent by cheap modes of conveyance: only matter requiring expeditions delivery and on which the postage can be properly paid as for government business would be sent by mail, and the true relations of the postoffce department to the other 69narfmantG a0tt al afyxta and expenditures would be more acurate- ly denominated"
 Discussing the appointment of post masters, the postmaster general says that under instructions recently issued care- ful rating based on inspectors reports Is given each postoffice, and that this rat ing carries its weight in determining the question of re-appointments. He says that fourth-class postmasters will be re- tained during satisfactory service while in the case of presidential postmasters the appointment will be determined by the rating given them.
 The work of purifying the malls is con fined to frauds and lotteries, but includes well the exclusion therefrom, the absence of scurrilous matters, and the punishment of those who have deposited such for transmission. He adds that more strict enforcement of these statutes have recently brought about highly satisfac- tory result.
 The work of the postofice inspectors is praised, and the opinion is given that many of them are unpaid. A similar view is expressed with respect to post office clerks, and letter carriers, city and rural.
 An increase of 5.1 per cent in the amount of ordinary mail handled as compared with 1904 is noted in the rail way mail service which the postmaster ohA ance of efficiency. During the year eleven clerks were killed while on duty. and 125 seriously injured Every effort has been made to surround the clerks with every possible safeguard. The arduous and haz- ardous duty incident to the service, he declares. call for some legislative action that will make provision for clerks worn out in the service. and maintain It's ef- ficiency by the gradual elimination of su- perannuated clerks.
 The present method Of determining the rates of pay to transportation companies for carrying the mails is not regarded by the postmaster general as altogether sat isfactory, and he says that while he Is not at present prepared to recommend specific changes. he believes that certain nouiries being made by him will afford data on which to base future recommen- dations
 He thinks worthy of serious considera- tion a suggestion that a suDstantlal saN- ing would be effected in railway mail transportation by forwarding bulky peri odcals and mailable merchandise by fast freight. but when transported by what ordinarily is known as fast maif should pay extra postage.
 Interest in the enactment of legislation looking to the upbuilding and encour- agement of the American merchant ma rine is set forth as a reason for improv- ing the transportation of mails to for eign countries, and the postmaster gen- eral says that fast mail steamers of other countries leaving ports of the United States will more and more absorb our for eign mail transportation until such time as the United States provides an adequate compensation for the outward voyage Of steamers of equal speed and regularity of schedule.
 E The postmaster general says an eHective domestic parcels post system could be organized on the same lines substantially as express companies conduct their ser vice. and as parsels post service IS con ducted in other countries. While he does not deem it wise at this time to ask Congress for such a system. he earnestly -t..I <.xad fai1r fh-f1l