The Washington times., 1906-12-10
MAIL INCREASES,
EXPENSE IS LESS
Swan Song Report of Post
master General
CorteIyou.
WOULD IMPROVE SERVICE
Suggestions Include Permanent Deputy
to Department Head.

Despite the increasing business in the
postal service. Postmaster General Cor
teiyou. in his annual report for the fiscal
Year ending June 20. 1906, is able TO
sho" reduction in the deficit for his
department OF Si.055,5Ss. as compared
with the preceding fscal year
Receipts and expenditures @ the Post
Office Department have Increased great
ly' showing the rapid expansion OF the
postal business or the nation.
Details Of Increase.
The receipts for the fiscal yenr 1906
were sl67.932, 1926, against S152 s25, ,5s5. 10
IN 1903; the expenditures in 1906 we're
Sl7S.4is. 778-s9. against sIs7. .399. ss.2s the
year before.
The net deficit for the fiscal year 1906
was $l0.5$2siL76. as compared with a
deficit Of sl4.5725S413 in 1906.
Service First object.
While it would be a gratifying cir
cumstance If the PostofFice Department
We're self-sustaining." says Postmaster
General Cortelyou. Il am less concern
cd about the deficit than about the eff
cheney Of administration. The public
demand FOR postal facilities Is constant
~ growing. II the installation of the
rural service had depended upon the ex-
istence Of a surplus in the postal rev.
enues under the existing system OF ac-
counting, that service could not have
been given.
The rural delivery has undoubtedly
Increased the bulk OF first class mail
matter The circulation OF the second
class mail also very largely Affects the
bulk Of the higher class. TO what degree
II is practically impossible 70 determine.
OF course, a rapidly increasing deficit
for a period OF years may be a matter
or some concern. but I think present
conditiof-5 warrant Us lntturning our at
tenton rather, 10 an investigation and
Improvement Of every branch Of the de-
partme7ts work
Recognize Merit.
I'VE must have an increasing recogni-
ton OF merit. both IN position and in
compensation; we must have a better
system Of accounting and more accurate
statistics; we must make the service
meet the needs Of the people"
Genera supervision OF this depart
ment. With a personnel OF over go. .O00
and annual appropriations of about
500 90. .o01. IS inJrusted 10 a Postmaster
General and but four assistants. Mr.
Corteiyou holds the burdens on these
five men are TOO heavy, and that there
should be a Deputy Postmaster General,
10 be the ranking assistant. with per
manent tenure. pay commensurate with
his position. and the duties OF q gen
eral manager OF the postal service.
Increase of Salaries.
A feature OF the report is a strong
renewal OF Mr. CorteIyou's recon-
men Iation OF q year ago for increased
for various classes OF
postal employees. This is applied espe-
ciaily TO pcstof1ce clerks. railway mali
clerks. city carriers. and rural carriers.
Increased pay for fourth-class postmas-
ters is urged.
Postmasters Competent.
To show the high character Of the
service Of postmssters and the eXten:
70 which the order TO avoid. partisan
ship and politics in appointing Presi- |
Dental postmasters. Mr.. CoTtelyou says
that of the 1863 Presidential postmasters
whose terms have ended in the year.
], ,474 were reappointed.
Mr.. CortelyOu dwells on the growth |
Of the rural free delivery service
Rural Parcel Rate
There is recommended a provision for !
the carriage by rural carriers at a fair !
rate Of postage Of small oarCels on rural /
routes. such privilege 10 be restricted /
In each case 10 the limits Of the par
ticulaT route on which the parcel ori- |
sinates or, If feasible. 10 all the routes |
from a single postCffice.
Revision of the laws as to second class |
matter, along lines previously recon- !
mended. is urged.
Subsidies 70 build up an adequate /
ocean mail service are urged strongly I
oy Mr.. Cortelyou
pA0I0p RR0KE inE. |