The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1910-12-12
master General Hitchcock Shows
Induction Of s11,5oo,ooo Made
in the Deficit During
the Year.
RECOMMENDATIONS
lid Raise Magazine Rate, Extend
utaI Delivery System and Cur
tail the Abuse Of
Frankins.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 12.-In twelve
nths reduction Of $11. 5000 has
en made in the deficit Of the post
&c department, according to the an
b report Of Postmaster General
bnk n. Hitchcock.
year ago the fiscal records Of the
Btal service disclosed q deficit Of
100000, the largest In the history
the country. The excess OF ex-
nditures over receipts for the year
ded June so last amounted to only
S4S,566. In commenting upon this
duction, Postmaster General Hitch
ck says:
It is most gratifying to report that
is unprecedented reduction has
len made without any curtaiIment of
stal facilities. On the contrary. the
rvice has been largely extended.
The more quickly mail matter can
handled, the less expensive is the
ocess. The department, according
has devoted itself to Increasing the
iclency of the mail service, consid-
hing this the surest method of max
& the postal establishment self
Exporting.
The departments policy is to ex-
md the. service as rapidly as is war
Pnted by increasing population. In
rtherance OF this policy, 300 new
pst Offices were established last
ar and JfS new rural delivery routes,
SseFsipg. altogether iss22::a miles,
ere Instituted. Nearly $500 now en-
lo,es whose aggregate salaries were
bore than $2.0o0.00o annually. were
laced on the rolls. In addition, ST.
10000 was added TO the salaries of
POST office clerks, s1,226,000 to the
.aaries of letter carriers and $250,0O0
p the salaries Of railway mail clerks.
il increases in salary were based
bpon efficiency ratings.
In the discussion of second-class
hail Postmaster General Hitchcock
points out the constant growth of this
Flass of matter. II is carried at loss,
end he urges that remedy be
promptly applied by charging more
postage.
On this subject Mr.. Hitchcock says:
In leyying the higher rate 1t is be-
eved distinction should be made
,etween advertising matter and what
$ termed legitimate reading matter.
Under present conditions an in
'rease in the postage on reading mat
er is not recommended. Such an
Increase would place n special burden
m a large number Of second-class
publications., including educational
nd religious periodicals that derive
title or no profit from advertising.
'or these publications, and also for
NY other legitimate reading matter
2 periodical form. the department
avors a continuation of the present
ow postage rate OF / cent a pound,
nd recommend the proposed in
rease be applied only to magazine
dyertising matter.
Newspapers are not included in
ne plan for a higher rate OH adver-
sing matter because, being chiefly
local distribution, they do not en-
10y the mails to any such extent as
ne widely circulating magazines.
While the loss resulting from the
Nv postage rate on second-class mail
the greatest in the postal service,
le loss on rural delivery service is
cry considerable. The appropriations
granted to maintain the
lral delivery system. however, are
xpended in the interest of a vast
Mr. Hitchcock urges the wisdom OF
irther extension of this system, even
considerable loss to the govern
lent.
Mr.. Hitchcock reviews the work al
sady accomplished, looking to the
Establishment of postal savings banks.
trial OF the new system will be
lade. beginning January 1, 1911. at
ne post Office in each state and ter
tory OF the union. 1t is expected
lat the new postal savings system
Ill be extended to many other Offices
efore the end Of the current fiscal
ear.
A renewal Of the previous recon-
lendation for limited parcel post
sryice on rural routes is made. Mr..
'tchcock expresses the hope that
'ngress will authorize the delivery
rural routes Of parcels weighing as
lgh as IL pounds.
q recommendation is made that con-
resslonal authority be given the de-