Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-12-05
lDv Associ.tcd rrcss.


WASHINGTON. Dec. "a surplus %
I $2.$f2.s5i in post office operations for
the 'isca! year 1919. was announced III
The annual report today Of Postmastcr-
tcncral Burleson
The figures are subject to some adj
justmcnt which would increase the
surplus. Mr. Burlcsou said. adding that
this was tie sixth zine in TIE seven
years OF the present post -ofiicc admin
isiration that revenues had exceeded
expenditures.
An aggregate surplus OF moro than
S25,0o006o as compared TO an asgrc-
! gate deficit of moro than S5".0vo.u 900
! fer ih" preceding seven year period is
I shown IN an appended table.
The caus" OF the change is immc-
/ this corparison Whereas the row.
I nucs under this administration ucrcas =
+ ed $.95.597.SiS or a; tho rate OF 5o.G$
per cent, compared with the seven year
period prior 10 the time ii assumed
office. tho expenditures Increased only
! S6i3,335.T?5. Or AZ the rate Of 42.4a per
cent The difference between tho in
! crease in expenditures and the increase
IN revenues less losses. equals the
:Ac public treasury
Criticized hy uniformed.
Mu"h Of the criticism levrlod ~ the
depatmcnt's financial policy, My Bur
Lesson said. WAS due TO lack Of COM
p!cie and accurate in;ormation."
The facts. AS presented" he added
/ toll story OF achievements They do
not call for explanations o. apologies
and none are given. The aLminiStya-
ton stands squarcly on its record
Discussing improvements in the ser
been left undone within his authority
TO effect rcadiustmcmts in the intcres;
OF all the people and not in that ~ any
special class" adding:
Because OF the cur;ailmcnt Of what
may he termed special class postal
facilities there has grown up strenuous
hostility upon the par, OF 4 limited
number OF special interests the cN-
pcnsr of whose private business was
largely paid by the government instead
Of by themselves. This has particular
reference 10 the modifying of the Sec
ond-elaSs mailing privileges which h.,i
until the advent OF the present admin
tsi:ation been grossly abused"
improvements Arc Summarized.
improvements made are summarized
as follows:
''Inausmration OF the air-,lail ser
vice; establishment OF the space Sys-
t"m' in determining The compensation
~ railroads for carrying tile mail: re-
adjustment Of railway mail service in
he interest of both Improvement and
cronomy establishments Of orSaniHa-
tons in post-oftices. methods of scr-
vice. and distribution OF supplies. on a
basis o! sound business principles: in
auguration of rural and city motor
service; extension OF box and coller-
ton service and postaSc-stamp, money
order and registry facilities TO pa
irons on star routes: improvements i'll
'he registry system. insured parcel
post. and methods of handling dead let
tcrS: reimbursement OF rural delivery
service. providing more equitahlc dis
i'ibution of facilities 10 patrons al
ready served and extensions Of tacili-
ties 10 these citizens who had thereto
fore been denied any service AZ all:
complete reorsaniHat ton OF the equip
lncnt and supply services through the
extension Of operation and economy OF
production, and the Introduction OF
modern shop methods. equipment and
appliances. crccting substantial saw
| inGs and improvements in the service
the partial adjustment Of The postage
rates on second class mail matter. eff
fect!as saving of over sl3,o00.00o
annually: reduction OF letter postage
between II" United suites I'D several
foreign coun;ries large extension OF
International parccl post. and The in
crease in weight and size OF parcels
permitted IN the mails"
-d'. SVrieSon 9ea!n asked repeal OF
'sisl-uon normit;i"p utilization % or
a'tH4@Ati"ns ~ :pStal employees win
-.hor orgsniza .rns which sanction
recourse 20 the strike or boycott to
enforce .Ao'r demands"
Allegiance should Not he Divided.
Il again call the attcrtion OF Con
E'esF 70 the imprnpr.t,y ot govern
nent employees owing allegiance 20
any organization which might stand
between them and the government. ana
20 nc actual menace IA governmental
-ItH b'liN Nhich IL Irt1ikcI in
Affiliations" Ny. EurloScn said
The avowed purpose of labor or
PLANTATIONS is not alone to advance
he socla! and economic welfare OF
members OF their order, but TO exercise
q cocrciVc inlucncc upon the employer
20 compel Submission To their demands.
Tie strike and The boycott are weapons
10 be used in attack or in resistance.
Tue government Of the United States
is not 20 he attacked or resisted h,
any citizen OF the land Surely no
iS
those who. through the nature OF their
employment. are sworn to serve the
duty.
Whatever interest labor may claim
IN the products of its toll IL cannot
be claimed for government employees
that they acquire larger interest or
greater power in the government than
.Eharacter Of their employment.
Limit Of organizing Rights
Government employees should h..
permitted 10 oicanize for their special
ana general welfare 70 appear before
committees OF Congress and 10 furnish
information corning the postal ser.
wee OF which they may have know!-
edge.
''The enforcement az tnc nrircin,.
ihat government employees should not
! hold any aiilliation incompaiible with
lnc.r onliS"ii"n TO the public service
} cannot be distorted into q rcnection
| upon the efficiency and loyalty Of Inc
poSt2l emni oycrS whose devotion 10
nublic uIt% ulcr thu trying test OF
~ n", WNS conSp'Gutusly demonstvatcd
su' IN" prime pr" = ono which r,nr0.
be pruaentl% dis,esarGod
! :, hG,af.tlninS after detailed discussion
| publications. Mr.. EuileSon said: HThn
! ostmaSter-Gtncral has always be-
I .;eyed that a low Fat rate OF postage
| Fhouii apply 10 reading matter. ror
/ The reason that Is primary purposa is
! me diSSc m!nation Of news and Is c,,u
| ,hlonal but he. is also firm II, III" nc
| l,"f tha; this low rate OF Dos,o"n
| slonid not apply to that norton Of ti,c
| PUP cation devoted 10 advcrtjsine or
| ''nmcFcia' uses III" LAW which fxcs
! zone ratn for Advertising matter l.
/ .min"ntlN IA lr IS the rate az Doetorc
/ increased IN 'h" proportion that tho
I 'Nnlcaroh is comMerciallzcd ana 1r