Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1908-11-30
POSTAL DEFICIT
is $4,000, 900
Largest in History Of the De.
'partment, Says Postmaster
General Meyer.

"NAAAAAN1ASNJ NV OV--lH MS
annual report for the fiscal year end
ed June 80, 1908, Postmaster Cen
eral Meyer gives the total receipts
for the year as $191, 47s,664 and
the total expenditure $2OS,351, 1865,
thereby showing a deficit of $16,S73-
222, the largest in the history OF the
department, with an additional loss
from fire. burglary, ETC., of s37, O56.
The deficit of 1909, it is estimated,
again will exceed sic, 900, 900.
Attention is particularly called to
number of improvements in bust
ness methods Of the department as
tending to its advantage and the saw
ing of considerable amounts. Rec
ommendation is again made for the
creation of the position of director
Of posts, at a high salary, and who
shall hold ONCE during good behav-
for, the object being to have a con-
tinuity of policies for the benefit of
the postal service and the people Of
the United States.
Rural Delivery Parcels Post.
The necessity for good roads is
pointed out in connection with the
development of the rural free deliv-
cry service. 1t is suggested that
should congress grant the depart
ment authority to utilize rural routes
still further by the establishment Of
q limited parcel post confined en-
IRarely to rural delivery routes 1t would
then be possible to earn additional
revenue amounting to millions OF
dollars and at the same time benefit
the farmer by enabling him to have
merchandise delivered when ordered
by telephone or postal card which
otherwise would not be purchased.
'eThe special parcel post" says the
Epostmaster general, will enable the
Farmers to have small parcels deliv-
cred at their gates, to live better
and to obtain easily the necessaries
of life" PERMISSION is requested to
establish experimentally a limited
parcel post not to exceed four coun-
ties, IN order to demonstrate the
practieability of the plan.
Postal Savings Banks.
81 again urgently recommend that
legislation be enacted permitting the
postmaster general to establish post
al savings banks or repositories In
connection with post Offices.
"The deposits in savings banks OF
the United States as reported to the
comptroller Of the currency are as
follows:
en- IA states 1884 per cent? So
$50. 245,402. In remaining ~
states and all territories us per
cent? S7O,30s,54s. Total, 1880
5S3, s45. In New York and Massa'
chusetts, where special attention has
neGn &lNG0 10 Inc CSt1I'-Nt-
mutual savings banks and where
they are conducted on very con-
] servative basis prescribed by law the
wageearners and people Of moderate
| means have availed themselves Of
/ the opportunities afforded. In Mass
| achusetts the amount is S7Os,s4o''
5s6.
In the 80 states referred to there
Iare no savings banks, and in some
eases no banks of any kind. It 4
there that considerable money Is held
| in hiding. which is neither 7bsolute
/ " safe nor in circulation for the pen
eft Of the community. 1t has peer
| estimated that altogether fully hall
a billion dollars not today laced II
aov rank. due to want Of opportunit'
ar Tack Of confidence. might D
kavusht back into circulation tnrOasi