Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-06-05
Insists That He Placed Post
Office Department on Self
Sustaining Basis.
GREATLY EXTENDED SERVICE
Says Committee of NOvitiates
Reports Alleged Discrepan-
cies That Are Insig-
nificant.

silver City, N. NJ, juno Son sariv-
ing at Silver City to-day from the MoRol-
lon mountains, where he has been spend
ing some weeks, former Postmaster-Gen-
eral Frank II. Hitchcock was shown for
the first time the published report o. the
statement issued few days ago by Post
master-General Burleson attacking his
administration of the Nstoffce depart
ment. After reading the charges, Mr.
Hitchcock issued u statement.
"A committee composed In the mGn of
newly appointed assistants having less
than three '.onths' experience in post
onics business, attempts in report to
the present head of the department To
discrodit the financial shs wing made BY
the postal acrvice unGer President 1afts
administration" Mr. Hitchcock said
After reporting alleged discrepancies
that are Insignificant when compared with
he great Sums known % have been saved
by their predccesCorJ, this committee OF
novit.atoj proceeds in is published state
ment t. enighten the American people rs
to the character Of the postal service
they have been receiving.
During the Taft administration nearly
1900 new postoffices were established,
delivery by letter carriers was provided
in about 800 additional cities. and over
5000 new rural routes, aggregating about
1000 miles, We're authorized
Notwithstanding these great extensions
of service and the heavy increase in ex
pendtures they required. the postotfice de-
partment was placed on a self-sustainins
basis, and that was its condition on the
fourth of March.
The postal committee of a democratic
House OF Congress endeavored last year in
a similar manner to attack the audited
accounts of the postal service. but after
investigation, that committee was fair
enough to admit that the department had
become substantially self sustaining
"rhe secretary Of the treasury reported
the wiping out of the postal deficit and
the record thus certified to in his fiscal
report is likely to stand in history. If the
postofice department could have received
a proper allowance for the cost of carry
ing franked mail, the postal surplus would
have been much larger than that record
ed, and this Is true after deducting the
expense incurred on account of the postal
the free quartering of certain postoffices
in federal buildings. an expense that is
less than half the cost of the ranking
privilege In the fiscal year 1872. more
than 800 OO0,o00 pieces of mail, having an
aggregate weight of about 100000
pounds, were carried free of charge under
the franks Of congressman and of the va
rious government establishments If post
lp tas
this matter 1t is estimated that the postal
revenues would have been increased by
more than 100000
I'm the last administration we appeal
ed in vain to a democratic House for
legislation aboishing the ranking abuse
1t is a subject that the present postal
Management might well consider. for It
affords an opportunity to save the de-
partment millions OF dollars a year
The United States postal service COM
prises altogether more than 10000 Of
fcers and men 1t is the largest bust
ness organization IN the world. 1t ex-
Ponds annually about $3.50, oOO, 600 and now
takes in approximately tina. amount IN
postal receipts ="
In conclusion MIR Hitchcock said
The present officers OF the department
will doubtless find 1t a considerable task
and one requiring their strict attention
to maintain throughout our vast coun-
try the efficiency of tins postal service
as developed and extended by their
predecessors and particularly of those
great branches of the cervice recently
established for the benefit CT the people
by a republican Contamination, TIE
postal savings bank Roe the Iaroel