Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-05-31
SAYS HITCHCOCK
JUGGLED DEFICIT
TO SHOW SURPLUS
Special Probe DisclOses "Un-
instifiabIe Bookkeeping Sys-
fem" by Postmaster-Gen.
BURLESON SAYS FALSE
STATEMENTS WERE MADE
Deficiency of More Than
$75o,ooo Is Found Instead
of Boasted Surplus.

WASHINGTON. May 31.--Post-
master General Burleson today made
public the report of a special investi-
cation into fiscal affairs of the postal
service, charging that during former
Postmaster General Hitcheocks ad-
ministration the service did not be-
come supporting, as was often
asserted, but that in 1911 there ac-
tually was deficiency of more than
$3.50 600.
The report charges that AN ap-
parent surplus was attained by un-
justifiable methods of bookkeeping"
and that the efficiency and morals
of the postal service were sacrificed
to a "ruthlessly enforced policy of
false economy that a showing of
self maintenance might be made.
The report attributes to that alleged
condition complaints against the
service.
Mr. Hitchcock during his admin
istra ation and in his reports claimed
that in the year 1909 a deficiency of
approximately $17.500,000 had entirely
been eliminated and that in the fiscal
year 1911 surplus of more than $780,
600 was attained
Never Had surplus Since 1888.
The report of the Survey" made
at the direction of Mr.. Burleson says
that at no time has there been
legitimate surplus in postal revenues
since 1883 and that the postoffice de-
partment under Mr.. Hitchcock's adj
ministration in 1911 actually was un-
DER deficit of more than $750,00O.
In that connection the report says:
''It is pointed out by the committee
that the published financial reports
of the department stated the reve-
nues and the cost of the service
on dissimilar, and therefore incom-
parable, bases. Revenues of the pos
tai service are almost entirely
collected in cash and conse-
quently relate properly to the
fiscal year for which the report is
made. But the committee finds u has
been the practise to compare these
only with payments actually made
during the fiscal year, regardless of
obligations incurred in that year. but
not to be paid until succeeding
years
saddIed Obligations on New Regime.
Just before President Wilson took
Office, the report says, Mr.. Hitchcock
filled long-standing vacancies, made
postponed promotions and assumed
commitments to fixed charges for
long terms in such a way "as to sad
die the new administration with the
greatly increased expense during
months, If not years, to come. More
than 100 rural mail routes were au-
thorized in three days"
Delay of promotions and of filling
vacancies that lapsed salaries might
be returned to the treasury, the re-
port SAYS, caused dissatisfaction
among employees and lowered the
standard of their efficiency. EN-
ployees were transferred from other
departments to the postal service, II
is charged, at salaries in excess of
the entrance grade" and many GER
tifications to the Civil Service Com
mission that such position could not
be filed by promotion were unjusti-
fed"
Daniel C. Roper, Joseph Stewart, A.
M. Dockery and James l. Blakeslee,
the four assistant postmasters-gen
eraL and Merritt o. Chance, chief
clerk of the department, made the
survey and signed the report.