Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-05-31
PosTMAsrER GENERAL BURLE.
SON SCORES POLICIES OF RE.
PUBLICAN PREDECESSORS.
SAYS DEMOCRATS ARE LEFT
WITH BILLS TO MEET
Hitchcock Charged With Not Making
Proper Charges in orasr to Make
Showing Of ProFt-ssrviee Crippled
When Turned Over to Democrats, is
eurIeson's Plant.
Postmaster

Washington. May 81. - Postma ster
General Burleson today made public
the report OF an investigation into
fiscal affairs OF the postoffice service.
charging that during former Postmas-
ter General Hitchcock's administration
supporting, as was asserted. but that
in 1911 there actually was deficiency
of more than $75O,OO0.
The report charges that IAN appar-
ent surplus was attained by unjusti-
fable methods Of bookkeeping" and
that the efficiency and morale OF the
postal service were sacrificed to a
ruthlessly enforced policy Of false
economy" that a showing Of self main
tenance might be made. The report
attributes to that alleged condition
complaints against the service.
Burieson Orders "survsy."
Mr.. Hitchcock during his admins
tration and in his reports claimed that
IN the year 1909, deficiency OF ap-
proximately s17.5o0,0OO had entirely
been eliminated and that in the fiscal
year Of 1911 a surplus of more than
$500, 900 was attained. The report Of
the Survey made at the direction Of
Mr.. Burleson, says that at no time
has there been a legitimate surplus in
postal revenues since 1888 and that the
postof1ice department under Mr.. Hitch
cocks administration in 1911 actually
was under a deficit of more than $780,
900. In that connection the report
says:
'It is pointed out by the COMMITTEES
that the published financial reports of
the department stated the revenues
and the cost of the service on dis
similar ana therefore Incompatible
bases. Revenues Of the postal service
are almost entirely contained In cash
and consequently relate properly tc
the fiscal year for which tho report IL
made. But. the COMMITTEES nnds. II
has been the practice to csmpare these
only with payment actually made dur
ing the fiscal year regardless OF oblfsa.
tions incurred IN that year but not to
be paid until succeeding years.
Burieson Has Complaint.
Just before President Wilson took
office, the report says, Mr.. Hitchcol'
filed long standing vacancies. made
postponed promotions, and assumed
commitments to fixed charges for lous
terms IN such a way "as to saddle the
new administration with the greatly
Increased expense during months, II
not years to come. More than 100 rural
mail routes were authorized In three
days"
The fiscal statement CT the postal
service for 1912 purported to show
deficit of $1.7s5,523. but that sum. thf
investigators say. was understated BY
nearly 100000.
Policy Crippled Service.
Delay Of promotions and flling OF
vacancies that lapsed salaries might
be returned to the treasury, the report
says. caused dissatisfaction among enl-
ployes and lowered the standard OF
their efficiency. Employees were trans
ferred from other departments to the
postal service, 1t is charged, "at sal
aries in excess Of the entrance Grade '
and many certifica.ions to the civil
service commission that such positions
could not be filled by promotion were
uniustified."
Daniel o. Roper. Iosepa Stewart. A
~ Dockery, James I. BlaN"s'ee. the
four assistant postmasters general
and Merritt O. Chance. chief clerk OF
the department made the Survey" and
signed the report.