The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-06-04
HITCHCOCK SHOWN up"
CHARGES OF CNJUSTIFIABLE
METHODS OF BOOKKEEPING
USED BY FORMER POST.
MASTER GENERAL.
False Economics and Peculiar System
of Accounts Responsible for Show
ing OF Self SuppOrt-Was Actual
Deficit OF $75O,OGO i'm Ofice---Reye-
latiOn of Investigation.

Washington, May 31.-POstmaster
General Burleson today made public
the report of a special investigation
into the fiscal affairs Of the postal
service, charging that during former
Postmaster General Hitchcock's ad-
ministratiOn the service did not be-
come self-supporting as was often as
serted, but that in 1911 there actual
ly was a deficit of more than $780,
900.
The report charges that IAN ap-
parent surplus was attained by un-
Justifiable methods of bookkeeping"
and that the efficiency and morale of
the postal service were sacrificed 20
'ruthlessly enforced policy of false
economy, that a showing of self-main-
tenance might be made The re.
port attributes to that alleged cOndi-
ton complaints against the service.
Mr. Hitchcock during his admins
tratiOn and in his reports claimed
that in the year 1909 a deficit of ap~
proximately $17,5OO,OOO had entirely
been eliminated and that in the fiscal
year 1911 a surplus OF more than
100000 was attained.
The report of the Survey" made
at the direction of Mr. Burleson says
that at no time has there been a le-
gitimate surplus in postal revenues
since 1883 and that the postoffice de-
partment under Mr. Hitchcocks ad.
ministration in 1911 actually was un-
der deficit of more than S75O.OOO.
IT Is pointed out by the committee
In that connection the report saws:
that the published financial reports of
the department state the revenues
and the cost of the service on dis
similar, and therefore, uncomfortable
bases. Revenues of the postal service
are almost entirely collected in cash
and consequently relate properly to
the fiscal year for which the report
is made. But the committee finds il
these only with payments actually
made during the fiscal year. regardless
or obligations incurred in that year
but not to be paid until succeeding
years"
Just before President Wilson took
Office the report says, Mr.. Hitchcock
hlled longstanding vacancies, made
postponed promotions and assumed
commitments to fixed charges for long
terms in such a way "as to saddle
the new administration with the
greatly increased expense during
months, if not years, to come. More
than 100 rural mail routes were au-
thorized in three days. -
The fiscal statement Of the postal
service for 1912 purported TO show a
deficit of $l,7S5,523, but that sum,
the investigators say, was under
stated by nearly 100000.
Delay of promotions and filling Of
vacancies that lapsed salaries might
be returned to the treasury, the re-
port says, caused dissatisfaction
among employees and lowered the
standard of their efficiency. EMPLOYEES
were transferred from other depart
mehts to the postal service, it is |
charged. at salaries in excess of the
entrance grade and many certifica-
tons to the civil service commission
that such positions could not be filled
by promotions were unjustifed.'
Daniel G. Roper, Joseph Stewart.
a. NJ. Dockery and James NJ. Bla lkes- |
less, the four assistant postmasters
general, and Merritt O. Chance, chief |
clerk OF the department, made the |
survey and signed the report.