The Elbert County tribune., 1906-12-13
U. S. POSTOFFICE
REPORT OF POSTMASTER GEN.
ERAL coRTELYoU.
LARGE GAIN IN RECEIPTS
Deficit Reduced-Remsrkable Record
for safety-Methods of improving
serviee-Recommend Increase Of
Salaries

service-Recommend Increase Of
Salaries.
Washington.-The annual report of
Postmaster General George b. Cortel-
you reviews the work of the depart
ment for the year, gives in detail the
postal revenue and expenditures, dis
eusses important changes that have
been made in departmental organiza-
ticn, and makes such suggestions and
recommendations as appear to be war
ranted.
The following is a statement of the
Postoffice Departments finances:
The receipts for the year were s167.-
sS2, 1895; the expenditures. SITS, ,449,-
17S.S9; excess of expenditures over re-
ceipts. .516.s95.s4
The deficit in 1905 was s14, ,594,-
5S7.12.
After discussing various reforms in
the organization of the department, the
postmaster general says:
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 de-
gree 1t is practically impossible to de-
termine. OF course, rapidly increas-
ing deficit for period of years may be
matter of some concern, but | think
present conditions warrant us in turn
ing our attention. rather, to an investi-
cation and improvement of every
branch of the departments work We
must have an increasing recognition
OF merit, both in position and in com
pensation, we must have better sys-
TEN of accounting and more accurate
statistics; we must make the service
meet the needs of the people.
"ln spite of the deficit the efficiency
of the service has been in many re-
spects remarkable as witness the rec
ord of the registry service for the half
century of its existence. showing per-
centage of loss from all causes-includ-
ing burglary theft and fire-for the fis-
cal year ended June 80, 1904, of only
three one-thousandths of one per rent.
Some private business enterprises
! may in certain directions yield better
financial returns but they cannot show
a higher standard of integrity nor
more faithful performance of duty"
Concerning fraud orders, the report
says:
In the two years closed June 30,
1906. the fraud orders numbered csc,
exceeding by seventy-one the total is
sued in the four years Immediately pre-
ceding. The schemes suppressed rep
resented almost every conceivable va
riety of fraud There were worR-at-
home propositions, bond investment
enterprises, medicinal cure-alls, absent
treatment schemes, devices for the eS-
ploitation of stocks and enterprises of
fering something for nothing under
the guise of the endless-chain method
OF investment, all of which, upon eN
animation, proved to be mere traps for
the credulous. Included in the total or
| orders issued during the two-year per
iod in question were fifty-nine orders
against lotteries and similar enter
prises."
Concerning the necessity for increas-
ing salaries of federal employees, Sec
retary Cortelyou continues:
"The general advance in salaries in
all industrial and commercial pursuits,
as well as the recent fiat advances of
ten per cent. in the salaries of their
employees by many of the leadinS
railroad systems, has naturally fol-
lowed upon the great prosperity of the
country. That the pay of many gov
ernment employees is less than that OF
equally important employees of rail,
roads is admitted; and while 1t may bq
said that the ranks of government EN-
ployes can always be recruited, /,
| would seem that this department musi
inevitably lose many of the best
trained and most desirable among ita
personnel If nothing is done for their
relief.
AT the close of the year the rail,
way mail service comprised 1888 of,
fcers and employees, an increase in the
year of 1,124.
"The record of the service shows q
large growth
During the year there were sixteen
clerks and one mail weigher killed,
seventy-seven seriously injured and 414
slightly injured. The number of clerks
injured this year was less than last
year and the number of accidents TO
mail cars has been decreasing since
1908"
Regarding second class matter, sec
retary Cortelyou says:
This subject was also discussed n
length in my last report. During the
period / have had charge OF the de
partment | have found the laws relat-
ing to second class mail poorly
adapted to present conditions. ana
have become convinced that a substan-
tial change or revision tending to sim
nlification Is most desirable. This class
is intended exclusively for bona fide
newspapers and periodicals, and iof
them only when they observe the law
limitations and prohibitions. There
were and still are abuses. and they oc-
casion, loss of revenue. Reform OF
the abuses is progressing steadily, but
each years experience gives fresh EN-
phasis TO the need of legislative ac-
ton.
81 recommend that provision be
made for the carriage by rural car
riers, at fair rate of postage, OF
small parcels on rural routes, such
nrivileges to be restricted in each case