The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-01
BURLESON MAKES
PUBLIC REPORT ON
POSTAL SERVICE
Service During Hitchcock's
Administration Not Self
Supporting as Asserted.
S750,000 Deficiency

Washington, May S1.-Postmaster
General Burleson today made public
the report of special investigation
into fiscal affairs of the postal service,
charging that during former Postmas-
ter General Hitchcock's administration
the service did not become self-sup-
porting as was often asserted, but that
in 1911 there actually was a deficiency
of more than s750,0o0.
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 at
tributes to that alleged condition COM
plants against the service.
Mr. Hitchcock during his administra-
tion and in his reports claimed that in
the year 1909 a deficiency of approx
imately s17,50o,o0o had entirely been
eliminated, and that in the fiscal year
1911 a surplus of more than $780,
was attained
Report of Survey"
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 postoffice department un-
der Mr.. Hitchcock's administration in
1911 actually was under a deficit of
mo hay In tl,at fn,,
the report says:
TT is pointed out by the committee
that the published financial reports
of the department stated the revenues
and the cost of the service on dissimilar
and therefore incompatible basis Rev
enues of the postal service are almost
entirely collected in cash and conse-
quently relative properly to the fiscal
for which the report is made But the
committee finds it has been the prac-
tice to compare these only with pay
ments actually made during the fiscal
year. regardless of obligations incurred
in that year but not to be paid until
succeeding years" ,tst
Just before President Wilson took
office the report says, Mr.. Hitchcock
filled long standing vacancies, made
postponed promotions and assumed
commitments to fixed charges for long
new administration with the greatly
increased expense, during months if not
years to come. More than 100 rural
mail routes were authorized in three
days"
Fiscal Statement
The fiscal statement of the postal
service for 1912 purported to show a
deficit of $1,7S5,5g3, but that sum. the
investigators say, was understated 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 trans
ferred from other departments to the
postal service. it is charged, at sal
aries in excess of the "entrance grade"
and many certifications to tile civil SER
vice commission that such positions
could not be filled by promotions
were unjustifed."
Daniel c. Roper Joseph Stewart A.
M. Dockery James l. Blakeslee. the
four Assistant Postmasters General. and
Merritt O. Chance, chief clerk of the
department. made the Survey" and
signed the report.