The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-12-11
PROUDLY POINTS TO SURPLUS.
Postmaster General Burleson Compares 1t
With Deficit in Other Administrations.

Washington, d. c.. Dec. ll.-Postmas-
ter General Burleson's annual report de-
clares there was a postotiice department
surplus of $5,200,000 during the present
year and enumerates as among the
years accomplishments improvement OF
the parcel post, extension of city and
rural deliveries and development of the
postal savings systems.
A surplus of SIP 500, 900 is shown says
the report for three years of the four
the administration has been in office,
and it calls attention to deficits under
previous administrations.
The department makes many recon-
mendations for improvement of the serv-
ice Some of the most important are
these.
That early action be taken by Con-
gress declaring a government monopoly
over all utilities for the public trans
portation of intelligence and that as
soon as possible the telephone and tele-
graph facilities of the United States be
incorporated into the postal establish
ment.
That 100000 be appropriated now for
acquiring telegraph and telephone utili-
ties in Alaska, Porto Rico and Hawaii
That second class postal rates be re-
vised to make second-class matter pay
more of its share of transportation eX-
pense and that the one cent rate be APP
piled to all so-caled drop letters.
That public buildings erected for post
Office purposes be standardized and that
their cost be commensurate with the
needs of the service.
The funds be expended in mum
Der of large cities for buildings not of
ornamental design but designed to accom-
modate the postal service before more
money is spent in smaller towns where
buildings are not needed and can not
be justified.
That changes be made in the present
building policy which imposes fixed
charge on the department that has grown
burdensome,
That the classified service be extended
to include the position of postmaster at
Offices of the first, second and third class
es.
That the department be authorized to
bond its employees so that the govern
ment may be protected more adequate
ly and that relief may be afforded of
fcials and employees of the service.
That the pay of rural carriers be
equalized by fixing salaries on the basis
of the number of pieces and weight Of
mail transported, length of routes and
time required to serve them, instead of
solely on length of route as at pres
ent.
That 100000 be appropriated for ex-
periments in aerial transportation of
mail.
That legislation be passed to enable
the department to organize postofices
on a more business like basis and to
standardize the salaries OF supervisory
employees in an. equitable manner
Growth of the parcel post will cut the
cost of living to the city dweller the
report declares. The service is now
handling ninety million packages a
month. Liberal changes in its regula
tions have done much to bring about its
extension, il is declared.
Under law passed last July the de-
partment on November ! put parts OF
the railway mail service on the space
basis of pay, using rates which are
the maximum provided by the act. These
rates. the report says are excessive, and
under the law the department will on
January | file with the interstate com
merce commission a comprehensive plan
of service which will embody a recon
mendation looking to a reduction of the
rates.