Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-12-21
Is the Gross Revenue Dur
ing The Fiscal Year.
Assistant Postmaster General
Makes Annual Report.
Urges Uniformity In Sunday Work
80 Days Vacation.

Washington, Dec. 20.-Dr. Charles r.
Crandfieid, First Assistant Postmaster
General, in his annual report submit
ted today to Postmaster General Hitch
cock, shows that the number CT post
offices in operation on June 30, 1910,
was $3.50. The gross revenue of the
postal service during the fiscal year
amounted to s22412S,657 an increase
of $a0,566, 247.55. The expenditures for
the year aggregated 1929, 977 .224.50. and
increase of $S,973, 121.61. The deficit
was S5,S48, 566.88. as compared with
$17,441,719S2 for the preceding year.
Although the business Of the postal
service Increased during sthe EAST fis-
cal year more than 10 per cent. the
expenditures decreased from an aver
age Of SOC per cent. for each Of the
ten years preceding to 406 per cent. in
1910.
The number of postoffices established
during the year was 1909 and the num-
Der discontinued 2O73. At presidential!
Offices 2-76 postmasters were APP
pointed and at fourth class offices 942S
postmastcra We're appointed.
The net increase in the expendi-
ture for postoffice clerks during the
year was $2,917,00O, making the total
expenditures $31.5S@,5S7; for letter car
riers the net increase was $3.50, S25,
resulting in an aggregate cost Of $780,
1872, $40, which was $16,047 less in 1910
than in the previous fiscal year
The policy of the Department to
make no changes in postmasters so
long az their services were satisfac-
tory was followed uniformly through
out the country during the year.
An urgent recommendation is made
that The Department be given author
ity properly to adjust the salaries of
assistant pCStmasters. Under the
resent SYSTEM it frequently happens
that an assistant postmaster receives
a smaller salary than some of the
clerks whose work he supcrvises. The
Department has estimated appropria-
lions to adjust this anomalous condi-
ton.
1t is also urged in the report that
somewhat increased salaries be pro-
yided for supervisory employees, in
Guiding supcrintendents. assistant SUI
perintendents and foremen, some or
whom now receive less in salary than
IS received by some clerks and letter
carriers. 1t is pointed out that many
efficient supervisory officers have re-
ceived no promotion since their APP
pointmcnt although they are subjected
TO greater responsibilities than the
subordinate employees, greater eXpen-
SEES and longer working hours. The
entire amount requested for the pro-
motion of supervisory officers IS about
$4,000.
1t is recommended. too, that pro-
vision be made for the promotion to
higher grades and increased salaries
of expert distributors of mail in varl-
ous offices. 1t is pointed out that the
services of these men are Invaluable
and that they are difficult to replace
when they leave the service.
An urgent recommendation Is made
that in the event of the death of a
postoffice clerk in the line of his duty
provision be made for the payment of
a reasonable sum to his heirs, pre-
cisely rs now is done in the event Of
the death Of n railway postal clerk in
the line of duty. 1t is shown that the
increasing use Of labor saving machin-
cry in modern city postoffices makes
greater the liability to accidents. In
the, office at New York alone four en-
ployees have been killed and Ga. in
capacitated since 1908. as the result of
injuries received liz the performance
Of their duty, vet it has not baen pos
sible for the Department to afford
them or their families any assistance.
It is earnestly recommended that an
appropriation of $4,000 he made to re-
ward postal employees who present to
the Department patented devices or