The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-06-03
Charges That Apparent Sur
plus Was Shown by Unjus-
tifiabIe Methods on Books
R N ADMINISTRATION
Investigation Shows
That Under Hitchcock the
Service Did Not Become
e|f-Sustaining,
(By the Associated Press


Washington, D. c.. May 3l.-Post-
master General Burleson today made
public the report of a special investi-
CATION into fiscal affairs of the postal
service, charging tina during former
Postmaster General Hitchcock's ad-
m~inistration, the service did not be
come se~lf-supporting, as was often
asserted, but that in 1911 there actu-
ally was a deficit Of more thar $780,
600.
The report charges that IAN app
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 re-
port attributes to hat alleged condi-
ton complaints against the service.
Mr.. Hitchcock, during his admin
istration and in his reports claimed
that in the year 1909 a deficit of APP
p~roximately ! 7,5O0,00O had entirely
been eliminated ard hat in the fiscal
year, 1911, a surplus Of more han
5000. 600 was attained.
Never Was Legitimate Surplus.
The report of the survey made
at the direction of Mr.. Burleson says
that at no time has there been a legi-
innate surplus in postal
since 1888 and that the postofice de-
partment under Mr.. Hitchcock's ad-
ministration in 1911 actually was un-
der a deficit Of more than $3.50, 600.
In that connection the report says:
1T is pointed out by the committee
that the published fiscal reports Of the
department states the and
the cost of the service on dissimilar,
n therefore Incompatible. bases.
Revenues of the postal service are al
most entirely collected in cash and
consequently relate properly to the
fiscal year for which the report is
made. But the committee finds, it
has been the practice to compare
these only with payments actually
made during the fiscal year, regard
less Of obligations incurred in that
year, but not to be paid until sue
ceeding years."
How 1t Was Fixed
Just before President Wilson took
office, the reports says, MI. Hitchcock
filled long standing vacancies, made
postponed promotions and assumed
commitments to fixed charges for
long terms in such a way las TO a q
die the new administration with the
greatly increased expense, during
months, If not years, to come. More
than one hundred rural mail routes
were authorized in three days"
The fiscal statement of the postal
service for 1912 purported to show q
deficit of $1.73S,523 but that sum, The
investigators say, vas understated ty
nearly 100000.
The Result.
Delay Of promotions and filling Of
~vocanies that lapsed salaries might h
returned to the treasury, the report
says, caused dissatisfaction among
employees and lowered the standard
or their efficiency. Employees were
transferred from other departments
10 The postal service. it is charged, al
salaries in excess Of tn eentrance
grade n many c~ertifcations to tho
civil service, some at such positions
could not be filed by promotions
were unjustiied."
Daniel c. Roper, JOS. Stewart, A
NJ. Dockery, James l. Blangesless, tn
Tour assistant postmasters general
n Merritt O.. Chance, chief clerk
Oh department., made the survey
and signed the report.
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