The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-06-04
HITCHCOCK REPLIES
TO BURLESON CHARGE
Defends His Administration of the
Postoffice Department and Tells of
the Things Done by Him as
Postmaster General.

Silver City, n. NJ, June 44.-On ar
irving at Silver City yesterday from the
Mogollon mountains, where he has beer
spending some weeks, former Postmast
er General Frank II. Hitchcock was
shown for the first time the published
report OF the statement issued a few
days ago by Postmaster-Gene Burle.
son attacking his administration of the
postoflce department. After reading the
charges he issued statement.
! "A committee composed in the main
OF newly appointed assistants, having
less than three months experience in
postofiice business, attempts i'm report
to the present head of the department
to discredit the financial showing made
by the postal service under President
1'aft's administration" Mr.. Hitchcock
said. After reporting alleged discrep.
ancies that are insignificant when com
pared with the great sums known to
have been saved by their predecessors,
this committee Of novtiates proceeds in
its published statement to enlighten the
American people as to the character of
the postal service they have been re-
cciving.
During the Taft administration near.
ly 5000 new postoffices were established,
delivery by letter carriers was provided
in about 800 additional cities, and over
5000 new rural routes, aggregating
about 10000 miles, were authorized
Notwithstanding these great exten-
in expenditures they required, the post
Office department was placed on self
sustaining basis, and that was its con.
dtion on the fourth of March.
'The postal committee of Democrat
ic House OF Congress endeavored last
year in a similar manner to attack the
audited accounts of the postal service,
but after investigation, that committee
was fair enough to admit that the de-
partment had become substantially self
"The secretary of the treasury report
ed the wiping out of the postal deficit |
and the record thus certified to in his |
fiscal report Is likely to stand in history. |
II the postoffice department could have
received proper allowance for the cost |
1f carrying franked mail, the postal sur
plus would have been much larger than |
that recorded, and this is true after de-
lucting the expense incurred on account |
II the postal service by the treasury
for the free quartering OF |
'ertain postoffices in federal buildings,
N expense that Il less than half the
ost OF the franking privilege. In the
seal year 1912. more than 300.000,000
'.eces Of mail, having an aggregate
weight of about 60,000,000 pounds. were
arried free Of charge under the franks
{ Congressman and OF the various gov
i1ment establishments. II postage at
he usual rates had been paid on this
natter it is estimated that the postal
evenues would have been increased by
iore than 100000
In the last administration we ap-
ealed in vain TO Democratic House
pr legislation abolishing the franking
buse. It is subject that the present Il
ostal management might well consider,
or it affords an opportunity to save the
epartment millions OF dollars year. II
The United States postal service com !
rises altogether more than 100000 off
'rs and men. 1t is the largest business
rganization in the world. 1t expends i
nnually about S250,O0o,000 and now /
lkes in approximately that amount in t
,<tal receipts" III
In conclusion Mr.. Hitchcock said III
The present officers of the department i
Ill doubtless find il considerable task. | i
I'd one requiring their strict attention, O
maintain throughout our vast count I
Y the efficiency of the postal service il
developed and extended by their pre-
'eessors and particularly of those great
anches of the service recently estab-
'hed for the benefit of the people by 3
epublican administration. the postal
wings bank and the parcel post.