Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-12-14
.PQsT-0FF|CE DEPARTMENT
NOW sELF-sUsTA|N|NG
Burleson Features Report With EST.
mate of $3,589,54b Surplus for
Fiscal Year.
ENORMOUS GROWTH RECORDED
Recommends Action Toward Govern
ment Ownership Of Telegraph and
Telephone Llnes-Favors Change
of Compensation for Railroads.

WASHINGTON, December 13.-As-
sorting that for the first time since
it's organization by Benjamin Frank
lin, the I'ost-of1ice Department is on a
self-sustainine basis, Postmaster-Gen-
eral Burleson submitted 20 President
Wilson to-day his annual report. It
records enormous growth in the de-
partments business because of the par
eel post and postal savings oank d.
visions, and recommends n program OF
postal legislation to Increase the scope
of tho departments activities.
MI. Burleson features his report with
an estimate that 81 surplus of 1861
545. the second of his administration.
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 dopres-
sion of business. there is no danger OF
recurring deficiencies"
IMPORTANT FEATURES
OF LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM
Tho Legislative program recommend
ed is as follows as to its> most i'npor-
tant features:
Larry 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
cable from War to Post-off1ce Depart
nient control.
Substitution of contract "star route"
system for salaried rural carrier serv-
Ice to eliminate S40.00o,o00 annual loss
on rural delivery.
Post-oflce cooperation with State
governments in road building where
improvements insure better postal
service.
Raising maximum balance acceptable
at postal banks from $500 to $4,000,
interest payments to be limited to
$1,000. Removal of monthly deposit
limit restriction.
Aerial mail service. where topog-
raphy warrants, and extension of mo-
tor truck and automobile service in
view of recent successful experiments.
Passage by Senate OF pending bill
providing space basis of compensation
for railroads on mall carried, instead
Of weight basis.
Pending change in rural delivery sys-
tenn, computation of carriers salaries
on basis Of services performed. depend
ent on bulk of mail carried. to stimu-
late business.
REIMBURSEMENT of postmasters SAL
handled due to parcel post development
Raising of second class rates on pub
LEGATIONS other than newspapers issued
once n week from to 2 cents a pound.
Granting the department legal juris-
diction over selection of sites and de-
signs for postal buildings.
RAPID GROWTH
OF THE PARCEL POST
ofsthes parcel, post during tile last
year the report says: r..@ 49,
Rapid growth of the parcel post
vastly increased postal business dur
ing the year. The departments field
OF service hns expanded al n phenome-
nal rate: 1t Is still expanding. Not.
withstanding the decreases of parcel
post rates authorized January !. 1914,
economies of administration have kept
expenses within the revenues"
or the departments financial con-
ditton tho report says:
THE postal revenues for 1914
amounted to $2S7,334. 56T.67. an increase
over the preceding year of slightly
less than per cent. as compared with
corresponding increase OF slightly
more than per cent for 1913. The
audited expenditures for the year
amounted to $2S3.543.769.16. and the
adjusted losses due to fire. burglary,
etc. to s14,333.i6. The excess OF aud
tied revenues over audited expenses
and losses is, therefore, S4,376.463.05.
This audited surplus does not, how
ever. represent the actual financial re-
suits 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 come payments on account of
obligations incurred In prior years"
A statement follows of revenues and
expenses based upon the reported rev
enues and the estimated expenses of