The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-02-07
No MORE PADDING
BY POST MASTERS
Decision of the Comptroller
Victory for Department.
MANY CASES IN THE PAST
Charles Burrow Made Appeal From
Practice of Calling for Refund
and Was Defeated.
MANY CASES IN THE PAST

Postoffice Department officials score
notable victory in the approval of their
course OF procedure contained in the
decision of Comptroller Traceweil, of
the Treasury Department. in the case
OF Charles Burrows, the postmaster at
Rutherford \. T.. who was compelled
to remit 500 to the department because
he padded his receipts.
The decision is one of the most irnpor-
tant handed down in several years in
postal matters and will give the Post
master General free room to act as he
pleascs in cases Of this character
Receipts Gene Over
At the close of every fiscal year the
receipts of all postmasters above the,
fourth class are gone over. The sala-
ries for the next year are then fixed ac-
cording to the amount Of gross receipts,
as reported TO the Auditors
Since the present law regulating sala-
ries went into effect several years ago,
there have been about 100 cases each
year which were investigated on the
ground IF inflated receipts. In the ma
jorit1 of these cases the postmaster has
been Inade TO refund money paid to him,
or else was turned down IN his appllca-
ton for increase in salary
Sometimes the department allows the
increase before the padded condition o.
the receipts are discovered. Then the
postmaster is promptly asked to refund
Quite frequently however, the question
of inflated receipts is not brought up
until the postmaster applies for an in
crease. based on the increased posta.
revenue OF his office.
Two Ambitious Towns.
About three years ago the postmasters
al Louisville, Ky and indianapolis Ind,
demanded an increase in salary. and
We're refused upon the ground that their
receipts had been increased by local
solicitations In these cases however
the postmasters We're not guilty OF any
improperly themselves
the citizens of these two cities were
DESTROYS OF increasing the dignity of
their postoffices. knowing that stand
inss j. based upon the amount of salary
received, they went to work and made a
rcd-hot canvass among the business men
for larger purchases OF postal supplies.
The sales so increased as to warrant
an increase of 81, 900 in both cases. The
postmasters asked that their salaries
| he increased TO that extent. The de-
paTtsnent refused the applications on
he ground that the increased receipts;
wcrr the result of solicitation which
We're not deemed a compliance with the
requirements OF the law.
Appealed His Case.
Charles Burrows, the postmaster al
Rutherford. when asked by the depart
ment to refund an excess in salary, did
not think he had been treated fairly.
and appealed 10 the Comptroller of the
Treasury For TWO months the case
has been argued pro and con before that
official.
The Postofffce Department officials
were a little anxious in the matter.
There was Il slight fear on their part
| that the Comptroller might decide
against them which would pave the
way for many claims by postnasters
for amounts which they had been COM
PEELED to refund.
However the Comptroller came out
clear and strong against the practice of
padding receipts, and gave the Postmas-
ter General full authority to go behind
he figures reported to the Auditor and
fix the salaries of postmaSters strictly
according to the legitimate receipts OF
the office
The Postofffce Department will be Sc
we're in these cases. While dismissals
will not follow generally, 1t is certain
that the most migrant cases will be
dealt with summaTily.