The Calumet news., 1911-12-11
P. 0. DEPARTMENT
ON PAYING BASIS
Surplus Instead Of Deficit is
Shown For the First Time
Since 1888
MORE FACILITIES PROVIDED
Important Extensions in Every
Branch of the Service
Establishment Of Parcel Post Urqed
and Other Recommendations
Made by Hitchcock.

Washington, Dec. 11.-For the first
time since 1888. according to the re-
port of Postmaster General Hitchcock
submitted today, the annual financial
statement of the postonlce department
shows a surplus instead of deficit
The revenues for the fiscal year ended
June 80, 1911. amounted to $237, 49,
S23.60 and the expenditures to $751;
$50, ,7O5.4S, leaving a surplus of $219,-
11S.12. At the beginning of the pres
ent administration i'm 1909 the postal
service was in arrears to the extent
of $17,479. 9.77O.47, which was decidedly
the largest deficit on record. In the
brief space of two years this deficit
has been changed into a substantial
surplus.
Extension Of the service.
The wiping out of the deficit has
been accomplished without curtail-
ment of postal facilities. on the con-
trary important extensions have been
made i'm every branch of the service.
Since the opening Of the present ad-
there have been estab,
lished 3,744 new postoffices, delivery
by carrier has been provided i'm 1856
additional cities. and 2516 new rural
routes. aggregating 6O,679 miles, have
been authorized. Meanwhile the force
of postal employees has been increased
by more than 5000. In compensating
hn a ~ f,I
lows a liberal policy. Last year the
total amount expended for salaries
was approximately $14,OOO,OOO greater
than two years ago. The average an
nual salary has been increased from
1869 to 1867 for rural carriers. from
1919 to S1.OS2 for postoffice cuerks,
from $1,O21 to S1,OS4 for city letter
carriers, and from $1,16S TO $t,tS3 for
railway postal clerks. Thus a mark
cd extension of the postal service and
higher compensation for it's employ
ees have gone hand in hand with a
deficit.
An important event of the year was
the successful organization of the
postal savings system. ON January 3,
1911, repositories were opened expert
at single postofiice i'm
each one of the As states and territor-
les. After careful test for four
at these offices the system was
rapidly extended and now comprises
all Of the 1900 presiden-
tial postoaices. Preparations are be-
ing made to establish 10000 fourth
class offices that do a money order
business.
Parcel Post.
II is hoped that Congress will
promptly authorize the establishment
of a parcel post. The benefits Of this
service are widely enjoyed by the peo-
pie of foreign countries and should
be provided i'm the United States The
not only renews its rec
of last year for legisla-
tive authority 10 start a parcel post
On rural routes, but asks a similar au-
for the introduction OF
such a service i'm cities and towns
having delivery by carrier. After the
organization of a parcel post on rural
routes and i'm the city delivery service
Is completed, its extension to include
and other transportation lines
can be more readily accomplished
without impeding the handling of the
ordinary mail. In establishing par
rel post service great care should be
taken not to cause a congestion Of the
mails and thus embarrass the present
operations of the postofiices. An at
tempt To absorb Immediately under
one sweeping order the entire parcel
business of the country would be a
dangerous experiment for our postal
service. That the difficulties of such
a plar may be avoided the department
favors more gradual introduction
Df a parcel post i'm the manner pro-
posed To bring the issue clearly be-
fore Congress, three items of $4,000
each have been inserted I'm the esti-
mates of the postal service, two Of
these items to cover the initial expense
Df introducing parcel post on rural
routes and i'm the city delivery service,
and the third item to
meet the cost Of an investigation look
ng to the final extension of the service
If the railways and other transporta-
ton lines If Congress will grant
without delay the desired authority
and provide the necessary appropria-
ions it is believed that before the end
IF another year satisfactory parcel
post can he organized on rural routes
and i'm cities with n carrier service,
ihus paving the way for the final step,
IN the organization Of a general parcel
post.
Readjustment OF Postage Rates
Next To the question OF establishing
\ parcel post, the most important post
Al problem 10 he considered by Con-
yress at the coming session will be that
,f readjusting postage rates. In the