The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-12-16
P0ST0FF|CE MAKING MONEY.
FOR FIRST TIME DEPARTMENT
SUSTAINS ITSELF.
Postmaster General BurlcsOn Tells of
Operation of Year and Suggests Ac-
tiOn by Congress.


ganization by Benjamin Franklin, the
pOstOflice department is on a self
sustaining basis, Postmaster General
Burleson submitted to President Will
son today his annual report. 1t re-
cords enormous growth in the depart
ment's business because Of the parcel
posi- and postal savings bank divisions
and recommends programme of
postal legislation to increase the scope
of the departments activities.
Mr.. Burleson features his report
with an estimate that surplus Of
$3,569,545, the second of his admins
tration. will be shown for the fiscal
year of 1914 when all claims and
charges have been met. On that
showing he bases his declaration that
the department has been securely
placed upon self-sustaining basis"
1T 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 programme recon-
mended Is as follows. as to it's most
important features:
Early action toward government
ownership of telegraph and telephone
pAIf 20 <oly
these systems in Hawaii, Alaska and
Puerto Rico. Transfer Of the Alaska
cable from war to postoffice depart
ment control.
Substitution Of contract "star
route" system for salaried rural car
rier service to eliminate $4,000, 900
annual loss on rural delivery.
Postoffice cooperation with State
governments in road building where
improvements insure better postal SER
vice.
Raising maximum balance accept
able at posral banks from $500 to
$4,000. interest payments to be limit
ed to $1,000. Removal Of monthly
deposit limit. restriction.
Aerial mail service, where topog-
raphy warrants and extension Of
motor truck and automobile service in
view Of recent successful experiments.
Passage by senate Of pending bill
providing space basis of compensa-
ton for railroads on mail carried in.
stead Of weight basis.
Pending change in rural delivery
system. computation of carriers SAL
aries on basis Of services performed,
dependent on bulk Of mail carried, to
stimulate business.
Readjustment Of postmasters' SAL
aries on basis Of changes in business
handled due to parcel post develop
ment.
Raising Of second class rates on
publications other than newspapers
issued once a week from to 2 cents
a pound.
Granting the department legal jur-
isdiction over selection of sites and
designs for postal buildings.
OF the parcel post during the last
year the report says:
Rapid growth Of the parcel post
vastly increased postal business dur.
ing the year. The departments field
of service has expanded at phenome-
nal rate; it is still expanding. Not
withstanding the decrease of parcel
post rates authorized January 1, 1914,
economies OF administration have kept
expenses within the revenues"
or the departments financial con-
dition the report says:
"The postal revenues for 1914
amounted to $2S7.934.565.67, an in
crease over the preceding year of
slightly less chan 8 per cent, as COM
pared with corresponding increase
Of slightly more than per cent. for
1913. The audited expenditures for
the year amounted to $2S3,543,76s.16,
and the adjusted losses due to fire,
burglary, etc, to $14,33S.46. The ex-
cess of audited revenue over audited
expenses and losses is, therefore. s4.-
376.463.05.
This audited surplus does not
however represent the actual financial
results for the year. 1t involves COM
parison OF amounts that are not prop
erly comparable. 1t does not include
obligations which were incurred. but
not paid within the year, while it
does include some payments on ac-
count of obligations incurred in nrior
years"
statement follows Of revenues