The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1917-12-11

tionss the appropriations FOR the sal
aries OF such employees viii be great
~ increased and economic provision
for the conduct Of the service i'm
possible"
The report explains that postal em,
ployes are differently situated from
other workers in that they are not
employed by private concerns but by
the government whose officers are
merely executing the will Of the peo-
pie"
Surplus For Year.
The report shows an audited sur
plus for the year of $9,S36,211, the
largest in the history Of the depart
ment. The increase over the preced-
ing year was 5.6s per cent while the
increase in cost was 4.45 per cent.
The audited revenues for the year,
including money-order and postal
savings business amounted to $685.
726,116.
Remarkable growth in postal saw
ings is shown. In 1917 there were
$f3l ,954, ,696 to their credit. The
average balance for each depositor
was $1s5.57. This was an increase
over the previous year Of 71,7s1 in
the number OF depositors, $45,934, ,S11
In the amount and $3.50 in per
capita balance. The large proper
ton Of this total is contributed by in
dustrial centers. In 143 offices in
cities where there are big manufac-
turing plants "a per cent Of the de-
posits are held.
The war has resulted in some
postal routes not being covered at
times. Men drawn into industries
by larger salaries often have left
posts that could not be filled, the re-
port says, and recommends that the
department be given more latitude in
getting carriers when conditions are
unusual.
Mr.. Burleson again voiced opposi-
ton to the tube systems, maintaining
they are inefficient and cost more
than the service is worth. He also
reiterated his belief that the govern
ment should control telephone and
telegraph lines with supervision en-
trusted to the postofflce department.
When Buildings Are Needed.
The postmaster general again
strongly urges a change in the sys-
tenn of erecting public buildings. He
stated his belief that the government
is not justified in erecting a building
for a postoffice alone unless the rent
al amounts to $1,000 and then only
when the gross postal receipts are
$l5, 900 or the population as much as
The postmaster general says the
new space system Of compensating
railways for transporting mails has
been successful. The report says:
THE operation Of the space basis
is resulting in the direct saving OF
millions of dollars to the government
by reducing the car-miIe service re-
quired OF the railroads, and has re-
leased to the roads a large amount
Of car equipment and car space of
trains. The number of full 60-foot
storage cars alone, which, through
and better loading OF
the mails, has been released to the
railroads for meeting the present
freight, baggage and express conEes-
ton would equip daily three trains of
10 cars each operating between Bos-
ton and Chicago"
Mr.. Burleson's report also makes
this recommendation for further ex-
tending the civil service:
ITO further eliminate partisan
politics from the postal service, to
recognize merit and efficiency, and in
the interest OF the public service, it
is again recommended that the
AASCNoOAAy 6A6AdIAO1A DO ChdCLGu 10
include in the classified civil service
the position of postmaster at presi-
Dental offices; and to extend and
perfect the efficiency system OBJ
in the postoffice department
proper at Washington it is also rec
commended that the positions OF as
sistant postmaster general and that
Of purchasing agent Of the postofice
department be included in the classi-
fed civil aeryira