Evening star., 1919-12-05
P. 0. DEPARTMENT
MAKES B|GPROF|T
Surplus of $2,342,851 for
1919 Fiscal Year, Mr..
BurIeson Reports.

puI ICSOiI nCHOi los
For the sixth time in the seven years
of the present post office adrninistra-
ton revenues exceeded expenditures, a
| surplus of $2,342,S51 in post office
Operations for the fiscal year 1919 be-
ing announced today in the annual re-
port of Postmaster General Burleson
An aggregate surplus of more than
i $35, 100000 as compared to an aggre-
gate deficit of more than $4,000, ,00O
for the preceding seven-year period Is
shown.
The cause of the change is imme-
diately apparent" the report says OF
this comparison. Whereas the rev.
enues under this administration in
5O.6S per cent, compared with the
seven-year period prior to the time
it assumed office, the expenditures in
creased only s643,335,795, or at the rate
of 42.49 per cent. The difference be-
! tween the increase in expenditures
and the increase in revenues, less
| losses, equals the amount Of the net
change in favor of the public treas
ury.''
! Much of the criticism leveled at the
DEPARTMENTS financial policy, Mr.;
Burleson said, was due to lack of
| complete and accurate information
! "Story Of Achievement
| ne 1dCtS, dS pTeSeIlteu, lS duuCu,
! tell a story of achievement. They
do not call for explanations or apollo
gies and none are given. The admin
| istration stands squarely on its rec
| ord
| improvements made in the service
| are summarized as follows:
"InauguTation of the air-nail serv-
| ice; establishment of the space syS-
| tenn in determining the compensate ton
of railroads for carrying the mail: re-
| adjustment of railway mail service in
! the interest of both improvement and
economy; readjustmentS of organlZa-
tions in post offices, methods of serv-
! ice and distribution of supplies on a
basis of sound business principle; in
auguration of rural and city motor
vehicle service and village delivery
service; extension of box and collec-
| tion service and postage stamp, money
order and registry facilities to pa
irons on star routes; improvements
in the registry system, insured parcel
POST and methods of handling dead
letters: readjustment of rural deliv-
cry service, providing more equitable
distribution of facilities to patrons
already served and extensions Of IA
cilities to those citizens who had
all: complete reorganization of the
equipment and supply services
through the extension of operation
and economy of production, and the
introduction of modern shop methods,
equipment and appliances, effecting
Substantial savings and Improvement
in the service; the partial adjustment
Of the postage rates on second-class
mail matter, effectinS saving or
over S15,000,000 annually; reduction
of letter postage between the United
States and several foreign countries;
large extension of international par
eel post. and the increase in weight
| and size of parcels permitted in the
mails"
Mr.. Burleson again asked repeal of
legislation permitting affiliation of
organizations of postal employees with
Dor organizations.
Stand ON Zone Rates.
Reafirming, after detailed discus
sion, his previous stand as to zone
rates ION publications. Mr.. Burleson
said: 'The Postmaster General has
always believed that low, fiat rate
of postage should apply to reading
| matter, for the reason that it's pr1.
mary purpose is the dissemination of
news and is educational, but he Is
also ~frmain the belief that this low
| that portion of the publication de-
voted to advertising or commercial
uses
With reference to the application of
] civil service requirements to post
masters, the report said: I'm order
that THE spirit and letter of civil serv-
! ice might be conscientiously carried
out as far as practicable, and pending
enactment by the Congress of legisla-
| ton which, though repeatedly urged
| by the Postmaster General, failed of
passage, several executive orders have
been issued by the President extend
| ing in effect the classified civil serv-
| ice to postmasterships of all classes,
and requiring that those who were
| blanketed into civil service by execu-
1 -
trations without having been subject
ed to any civil service or merit test
| whatever shall e required to pass a
civil service examination. This is be-
| lieved to be long step IN the dlrec-
! ton of higher standards in the gov
| ernment service and more business
| like administration of postal affairs.
! Mr.. Burleson devotes considerable
space to development of the air-mail
| service. The report also discussed al
| length the operation of the telephone
| and telegraph systems under the de
| partment during the war period, MIR
| Burleson reasserting his opinion that
| these communication facilities should
! be government owned. OF the gov
ernment control period he said
."There is quite a difference between
| government ownership of the wire
| systems as part of the postal estab'
| lishment and government control fol
| a limited and very uncertain period
| The recent temporary control affords
no more a test of the virtues of gov
| ernment ownership than could be hat
| through a Temporary receivership in E
court proceeding.
/ "That the contention of the Post
master General for a complete unfit
| cation of the various wire systems i:
| both wise from an economic stand
point and supported by sound bust
ness principles has been confirmed by
the ablest experts on electrical trans
mission in America. That it should
be brought about, the Postmaster
General still believes. through gov
ernment ownership and operation a.
| a part of the postal establishment, anc
to that end renews the recommend
tions in previous annual reports, tha
the telephone and telegraph system:
of the United States be incorporated
into the postal establishment"
!Fl0llT nNTAI0 Fnn nIITllM