The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1913-06-04
A STUNT PUT ON
JUST FOR SHOW
Is Allegation Inithe POST
Office Matter.
SURPLUS WAS NEVER REACHED
In P.-O. Department Under
Hitchcock, According To
Pr0berS' Report.
STRANGE METHODS EMPLOYED

!. STRANGE METHODS EMPLONED
Washington, May S1.-The Post
Office Department did not attain a
condition of self-support during the
administration of Postmaster Gen.
eral Hitchcock, notwithstanding the
widely-advertised announcement to
that effect, although an apparent
surplus was attained by unjustifia-
BILE methods of bookkeeping. The
general morale and efficiency of the
postal service were sacrificed to
\ ruthlessly enforced policy of false
(economy for the sole purpose of pre-
isenting a showing of .self-mainte-
nance; and after the Inauguration
of the new Administration, the pol
icy was reversed.
Long-standing vacancies were
filled and postponed promotions
made; commitments to fixed charges
for long terms were assumed In
such a way as to saddle the new
Administration with the greatly in
creased expense during months, If
not years, to come.
/, These are the important points
in the report of Committee of
/post-office officers which has made
a minute survey of the depart
ment's general condition. The re-
port is addressed to Postmaster
General Albert Sidney Burleson,
who made it public to-day, and is
signed by Daniel C. Roper, Joseph
Stewart. A. Nj. Dockery, James I.
Blakslee and Merritt O. Chance, re-
spectively First, Second, Third and
Fourth Assistant Postmasters Gen.
eral and Chief Clerk of the Depart,
ment.
The substance of the claim Of the
Hitchcock administration was that
I deficiency of approximately $17,-
= 100000 in 1909 had been entirely
eliminated, and that surplus of
more than 100000 was attained
for the fiscal year 1911. The re-
ports of the Survey" are declared
to show, on the contrary. that at no
time has there been legitimate
surplus in the postal revenues
since the fiscal year 1888. and that
instead of surplus of approximate
ly $4,000 in 1911. there was, in
fact, an actual deficiency of con-
siderably more than three quarters
Alof million dollars.
This matter is held to have a d.
rect bearing upon the alleged course
of the former administration In
holding back all manner of COM
mitments for the future; filling of
vacancies and promotions, extern
sion OF city delivery and rural free
delivery routes and star routes. un-
til the very close of the last Admin
istration, so as to keep expenses to
the minimum. and then filling ev-
cry available position, by appoint
ment and transfer. making long
term contracts. authorizing large
number Of free delivery and star
routes, and otherwise saddling the
department with fixed charges
which would not affect the report
ed expenditures for the current
year. but would immensely magnify
those of the first year of the new
Administration.
"The all-absorbing program of
the last Administration was the
placing of the Post-oftice Depart
Ment on a paying basis" says the
report. THE policies pursued in
the effort to succeed at this plan
were overworked and resulted in
defective administration and just
criticism on the part of the public"
The report declares that the fail
ure to fill vacancies In the latter
part OF 1910 and during 1911 was
not justified. and 1t goes on to say
that Instead of making deserved
promot ons, considerable number
of transfers from other departments
= were made. at salaries In excess OF
the entrance grade. OF men I'M
trained In the work of the Post-of-
fee Department"
II is further stated that Tin or
der to effect these transfers the
Postmaster General certified in
each case where the transfer was
at a salary In excess OF the entrance
grade, that the person recommend
led for transfer was especially