New-York tribune., 1918-12-06

'26.llb for the 1917 fiscal year Total
expenditures arc reported at 1924 S83,
'2S, against $3l9.S3S,7lS in 1917. Disrc-
gardlng the increased postal rates cI-
tectiVe November under the war
tax bill, the actual increase in postal
service business during the year is
placed at Al per cent, while cxpendi-
lures increased 1.56 per cent.
MIR. Burleson for the first time of
hcialiy reports upon the use of air
planes for transmission of mail, and
Governmont-own trucks for the
operation Of rural parcels-post routes.
d,isC'oslng rlans for wide extension Of
both facilities. He also renews his
previously made recommendation that
pQstmasters now appointed by tho
President should be selected under
competitive civil service examinations.
and that the four assistant post
masters general and the purchasing
agent should be likewise selected.
The volume OF mail carried during
the year was greater than ever be-
fore, says the report, in commenting
upon the surplus earned, which it
places al more than double the great
est profit ever found by the depnrtm
previously. War activity in private
business not alone grew, but the gov
crnmcnt itself put tremendous bur
den OF matter into the mails from the
now efforts which it built up. Post
masters and postotfice facilities alike
were used for war service, that ranget
from the registration of aliens to the
sale OF thrift stamps and goyernmen,
bonds.
Among now facilities tho report asks
is an appropriation of sl,500.000 fol
the construction OF subway between
the Grand Central Station in New Yorl
and the Pennsylvania Terminal office
replacing the discarded system oi
pneumatic tubes, and devised to relieve
congestion. Authority is also askct
for the establishment of q guarantee
fund within tho department with whict
10 bond cmu'oycs handling money ane
premium charges. which arc said b.
the report to be excessive, and also t'
eliminate delay and difficulty.
Military Mails Delayed
Dealing with complaint of delays il
mail for soldiers in France, both be
! fore s0d after the mail service wa
taken over by the army, Mr.. Burleson'
report says that much Of it was due t.
the handling Of mail by orderies il
military service.
HfUADS tNc MOST serious Oh LlcS
d. avs arose from the attitude of tn
military authorities" it says, "who de
/ c'incd TO reveal TO civilian postal or
gaNization the whereabouts Of militar
units, in many cases, until their loca
! tlon had been discovered by the enemy
There was also Il GOOD deal Of troubl
j.. obtaining motor transport. and a
one time the military authorities ur
dertook to take from the postal So
tons the small details Of enlisted me
who, were assisting in the work, on tn
ground that they were needed fo
purely military service.
In the United States. l23 branc
rossoincos were established at camp
and cantcnments to deliver mail to til
troops Censorship boards were cstal
lished at nearly all ports of cNit fro
tho United States. in connection wit
military cnetations. and LOCO cmploye
were en~agcd in censoring approx
mately $4,000 pieces OF mail dali
during most Of the period covered /
tnh report.
The report discloscs programme ft
the very wide extension of the aer'
plane mali service, including tv