Evening star., 1915-12-12

$1,720.677.3 of railway mail clerks,
s1,S44,ss6.13, and of rural carriers, 81
377,434.36. The largest increase in ex-
penditures was for railroad Transports
tion. $780, ,5o6s2.
Among the notable savings effected
was that in the money order business.
by giving his personal attention to
the departments exchange trans
actions" the report states, the third
assistant postmaster general has been
able not only to make up early losses
on the purchase of exchange for foreign
countries, but to effect a net gain for
the year of S760,733.9S, which is more
than 100000 in excess of the gain
from this source in any year since in
ternational money order business has
been conducted"
To conditions brought about by the
war is attributed also a remarkable
increase in business both in the num-
Der of depositors and the amount de-
posted for postal savings. the gains
being larger than for any previous
year in the history of the postal saw
ings system. June 80 last the number
of depositors was 525,414, gain of
1S6,903, or $500 per cent, for the year.
The amount on deposit was S65, ,6S4, ,70S,
for the year. The records show that
5S.7 per cent of the depositors were
born outside the United States. and
their deposits amounted to S47,161.62l,
or It's per cent of the total postal
savings deposits. The recommendation
is renewed that the limit of deposits
receivable from any one depositor to
s100 month be removed. and that the
maximum deposit be increased to $4,000.
under certain restrictions. interest to
be paid only on $1,000 thereof.
Rural Service Appropriation.
An unexpended balance of s3,150,ooo
of the sum appropriated for rural
service for the year is announced. with
the statement that but S4S,500,0O0 is
estimated for the fiscal year 1917.
against s53,0OO,O00 for the fiscal year
of 1915 The estimate provides $l,0oo,-
900 for proposed new service during
the coming year. and for the increase
of pay to rural carriers amounting 10
$435O00O directed at the last session
of Congress, as well as 100000 for new
service to be provided during the fiscal
year 1917.
With a view to eradicating evils,
view of the rural delivery service has
been undertaken and a policy adopted
of continuing service to all present
patrons reasonably entitled to it. New
service. it is explained, under the pres
ent administration. provides for fully
100000 additional patrons and it is
estimated that the service to be pro-
vided during the coming fiscal year
will reach at least 100000 more.
About 5000 new routes and extensions
have been established by this admins
tration.
Service by Automobiles.
Motor vehicles recently authorized
have been installed on GIL routes, of
which 43S are in successful operation.
The automobile, the report states, will
be introduced only after recommends
tion by postmasters or inspectors in
localities where road and weather con-
ditions will admit of it at least nine
months of the year. Wherever it has
been established, the report states, it
is furnishing equal or better facilities
than before.
The use of government-owned auto
mobiles in Washington, combining
screen wagon, city collection and de-
livery service, the report states, gives
quicker and more numerous dispatches
of the mails and incidentally effects a
vast saving in the cost of operation.
The service, now conducted with an
equipment costing approximately $751;
900, is now performing at approximately
cost of $4,000 screen wagon
service which had cost s20,400; "a parcel
post service, which had cost $4,000;
has permitted the retirement of ten
horse mounts which cost s5.940. and
saves car fare at the rate of $4,000 per
| annum, a saving in all at the rate OF
100000, with service greatly increased