Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-12-17
POST OFFICE DEPT.
SELF -SUSTA|N|NG
F D R FIRST TIM {

Washington, Dec. 13.--Assertng thai,
for the first time since its organization
by BENJAMIN Franklin, the postoffice de.
partment is on a self-sustalning basis.
Postmaster General Burleson submitted
to President Wilson to-day his aunua
report. It records enormous growth ir
the departments business because of 'hc
parcels post and postal savings bank d
visions and recommends a program o.
postal legislation to increase the scope 0,
the departments activities.
Mr. Burleson features his report with
an estimate that surplus Of s3.5sa5i5
the second Of his administration. vii
be shown for the fiscal year of 1914 wher
all claims and charges have been met
On that showing he bases his declara
ton that the department has been Sc.
curelv placed upon self-sustain'ns
basis"
1T is SAT- to say" 'he reports adds
that unless unusual conditions should
arise. resulting in abnormal depression
Of business, there is no danger Of ro-
curing Deficiencies"
The legislative program recommended
is as follows TO its most important fea
lures:
/ Early action toward government own
ership Of telegraph and telephone lines
and imnedate taking over of these sys-
tens in Hawaii Alaska and Porto Rico.
Transfer of the Alaska cable from war
~ nosfof'co Department con+ro, SuNstitu-
ton Of contract star route" system TO-
-a,ari"d w.r1l carrier service 10 eliminat"
si",'"o.o' aurual loss on rural delivery
Postafl.e cooperation with State GO
ernmert~ N road outldinE where improve
ments insure better postal service.
Raising maximum balance acceptable a.
postal banks from $3.50 to 5000. interest
payments to hc limited to 81 ooo Removal
If monthly deposit limit restriction.
Aerla! mail service. where topography
warrants and extension of motor truck
and automobile service in view Of recent
succ' esf,l experiments.
Passage by senator OF pending bill
providing space basis NJ compensation
for railroads on mail carried instead @,
weight basis
Pending change in rural delivery sys-
TEN. computation Of carriers salaries on
basis Of services performed, dependent
on bulk Of mail carried, to stimulate
business
Reimbursement of poastmastors salaries
on sis Of changes in business handled
due to parcel post development.
raising Oh seNNn'l-C!aSS rates on puDI-
cations other than newspapers issued
once week from one to two cents
pound
Granting the department legal iuris-
'diction over selection Of sites aud de-
signs for postal buildings
OF the parcel most during IN. asst wear
tho report says:
Rapid growth of the parcel post
vastly increased postal business during
the year The departments field Of serv-
Ice has expanded at a phenomenal rate;
It Is still expanding. Notwithstanding
the decreases Of parcel post rates au-
thorized January I, 1914, economies o.,
administration have kept expenses with
in the revenues"
OF the department financial condition
tho report says:
- The postal revenues for 1914 amounted
TO s2s7, 9345sS c.. an increase over the
preceding year Of slightly less than
: eight per cent, as compared with a. cor
responding increase OF slightly more
than eight per cent for 1913, The audited
expenditures for the year amounted to
SeS3, 543 6e.le, and the adjusted losses due
to fire, burglary etc. to sl43S3.46. The
u excess OF audited revenues over audited
expenses and losses is, therefore, A37s.
( $500
II This audited surplus does not, how
{ ever, represent the actual financial re-
!. suits for the year. It involves compari-
u son of amounts that are not properly
p comparable. II does not include obliga-
u tons which We're incurred but not paid
i within the year, while 1t does include
some payments on account OF obligations
10 incurred In prior years"
IS statement follows OF revenues and
expenses based upon the reported rev
r enues and the estimated expenses Of the
Is service for that year and the report ADDS
10 ION this bases, the revenues for the
lie fiscal year ended June 30. 1914. are found
II to exceed by sS56s,ss7 the expenses for
y maintenance during the same period
n While the announcement establishes con
D. fidence in the fact that the service Is be
ing economically administered, It mus
ID be borne IN mind that of the convenience
ID and benefit provided the public whicr
X must be secured irrespective ot the fnan
10 cial outlay required.
r The surplus for the year just closed
O. though substantial In amount. necessar!l,
ID represents an approximate adjustment o
- revenues and disbursements made posi-
lie BILE by economies In administration; com
l. pared with the volume OF transaction; 4
,e Is believed. therefore, that a recommenda
n. ton for the reduction OF postage rates o
fees Is not warranted at this time"
Reviewing his recommendations for gov
eminent ownership OF telegraph and tele
r phone lines, Mr.. Burleson says:
THE postmaster general renews tn
recommendation embodied in his last an
NJ nual report that Congress seriously con
al slider the question of declaring govern
k ment monopoly over all utilities for tn
IA public transmission OF intelligence an
90 that steps be taken as soon as practtc
a. able to incorporate into the postal estao
i'd lishments the telegraph and telephone
r. systems OF the country
e