The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1910-12-16
HITCHCOCK REPORTS POSTAL
DEFICIT CUT TO s5,S48,566
BY Associated Press

space OF IWeifc mDuLla a iNN1t t4oA'
has been made in the deficit ot the
postofice department Of S1l,5Oo,OOO,
according to the annual report Of Post
master General Frank n. Hitchcock
made public today.
While a year ago the fiscal records
of the postal service disclosed a de-
felt Of sl7 SOC, 900. the largest 10 the
history Of the country. the excess of
expenditures over receipts for the gear
ended June Both last amounted 70 only
S5.848.566. In commenting upon this
reduction Postmaster General Hitch
cock says in his report
1t is most gratifying to report that
this unprecedented reduction has been
made without any curtailment of pos;
tai facilities. On the contrary, the
service has been largely extended.
THE policy Of the present admipig-
tration has been to wipe out losses by
increasing the postal business along
profitable lines. and while thus en-
larging the departments income to re-
duce as far as possible the rate Of eX-
penditure by cutting out wasteful pro-
cesses, by simplifying and rendering
more effective the methods Of handling
postal business, and by raising 70 the
highest possible standard the etfici-
ency Of officers and empioyes.
THE more quickly mail matter can
be handled the less expensive is the
process. The department accordingly
has devoted itself with great earnest
ness to the work of increasing the
efficiency of the mail service. consid-
ering this the surest method of making
the postal establishment self-support-
ing"
The departments policy is to extend
the service as rapidly as is warranted
by increasing population. In further
ance of this policy. 1 500 new post
Offices were established during the last
year and SIS new rural delivery routes
trayersing altogether 1925 miles
were instituted. Nearly $500 new en-
ployees of various classes we're placed
upon the rolls OF the department,
whose aggregate salaries were more
than 81 900 900 annually. In addition
TO this sum. Sl,756.00O was added an
nually In addition to this sum- 81
100000 was added to the salaries Of
postofice clerks. fi.226.000 TO the
salaries Of letter carriers. and $3.50,
900 TO the salaries OF railway mail
clerks All increases in salary were
based upon efficiency ratings
In the discussion Of seeond-class
mail. Postmaster General Hitchcock
points out the constant growth of this
class Of matter. II is carried at a
loss. and he urges that a remedy
should be promptly applied by charg
ing more postage.
IN leyying the higher rate" the re-
port suggests, it is believed that
distinction should be made between
advertising matter and What is termed
legitimate reading matter
Under present conditions an insi
crease in the postage on reading mat
ter is not recommended. Such an in
crease would place a special burden
on a large number Of seeond-elass pub
lications, including educational and
religious periodicals. that derive little
or no profit from advertising. 1t is the
circulation of this type of publications.
which aid so effectively in the educa
tional and moral advancement of the
people, that the government can best
afford to encourage. For these publ
cations, and also for any other legiti-
mate reading matter in periodical form
the department faYors a continuation
OF the present low postage rate of one
cent pound, and recommends that the
proposed increase In rate be applied
only to magazine advertising matter.
'In view of the vanishing postal de-
ficit it is believed that if the magazines
could be required TO pay what it costs
the government to carry their adver-
tising pages the departments revenues
would soon grow large. enough to war
rant one cent postage on first-class
mail.
Newspapers are not included in the
plan for a higher rate on advertising
matter because, being chiefly of local
distribution, they do not employ the
mails to any such extent as the widely
circulating magazines"
While the loss resulting from the
low postage rate on second-class mail
is the greatest in the postal service
the loss on rural delivery service is
very considerable. The appropria-
tions annually granted to maintain the
rural delivery system, however. as
pointed out in the report, are expend-
ed in the interest of a vast population.