The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-11
FREE LIST TOO LARGE.
Postal Defcit Due Entirely to This
Says Mr.. Cortelyou.

Washington, Dec. 11.-Postmaster
General Cortelyou in his report for the
past fiscal year says that while a self
sustaining condition of the postofice
department would be gratifying, he is
less concerned about the deficit than
the efficiency of administration.
For the fiscal year of 1906 the total
receipts from all sources were $152,
S26,5S5. and total expenditures of
$167,1S1,S59, leaving a deficit of s14.-
572,5S4. In connection with these fig
ures the postmaster general directs at
tentiOn to the increased amount of free
matter handled, which he says aver
aged 1855 per cent of the entire weight
carried or a loss in revenue of 49,,
S22, 900.
"ManifestIy." he says. had the mat
ter now carried free been required to
have been prepaid, Notwithstanding the
large expenditure for rural free deliv-
cry 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
most of it overlooks the unusual con-
ditions existing in this country. its great
extent of territory and its widely scat
tered population. with the introduction
of rural free delivery as yet unfinish-
co, ana Oinef QeIdllS OF postal. develop
ment incomplete. he thinks it the part
of wisdom to proceed conservatively
until the present service is more nearly
perfected.
In other words says he, cit is be-
lieVed for the time being attention can
be more profitably devoted to an i'm
provement in the service already estab-
lished than to an immediate cOnSidera-
ton of such questions as the reduction
of the rates of postage, a parcels. post
; al 4 ,f-ff FOL
telegraph and telephone and kindred
subjects"
As a remedy for the franking evil,
of which he complains, the postmaster
general suggests that there are sound
administrative reasons why it would be
better business policy for each depart
ment to pay postage upon its mail mat
ter according to its class, than to re-
turn to the practice of requiring gov
eminent free matter to be prepaid by
! postage stamps in the same way as
similar matter mailed by the public.
/ The weight of opinion, he says, is in
favor of the plan suggested so modified
as to eliminate the necessity of affixing
stamps, but maintaining the principle
/ that each department be charged with
/ the whole expense of conducting its
/ business.
May Utilize Fast Freight.
Discussing appointments of postnas-
+ tiers, the postmaster general says that
a.
careful rating based on inspectors re-
ports, is given each postoffice, and that
! this rating carries great weight in ap-
pointments. He says that fourth class
! pOstmasters will be retained during
| satisfactory service, while in the case of
I presidential postmasters their reappofnt-
ment will be determined by the ratings
given them.
The work Of purifying the mails is not
/ confined to the suppression of frauds
]
exclusion therefrom Of obscene, indecent
| and scurrilous matters and the punish
] 1nent of those found to have deposited
such matter for transmission. The work
of the postoffice inspectors is praised,
/ and the opinion is expressed that many
! of them are underDaid A similar view
I is expressed With respect to postoffice
clerks and letter carriers, city and rural.
Governmental control Of the pneu-
matte tube service and the mail wagon
service is recommended and in the lat
/ ter case an appropriation is asked TO
purchase wagons Of approved pattern
for carving the mails.
An increase Of SIT per cent in the
amount Of ordinary mail handled as
! compared with 1904 is noted in the rail-
way mail service. which the postmaster
! general says shows a normal growth
! with gratifying maintenance OF efri-
! cheney. During the year twelve clerks
/ were killed while On duty, and 10 ser
| iously injured. Every effort, he says,
has been made to surround the clerks
| with every possible safeguard. The
4 arduous and hazardous duties incident
/ to the service. he declares. can for some
I legislative action that VIII make pro-
! vision for clerks worn cut in the service
and maintain its efficiency by the grad
ual elimination of superannuated clerks
4 The present method OF determining the
/ rates Of pay to the transportation cCnl-
/ panies for carrying the mails is not re-
gsrded by the postmaster general as al