New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-14
Surplus in 1914 More than
Three Millions, He
Estimates.
DEMANDS FEDERAL
WIRE MONOPOLY
Annual Report Also Asks In
crease in Rate on
Periodicals.

his annual report. II recommends a
programme Of postal legislation to in
crease the scope Of the departments
activities.
Mr.. Burleson estimates that a sur
plus of S3.569,5 45 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 a self-sustaining basis
This surplus, however, he does not be
lievc warrants reduction in postage
rates or fees
at is safe to say" tho report adds,
that unless unusual conditions should
arise. resulting in abnormal depression
Of business, there is no danger of re-
curing deficiencies"
Legislation Recommended.
The legislative programme recon-
mended is as follows as TO its most
important features:
Early action toward government own
ership OF telegraph and telephone lines
and immediate taking over OF these
systems in Hawai-, Alaska and Porto
Rico. Transfer of the Alaska cable
from War 20 Postoflice Department
control.
Substitution % contract star route
system for salaried rural carrier SER
vice, 70 eliminate SsO,0O0,000 annual
loss on rural delivery
Postoffice cooperation with state
governments in road building where
improvements insure better postal ser
vice.
Raising maximum balance acceptable
at postal banks from $500 70 $4,000, in
terest payments 10 he limited 10 $1,000.
Removal Of monthly deposit limit re-
striction.
Aerial mail service, where topoG-
rsphy warrants. and extension OF motor
truck and automobile service, in view
of recent successful experiments.
Passage by Senate of pending bill
providing space basis instead Of weight
basis OF compensation for railroads
carrying mail.
Pending change in rural delivery sys-
tenn, computation Of carriers salaries
on basis of services performed, de-
pendent on bulk of mail carried, TO
stimulate business.
REIMBURSEMENT Of postmssters' sal
aries on basis of changes in business
handled due TO parcel post develop
ment.
Raising Of second class rates on pub
locations other than newspapers issued
once week from one to two cents a
pound.
Granting the department legal juris-
diction over selection of sites and de-
signs for postal buildings.
OF the departments financial condi-
tion the report says:
"The postal revenues for 1914
amounted TO s287934,565 81, an in
crease over the preceding year Of
slightly less than 8 per cent, as com
pared with q c,-responding increase
Of slightly more than per cent for
1913. The audited expenditures for the
year amounted to 1888, 543, 769 Is, and
the adjusted losses, due to fire, burg
larry, etc, 10 S14.333 46. The excess Of
audited revenues over audited expenses
and losses is therefore, 1915, 463 05.
This audited surplus does not, how
ever, represent the actual financial re-
suits for the year. II involves COM
parison Of amounts that are not prop
erly comparable. Il does not include
obligations which were incurred but
not paid within the year, while il does
include some payments on account Of
obligations incurred in prior years"
Telephone and Telegraph Lines.
In reviewing his recommendations
for government ownership Of telegraph
and telephone lines, Mr.. Burleson says:
"The Postmaster General renews the
recommendation that Congress serious
ly consider the question of declaring
a government monopoly over all utili-
ties for the public transmission of in
teligence, and that steps be taken as
soon as practicable to incorporate into
the postal establishments the telegraph
and telephone systems of the country.
"The anomalous condition exists in
this country under which the tele-
graph and telephone utilities, being We
hicles for the public transmission Of
intelligence, infringe upon q function
reserved by the Constitution 10 the ma
tional government They inherently
as well as constitutionally belong to
the postal service. The firm conviction
of the department is here reiterated
that telegraph and telephone service
is inevitably monopolistic, and, when
operated under private control, does
not render the maximum of public ser
vice at the minimum cost to the whole
people.
"The principle Of government own
ership and control of the telegraph and
telephone finds its greatest strength in
the Constitution. This opinion has
been shared by practically IL Postmas-
ters General of the United States, who
have held that the welfare and happi-
ness of the nation depend upon the
fullest utilization of these agencies by
the people, which can only be accom-
plished through government owner
ship"
A large part Of the telegraph and
telephone property involved is already
government owned and operated in
Alaska by the War Department and
in Porto Rico b. the insular govern
rent, says the report. The services
are so detached geographically as 20
preclude complicated relationships
with neighboring systems and are yet
sufficient in extent TO afford valuable
experimental demonstration for the
postal service, looking 20 the admin
istration eventually Of complete ma
tional service.
II is the duty Of the department, the
rcport SAYS, 10 apply 20 the depart
nent the mechanical AZ 4 administrs-
tive economies which private business
enterprise develops and which invent
i've genius from time 20 time offers.
Second Class Rate Loss.
The report declares newspapers and
periodicals handled in 1914 under the
cent-a-pound second class rate totalled
over a million pounds, an increase OF
294 per cent over the preceding year,
with a resultant drain on postal rev.
enues" that "emphasizes the necessity
OF taking some step in the direction
% readjusting the rates on second
class mail"
The Postoffice Department last Janu-
arv addressed letter TO the Joint
committee of Congress before which