The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-12-09
SURPLUS 0FFIvE
MILLION IN P, 0,
DEPT.F0R YEAR
Profits of Twelve Million
and One-Half for Last
Three Seasons

Washington, Dec. 9.-Postmaster
General Burleson's annual report, is
sued to-day, declares there was
Post Office Department surplus of
$5,2O0,00O during the present year
and enumerates as among the years
accomplishments improvement of the
parcels post, extension of city and
rural deliveries and development Of
the postal savings system.
A surplus Of s12,500,000 is shown
says the report for three years of the
four the administration has been in
Office, and 1t calls attention to deficits
under previous administrations.
The department makes many rec
concentrations for Improvement of
the service. Some Of the most i'm
portant are these:
That early action be taken by Con-
gress declaring government mono
ploy over all utilities for the public
transmission of intelligence and that
as soon as possible the telephone and
telegraph facilities of the United
States be incorporated into the postal
establishment.
That 100000 be appropriated now
for acquiring telegraph and telephone
utilities in Alaska, Porto Rico and
Hawaii.
That second class postal rates be
revised to make second class matter
pay more of it's share of transporta-
ton expense and that the one cent
rate be applied to all so-called drop
letters.
That public buildings erected for
postoffice purposes be standardized
and that their costs be commensur-
ate with the needs OF the service.
That funds be expended in a num-
Der of large cities for buildings not
of ornamental design but designed to
accommodate the postal service be-
fore more money is spent in smaller
towns where buildings are not need
ed and cannot be justified.
That changes be made in the pres
ent building policy which imposes a
fixed charge on the Department that
has grown burdensome.
That the classified service be ex-
tended to include the position of post
master at offices Of the first, second
and third classes.
That the department be authorized
to bond it's employees so that the gov
Nernment may be protected more ade-
quately and that relief may be af-
forded officials and employees of the
service.
That thef 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
routes as at present.
That 100000 be appropriated for
experiments in aerial transportation
of mail.
That legislation be passed to enable
the Department toA organize post
offices on a more business like basis
and to standardizee the salaries of SUI
pervisory 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 100000 packages a
month. Liberal changes in it's regu-
lations have done much to bring
about it's extension, it is declared.
Under law passed last July the
Department on November 1 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 de-
partment will on January 1 file with
the Interstate Commerce Commission
comprehensive plan of service
which will embody recommends
ton looking to reduction of the
rates.