New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-06-01
DURLESON CR|T|C|SES
H|TCHCOCK'S REGIME
Says Service During PredeCeS-
Sor'S Administration Did Not
Become SeIf-Supporting.
DOUBT REPORTS ACCURACY
Republican and Progressive
Senators Think Postmaster
General May Fall Into
Similar Errors.

Similar Errors.
Washington. May 3l.-Postmaster Cen
eral Burleson to-day made public the
report Of a special investigation into fiscal
affairs of the postal service. charging
that during ex-Postmaster General Hitch
cocks administration the service did not
become self-supporting, as was often as
serted, but that in 1917 there actually was
a deficiency of more than $4,000.
The report charges that IAN apparent
methods of bookkeeping" and that the
efficiency and morale of the postal service
were sacrificed TO a "ruthlessly enforced
policy Of false economy" that showing
OF maintenance might be made. The
report attributes TO that alleged condition
complaints against the service.
Mr.. Hitchcock during his administration
and in his reports stated that in the year
1909 a deficiency Of approximately ST.
10000 had entirely been eliminated, and
that in the fiscal year 1911 a surplus of
more than s2oe000 was attained. The re-
port OF the Survey" made at the direc-
ton Of Mr.. Burleson says that at no time
has there been a legitimate surplus In
postal revenues since 1888. and that the
Postoffice Department under Mr. Hitch
cocks administration in 1911 actually was
under a deficit of more than $4,000. In
that connection the report says:
Revenues Collected in Cash.
1T Is pointed out by the committee that
the published financial reports Of the de-
partment stated the revenues and the cost
OF the service on dissimilar. and therefore
incompatible bases Revenues Of the
postal service are almost entirely collected
in cash. and consequently relate properly
10 the fiscal year for which the report is
made. but. the committee finds. 1t has
been the practice 10 compare these only
with payments actually made during the
fiscal year, regardless Of obligations In
CURED In that year, hut not to be paid
until succeeding years.
Just before President Wilson took office
the report says Mr.. Hitchcock filled long
standing vacancies. made postponed pro-
motions 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 10 come. More than
one hundred rural mail routes were au-
thorized IN three days" The fiscal state
ment Of the postal service for 1912 pur-
ported TO show deficit Of $1,7s5523, but
that sum. the investigators say. was I'M
dcrstated By nearly 100000
Dissatisfaction Alleged.
Delay OF promotions and filing Of va
cancies that lapseo salaries might be re-
turned TO the treasury. the report says,
caused dissatisfaction among employees
and lowered the standard OF their eih-
cheney Employees were transferred from
other departments to the postal service,
it is charged, at salaries In excess Of the
entrance grade" and many certihcations
20 the Civil Service Commission that such
positions could not be filed by promotion
were unjustifed."
Daniel C. Roper. Joseph Stewart. A. VI.
Dockery and James I. Blakeslee the four
assistant postmaster general, and Merritt
o Chance, chief clerk Of the department.
/. made the survey" and signed the report
N Certain Republican and Progressive SEN
ators who have given careful study 10
postal finances are disposed TO question
the accuracy Of the report made to the
Postmaster General and TO suggest that In
placing undue credence In this communi-
cation Mr.. Burleson is extremely likely 10
fall into errors similar TO those he charges
10 ex-Postmaster General Hitchcock They
say that the fact Is that no one without
supernatural powers can tell. with the
present system of accounting in the Post
office Department whether there Is
credit or a debit balance at the end of the
year. They point 10 the urgent recon-
mendation made after long and thorough
study by the late Senator Carter 10 Presi-
dent Taft. that a modern and efficient sys-
tenn of accounting be installed before any
attempt was made to cast up accounts
and to announce TO the country that the
time honored deficit had been wiped out.
Taft Permitted Announcement.
President Taft was strongly disposed TO
heed this recommendation. but Mr.. Hitch
cock was able TO show such evident saving
I'm the cost OF administration and was so
ambitious TO make public his conviction
that he had disposed Of the long existing
discrepancy between receipts and dis
bursements that the President, realizing
that no harm could, and much good
might. result permitted the announce
ment 10 be made, and indeed came TO put
entire confidence in the deductions Of his
Postmaster General.
Republican members of the Senate Com
mittee on Postoffice and Post Roads in
sist that under the conditions there is no
warrant for impugning the sincerity of
Mr.. Hitchcocks contentious, and say that
when Congress gets around 10 providing
for the department an efficient system of
accounting they are just as likely to prove
correct as those of Mr.. Burleson's com
mission.
Little credence is placed in the argu-
ment that the economies installed by Mr..
Hitchcock impaired the efficiency OF the
postal service. although it is admitted
that. from a purely political point of
view. some of them were Ill advised, es-
pecially those which required a full days
work from certain employees. and thus in
cured the enmity OF labor organizations