Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-06-01

but paid after the close OF that year.
There is no way of avoiding this Ii
time immemorial. and IL was under this
method that the surplus of lS>S. admitted
by the survey committee. was ascertained.
Ii that surplus was real. then the surplus
of S213.OtN, or whatever il may have been,
for 1911. was real
While il may be true that the amount
of outstanding obligations are increasing
each year. the increase Is not materially
large. and probably falls within a few
thousand dollars. Those of one year
pretty nearly Offset those of the year
following or the year preceding.
As to Accurate ADULTS.
IF an absolutely accurate audit for
each fiscal year is contended for by
Postmaster General Rurleson's survey
committee" il was asserted. then II can
never be had. because claims against a
given year are liable and some actually
nave arisen ten years after the close OF
the year against which they are charged.
The yearly auditing statement must be
made as now. otherwise the department
will never know even approximately
where ii stands
1t this point another official who de-
sired his name withheld. chimed in
Now as TO the awful expansion com
plained of in the rural and city delivery
services. When Mr.. Hitchcock took
charge of the department he found there
mad been an extraordinary rapid and un
wise expansion of those services He
was i'm favor Of economy and so ne
strove to hold those expenditures within
check. He merged the rural delivery
and the star route service under
head. that he might fix the responsibility
ana have both directed by the same in
telligence.
when he found he could he went ahead
TO extend the services, and did more
intelligently and with closer regard to the
governments interests than any of his
predecessors had done. II Is true when
he was prepared to act along these lines
there was "A greater expansion of the
service than there had been. but at no
time was it unreasonable or extravasant
or unwarranted.'
As to keeping vacancies open il was
explained. the saving in all Of il would
only amount to approximately Sio.vD
year. drop in the bucket. II was sa d..
as compared with the insinuation.
II was admitted the canceing machine
contract was awarded 10 high bidder.
but even SO. il was explained. there was
a saving OF several thousand dollars a
year under the new contract as compared
with the old. The contract was not
awarded to the lowest bidder, IT waS ad-
mitted. which would probably have saved
the government SIOO0oO year eaclf, tear
of the four IL had to run. But the aKaSd
was made, 1t was declared. upon. The
recommendation of special COMMITTEES.
Of which Second Assistant Postmaster
General Stewart, also a member of Post
master General Burlesons survey com
mittee. was a member. and of which
another prominent officer under the Burle-
son administration was also member.
The contract has four years to run and
begins July 1.
Burleson Has Also Done It.
AS to the charge that Mr.. Hitchcock
had transferred men from other de-
partments to the Post Office Depart
ment at greatly increased salaries upon
certifications that they were especially
fitted for the work which they We're to
perform, 1t was charged Mr.. Burleson
has done the same thing in the case
OF Mr.. Ellsworth, superintendent of the
division Of postmasters' appointments
who was an eighty-thousand-do dollar
clerk in the Treasury Department and
was transferred to a ree-thousand-
dollar place under Mr.. Burleson.
1t was also stated that the case hao
been repeated with the new chief clerk
to the office of Third Assistant Post
| master General Dockery member 81
| the survey committee. who was trans
ferred very recently from the census
| bureau. Neither of these men. 1t IL
claimed. are at all familiar with Pos
| Omce department business
In answer to the charge that the
Post Office Department should be
| charged with the expenses Of running
| the Office of the auditor for the Post
Office Department. bureau of the
| Treasury Department. and with rental
post Offices are located. both necessary
expenses Of the postal service. 1t was
set forth that IL the Post ONCE De-
partment were allowed the $4,000. 900
g. ct -, ynA rrS1d
legal rates for carrying without cost
the mails of Congress and OF the
other departments Of the government.
1t would be enough to pay the rental
for government buildings, pay the eX-
penses Of running the auditors office
and pay not only the salaries of Off
GERS and clerks Of the Post Office De-
partment. but the full running ex-
penses Of the department proper In
Washington as we'll
But, it was added. the law does not
permit the one or the other. and the
contention either way is simply con
troversial for the sake of securing an
effect Mr.. Hitchcock. it was explained
had during his term. frequently called
the attention of Congress to this condi
ton Of affairs and would have been glad
to have them adjusted equitably.
Answering the charge of the survey
committee that Mr. Hitchcock in hi:
mad break for economy had woefull.
response was made that as no facts ha6
been set forth there was no way to meet
the charge. but that Mr.. Burleson We
had his record to make.
Thus far. IL was asserted, the only
thing he has done is his order to dis
continue backstamp:ng mail. to the
wisdom of which, il was declared there
is serious doubt in the business world
at least.
That Mr.. Hitchcock's friends are bit
ter at the attack which is believed t.
lave been made upon him there is ia
doubt. but there is wholesome discre-
tion that tempers his friends who wis
to fly to his defense which prevents theii
showing their heads above the danger
line.