Omaha daily bee., 1919-10-23
Praise for the Post Office
(From the New York Times.)

Postmaster General Burleson was not in an
apologize mood when he modestly claimed that
his administration of the post Office was mir
aculous" for its efficiency. And it must be ad-
mitted that he did make case for some sympa..
thy with the chief official of that department OF
the government with which the people have
most constant and direct relations. It seldom
occurs to those who are well served to express
their appreciation, whereas those who THINK
they have grievance are as eloquent on their
grievance as the postmaster general is in his
defense against his hundred million critics. The
point in dispute is why there are so many crit
les and so. few admirers of the postal service
AS Mr.. Burleson says, it is to be expected that
record of $1,000 misconceptions Of the rail-
way mail carriers. It may be admitted at once
that the proportion of letters which 60 wrong
is not large compared with the many millions
which 60 right, and that there are worse records
in other departments of the government.
For example, on the same day with the
postmaster generals appreciation of his own
efficiency there is published the fact that an
express company has received $4,000 claims
for losses, has adjusted 100000, and that the
complaints are so numerous that letters often
are unanswered. There have been complaints
that the postofice is not prompt in settlement
of claims against it, but it has never been said
that the postofice bids claimants take 90 per
cent of their claim or wait indefinitely for pay
ment in full. The comparison of one depart
ment OF the government WITH announcer Is OQlOuS
to those who want the Government to do
everything, because it shines so in comparison
with private administration. But at least the
postmaster general can contend that fault does
not rest with him alone in matters of service.
The trouble with the postofice is something
more and worse than the miscarriage of letters
in whatever numbers. Il suffers in public
esteem because it claims too much for itself and
because it misrepresents others worse than it is
misrepresented Thus few weeks ago with
flourish Mr. Burleson turned over to the
treasury a check for fifteen millions of profit
on last years operations and retained two mil
lions for working balance. Now the post
master general reports that he carries 100000
600 postal parcels that he has turned loss
into profit, and that he has reduced rates and
increased we gha ooo His assistant puts these
these profits the postmaster general proposes
one-cent postage while his workers are per-
haps worse paid than any other government
servants. For these reasons the postmaster
general complains that the attacks on him are
Sunfair," "scurrlous," and the worst Of his
critics are the publishers who use the long haul
in the mails at a loss to the department, and do
not use the short hauls whereby the post Office
would gain credit and profit. Wherefore the
postmaster. general proposes another revision
o., rates which will secure for him a profit on
all mail carried for publishers as well as others.
1t was not publisher who challenged these
figures. The president Of the association which
the postmaster general addressed said that it
cost the government our-ffths of cent to
carry letters and eight cents pound to carry
periodicals. Letters show one-hfth of a cent
profit and periodicals seven cents loss. Should
the profit be set off against the loss, or should
the profit be used to raise department wages or
to reduce letter postage? Or should the zone
system be revised upward to cut the loss and
silence the critics lest worse thing should hap
pen to them? The answers depend on more
public has or the post Office. either The ac-
counts of the post Office are kept to show prof
its, not losses. When the postal parcel service
was started there was a special stamp, which
has been abolished. When letter stamps are
put on the freight jitney service which properly
belongs to the express companies and which
the railways are underpad for carrying, the
costs OF tbe respective services are hidden.
If the post office wishes to be excused for
its peccadlloes, and to be praised for its greater
services, it should begin by ending doubt about
its costs and profits. That might be done eth
business concern with balance sheet and prof
it and loss statement; or it might engage some
accountants who command public confidence
to certify what items of cost are included in the
business from which profits are claimed. The
reduction OF the letter rate would make the
claim of postal profits preposterous and the
losses on the periodical Subsidy" may be
charged against the postal parcel profit alleged
by the assistant to the postmaster general The
postmaster general ought to carry the letter
mails better, but also he ought not to leave
some other things undone, if he wishes to be
accepted at his own valuation.