The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1914-12-15
the departments activities.
Surplus on Hand

istration, viii be shown for the fiscai
year Of 1914, when all claims ana
charges have been met. On that
showing he bases his declaration that
the department has been securely
placed upon self-sustainine basis
IT Is safe to say, the report adds,
that unless unusual conditions
should arise. resulting, in abnormal
depression OF business, there IS no
danger Of recurring deficiencies"
The legislative program reconi-
4 mended is as follows as to its most
important features:
Early action toward government
Ownership OF telegraph and telephone
lines and immediate taking over OF
] these systems In Hawaii, Alaska and
Porto Rico. Transfer OF the Alaska
4 cable from war to postofiice depart
ment control
\ Substitution OF contract star
route" system for salaried rural car
rter service to eliminate $40.000.0Du
4 annual loss on rural delivery.
Postofice cooperation with state
governments in road building where
improvements insure better postal
Service.
Raising maximum balance accept
able at postal banks from $500 to
$500, lntertst payments to be lin
tied to $1,000. Removal of monthly
deposit limit restriction.
Aerial mail service, where topog-
1raphy warrants. and extension of
motor truck and automobile service
In view of recent successful expert
ments.
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providing space, basis OF compensation
for railroads. on mail carried instead
of weight basis.
Pending change in rural delivery
system, computation of carriers sal
aries on basis of service performed,
/ dependent on bulk OF mail carried,
ito stimulate business.
REIMBURSEMENT OF postmasters' sal
aries on basis of change In business
handled due to parcel post develop
ment.
1 Raising Of second class rates on
publications other than newspapers Is
sued once q week from one to two
Cents a pound.
Granting the department jurisdiG-
ton over selection of sites and de-
signs for postal buildings.
Inc Pafcel fOSt.
or the parcel post during the last
year the report says:
I Rapid growth of the parcel post
vastly increased postal business dur
ing the year. The departments field
of service las expanded at a phe-
nomenal rate; 1t is still expanding.
notwithstanding the decrease of par
eel post rates authorized Jnauary J..
1914, economics of administration
have kept expenses within the rev
enue.
OF the departments financial con-
dition the report says:
"The postal revenue for t914
amounted to $2S7 ,93 4,565.67, an in
crease over the preceding year Of
slightly less than eight per cent, as
compared with o corresponding in
crease of slightly more than eight
per cent for 1913. The audited ex-
penditures for the year amounted to
$2S3,543.16, and the adjusted losses
due to fire, burglary, etc, to S14.-
E333.46. The expense of audited rev.
enues over audited losses and e2-
lpenses is, therefore, s4,S76, 463.o5.
This audited surplus does not,
however, represent the actual finan-
clal results for the year. It involves
Lcomparison of amounts that are not
properly comparable. 1t does not in
clude obligations which were incur
|. rend but not paid within the year,
while 1t does include some payments
on account Of obligations incurred in
prior years"
A statement follows of revenues
II and expenses based upon the report
ed revenues and the estimated ex-
Il penseg of the srevice for that year
and the report adds:
\ ION this basis, the revenues for the
4 fiscal year ended June 80, 1914, are
found to exceed by $3,565, 5ST the
expenses for maintenance during the
same period. While the announce
ment establishes confidence in the
fact that the service is being eco
nomically administered, it must be
borne in mind that of the conven-
fence and benefit provided the pub
lie, which must be secured ire
spective OF the financial outlay re-
quired.
THE surplus for the year just
closed, though substantial in amount,
necessarily represents an approximate
adjustment OF revenues and disburse-
ments, made possible by economies in
administration; compared with the
volume of transactions; 1t is believed
Therefore. that recommendation for
the reduction of postage rates or fees
is not warranted at this time"
Government Monopoly.
Reviewing the recommendations
for government ownership of tele-
graph and telephone lines. Mr.. Bur-
Lesson says:
The postmaster general renews
the recommendation embodied in his
last annual report that Congress seri-
ously consider the question OF declar-
ing government monopoly over all
utilities for the public transmission
OF intelligence and that steps be
taken as soon as practicable to In
corporate into the postal establish
ments the telegraph and telephone
systems OF the country.
In that report reference was made
to the anomalous condition in this
country under which the telegraph
ana telephone utilities. being We
thicles for the public transmission OF
Intelligence, infringing upon func-
tion reserved by the Constitution to
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