The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1913-02-03
F9s7f45ss s''i f'isE, 9 eitaIt 10
FOR L0WER.RA1ES
|. I'm pARcEL9 POST
Postmaster Gsaer!aIlE. IlE'l Would 1! Also
Raise Weight. Limit
SHOWS SURPLUS FOR YEAR
Fo. the First Time Since 1888 the Pos
tai Receipts Have Exceeded Expen-
ditures-Suggests Pensions For En-
-
ployes.

Washington, Feb. g. ~ Postmaster
General Hitcheock's annual report ten
tativelys suggests. reduction. of. some
parcel post, rates and increasing the
limit of weight beyond eleven pounds;
recommends civil pensions for postal
employees; an increase in rates on Sec
ond class mail which may pave the
way for one cent letter postage; the
consolidation of the third and fourth
classes so that books and papers may
be forwarded by parcel post, and points
out that during his administration the
expense of operating the postal service
has been cut down s45,000,000.
In the course of statement on the
condition of postal finances Mr.. Hitch
cock says in his report:
''In 1911, for the first time since
1883, postal receipts exceeded postal
expenditures, leaving surplus instead
of deficit. A heavy loss of revenue
in 1912, due to the extraordinary lot
of franked matter mailed in the po-
litical campaign, created temporary
deficit, but since the close of the fiscal
year the income of the department
again has outstripped expenses.
"The year preceding the present ad,
ministration was marked by the larg-
est postal deficit on record, amounting
to $17,500,000. During the next two
years the deficit was greatly reduced
and later eliminated, When compared
with the financial showing of four
years ago the reports of income and
expense for subsequent years Indicate
an aggregate saving of about s45,OO0,,
000."
The establishing of postal savings
banks at presidential postofices was
completed early in the fiscal year end
ed June 80, 1912-the year covered by
the report. Since then the system has
been extended to 4004 fourth class OF
fees as well as to 645 branch offices
and stations in the larger cities. There
are now 1882 postal savings banks at
which patrons may enter accounts
The number of depositors is approM
mately 100000, and the deposits ag
gregate about $2S,000,000, not includ
ing S1,314,140 withdrawn and invested
in postal savings bonds. Icy
On the basis of the present monthly
net increase of deposits it is estimated
that the gross income of the. postal
saengs systems fer the aseal year end
ing June 80, 1912, will amount to $700,
900 and the interest payable todeposi
tors to 100000. The income of the
system for the fiscal year will meet the
interest payments and the total ex
penses of the central Office but will be
approximately $275,0O0 less than suf
| ficient to cover the entire expense o.
the service. -c
During the fiscal year 1912 more
than 30O,000,000 pieces of mail, having
an aggregate weight of about $1,000,
900 pounds, were carried free through
the mails under the franks of con
gressmen and of various government
establishments Had postage at the or
binary rates been paid on this matter
the revenues of the department woule
have been increased by more than $40.
100000.
The report recommends that "civil
pensions based on length of service
should be granted by the government
to postal employees when they become
superannuated. 1t is likely that the
expense of such a system would be
more than offset by the gains in eff
niency"