Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-12-06
HAS YEAR REPORT
FOR u, s. SERVICE
Postmaster General Burleson Dis
cusses Many Phases Of His
Department.

Washington, Dec c. Postmaster I
General Burleson in his annual report, |
submitted 10 congress, declares organ |
izatons Of postal employees are rapidly |
becoming a menace TO public welfare
and recommends that congress repeal
ihe law that allows such employees to
maintain organizations. The law pro-
yideg that the employees may organize
and become affiliated with other bodies
SO long az they do not impose any OBJ
legation to engage or assist in strike
against the government
Emphasizing the need for unselfsh
cooperation on all sides while the
country Is In the world war the post
master general continues:
Notwithstanding this fact, and at
This critical period in our nations his
tory 30 Is regrettable to state that the
organized postal employees are making
many selfish demands and insisting
that they shall not be required or per-
mItted to work In excess of the usual
number Of hours; also that their sal
aries be permanently increased, al
though they are justly compensated,
receiving more than three times as
much as those fighting in the trenches
vino must Of necessity suffer the hard
ships of warfare and sacrifice their all
il necessary.
Efforts Of these organizations along
other lines have been severely crit
icled by men in public life, as they at
tempt 10 control political as well as
legislative matters and openly boast Of
the influence they claim 10 exert in the
fur.herance OF their selfish interests.
An outside organization has during
the past several years attempted to
gu.0nize government employees. includ-
ing those in the postal service; and
large number Of postal employees are
now affiliated with it, and others soon
will be, Notwithstanding the fact that
such aililiatiOn is believed to be con-
tr1ry to the act of Aug. "a. 1912. The
adyisability of permitting government
employees to affiliate with an outside
organization and use Of the strike and
boycott as a last resort to enforce its
demands Is seriously questioned by
those interested in public welfare.
Postal employees have become bold
because of this utilization and have
within recent years threatened to
strike. and IN one case actually did 50
hy rendering designations and aban-
d0niHg service in body. In this case
they were promptly indicted and
prosecuted in the federal courts. While
strikes in the postal service may be
averted for the time being, yet they
will inevitably come, and the public
viii be then brought face to face with
most serious situation-one which
will be menace to our government.
III by combining" the report says,
government employees are enabled to
unluly influence members Of congress
and others seeking election to public
Office. the situation will naturally
arise II 1t has not already arisen,
where congress will be unduly in
fuenced by such organizations, the APP
preparations for the salaries of such
employees will be greatly increased and
economic provision for the conduct Of
the service impossible"
The report explains that postal en-
p,uyes are differently situated from
other workers in that they are not EN-
ployed by private concerns but by the
government WHOSE officers arc merely
executing tho will Ct the people"
The report shows an audited surplus
for the year Of $9,8S6,21, the largest in
the history Of the department. The
increase over the preceding year was
$50 per cent while the increase in
cost was 445 per cent The audited
revenues for the years, including
money order and postal savings bus
mess amounted to $329,726, 116.
Remarkable growth in postal saw
ings Is shown. In 1917 there were 674,-
12S depositors with total Of $751;
954696 10 their credit The average
balance for each depositor was S195.57
This was an increase over the previous
year Of 71791 in the number Of depos-
TORS, 45934.8ll in the amount and
1920 IN the per capita balance. The
large proportion Of this total is con-
tributed by Industrial centers. In 1913
Offices in cities where there are big
manufacturing plants "a per cent Of
the deposits are held.
The war has resulted in some postal
routes not being covered at times. Men
drawn into industries by larger sal
aries often have left posts that could
not be filled the report says, and rec
ommends that the department be
given more latitude in getting carriers
Naen conditions are unusual
Mr.. Burleson again voiced opposition
to the tube systems. maintaining they
are inefficient and cost more than the
service IS worth. He also reiterated
his belief that the government should
control telephone and telegraph lines
with supervision entrusted to the post
Office department.
Tue postmaster general again
strongly urges change in the system
OF erecting public buildings. He stated
lls belief that the government is not
justified in erecting a building for a
posiotiice alone unless the rental
amounts 90 81 900 and then only when
lne gross postal receipts are $4,000
Or The population as much as 5000
The postmaster general says the
new space system Of compensating
railways for transporting mails has
oeen successful Two report says: