Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1910-12-21
Uncle Sans Revenue From
That Source Was $244,-
128,657 Last Year
EXPENSES S5.848.00O MORE
Average Salaries of Clerks and
Carriers Higher Than Ever
Before.

! master general, in his annual report
submitted today to Postmaster Gener-
al Hitchcock, shows that the number
of postofices In operation on June 80,
! 1910, was 80 $50. The gross revenue
of the postal service during the fiscal
year amounted to $224,12S,657,62, an
! increase of S20,5G6, ,2475J. The ex.
1 Ipenditures for the year aggregated
| 1929, ,977,22450 and increase of 49,
I973,I21.G1. The deficit was $5,4S4. .566-
! SS, as compared with $17441,719.82
| for the preceding year Although the
business Of the postal service in
creased during the last fiscal year
more than 10 per cent the expendit-
ures decreased from an average of
SOC per cent for each of the ten years
preceding to 400 per cent in 1910.
The number of postoffices establish
ed during the year was / ,5O9 and the
number discontinued 2,073. At presi-
dental offices 2,576 postmasters we're
appointed and at fourth class offices
9,428 postmasters We're ap ointed
The net increase in the expenditure
! for postofice clerks during the year
was $2917,000 making the total ex.
penditures $3f,5S3.587, for letter car
riers the net increase was $l,S5O,S25,
resulting in an aggregate cost of $780,
392,579, 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 as their services We're satisfac-
tory was followed uniformly through
out the country during the year.
An urgent recommendation is made
that the department be given authori-
ty properly to adjust the salaries of
assistant postmasters. Under the
ipresent system it frequently happens
that an assistant postmaster receives
smaller salary than some of the
clerks whose work he supervises. The
department has estimated appropria-
tions TO adjust this anomalous condi-
tion.
1t also is urged in the report that
somewhat increased salaries be pro-
vided for supervisory employees. in
cluding superintendent assistant SUI
perintendents and foremen some of
whom now receive less in salary than
lis received by some clerks and letter
carriers. 1t is pointed out that many
efficient supervisory officers have re-
cetved no promotion since their ap-
pointment although they are subject
ed to greater responsibilities than
the subordinate employees, greater ex.
penses 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 vari-
Gus 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 q
postofice clerk in the line Of his duty
provision be made for the payment of
| a reasonable sum to his heirs, pre-.
cisely as now is done in the event of
the death of a railway postal clerk
in the line of duty. 1t is shown that
| the increasing use of labor saving
machinery in the modern city post
Office makes greater the liability to
accidents. In the Office at New York
alone four employees have been killed
and Ga incapacitated since 1908, as the
result Of injuries received in the
performance of their duty, yet it has
not been possible for the department
to afford them or their families any
assistance.
1t is earnestly recommended that
an appropriation of $4,000 be made
to reward postal employees who pre-,
sent to the department patented de-
vices or processes that may prove of
value to the service.
The difficulty of obtaining compe.
tent postal employees in remote sec
tions OF the United Staes postoffice
territory is urgently called to the at.
tention of Congress. 1t often is i'm
possible to obtain efficient clerks for
the salaries fixed by law and it is
urged that the postmaster general be
authorized to use the regular appro-
priations for clerks and letter carriers
: in the payment of higher salaries in
: such places, for instance as the post.
offices in Alaska.
In discussion of the clerical and
carrier forces of the postal service it
: is shown by figures presented in the
: report that no part of the reduction
in the deficit of the department as a
r whole was due to any discrimination
; against clerks and carriers AS fact
> the average salaries of clerks and car.
}. riers during the year 1910 was higher
e. than at any time in the previous his
tory of the department.
1t is the policy of the department,
as shown by the report, not to require
J. any more work in postoffices on Sun.
r days and holidays than is absolutely
a necessary. To this an endeavor is
0 being made to bring about greater
degree of uniformity In the amount OF
r Sunday work in postofices and to
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