Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-12-11
BURLESON REPORTS
s2,342,85l SURPLUS
Postmaster General Makes An
nuaI Report-Answers De.
partment's Critics

eral Burleson. The figures are subject
to some adjustment which would in
crease the surplus. Mr. Burleson said
adding that this was the the sixth time
in the seven years Of the present post
ofiice administration that revenues had
exceeded expenditures.
An aggregate surplus Of more than
So, 100000 as compared to an aggregate
deficit of more than s5a,O0ooO0 for the
preceding seven year period is shown
In All appended table.
The cause of the change is immediate
ly apparent" the report says OF this
comparison Whereas the revenues
under this administration increased $751;
597, s1S or at the rate of 5O.6s per cent
compared with the seven year period
prior to the time IL assumed office. the
expenditures increased only s6i3. 335. 1915
or at the rate of 1910 per cent. The diff
ference between the increase in cxpen-
ditures and the increase in revenues less
losses. equals the amour, of the net
change in favor of the public treasury"
Much of the criticism leveled at the de-
partment's financial policy. Mr.. Burleson
said. was due to lack of complete and
accurate Information
The facts. as presented. he added
tell story of achievement They do
not call for explanations or apologies
and none are given. The administration
stands sauarely on it's record
Discussing improvements in the serv-
ice. Mr.. Burleson said nothing had been
left undone within his authority ito ef-
feet readjustments in the interest Of all
the people and not in that of any special
class" adding
Because of the curtailmcnt of what
may be termed special class postal faci-
lites there has grown up strenuous hos
Utility upon the part of limited number
Of special interest the expense of
whose private business was largely paid
by the government instead of By them
selves. This has particular reference to
the modifying of the second-clsss mail
ing privilege which had until the adj
vent Of the present administration been
grossly abused
improvements made are summarized
as follows
inauguration Of the air-mail service
establishment of the space system in
determining the compensation of rail-
roads for carrying the mail; rcadjust
n1ent of railway mail service In the in
terest of both Improvement and economy;
establishments of organizations i'm post
offices. methods of service, and dstri
button of supplies. on a. basis of sound
business principle: inauguration Of rural
and city motor vehicle service and vii
lage delivery service extension Of box
and collection service and postage-stamp
money-order and registry facilities to
patrons on star routes; improvements in
the registry system. insured parcel post
and methods of handling dead letters
readjustment Of rural delivery service
providing more equitable distribution Of
facilities to patrons already served and
extensions of facilities to those citizens
who had heretofore been denied any
service at all: complete reorganization
Of the equipment and supply services
through the extension of operation and
economy of production, and the introduce
ton of modern shop methods. equipment
and appliances. effectng substantial saw
ings and Improvement in the service; the
partial adjustment OF the postage rates
on second class mail matter. effectng a
saving of over $15000,000 annually; re-
duction of letter postage between the
United States and several foreign coun-
tries; large extension of ilternational
parcel post, and the increase in weight
and size OF parcels permitted in the
mails
legislation permitting afIiliation of or
PLANTATIONS Of postal employees with labor
| organizations which sanction recourse
20 the strike or boycott to enforce their
demands"
II again call the attention of Congress
TO the improperly of government en-
polyes owing allegiance to any organiza-
| ton which might stand between them
and the government and to the actual
menace to governmental authority which
is involved in such affiiation" Mr..
Burleson said.
The avowed purpose of labor organ-
| nations is not alone to advance the So
| cial and economic welfare of members of
| their order but to exercise a coercive in
fluence upon the employer to compel sub
mission to their dmands. The strike and
| the boycott are Weapons designed to be
used in attack or in resistance. The gov
eminent Of the United States is not 10
| be attacked or resisted by any citizen
of the land. Surely no such special
privilege is reserved to those who, through
{ the nature of their employment. are
| sworn TO serve the government itself and
owe to it the special allegiance of serv-
| ice duty.
| Whatever interest labor may claim
| in the products OF it's toll, it cannot be
claimed for government employees that
they acquire a larger interest or great
er power in the government than that
| of other citizens, because of the charac-
| ter Of their employment.
Government employees should he per-
mltted to organize for their social and
general welfare. to appear before COM
mittees of Congress. and to furnish in
| formation concerning the postal service
! OF which they may have knowledge.
1.-THE enforcement Of the principle that
government employees should not hold
an affiliation incompatible with their OBJ
| legation to the public service can not he
distorted into reflection upon the eff
hciency and loyalty of the postal en-
:, ployees. whose devotion to public duty
under the trying test of war was con
spicuously demonstrated. But the prin-
ciple is one which can not be prudently
disregarded."
Reaffirming after detailed discussion
his previous stand as to zone rates or
publications, Mr.. Burleson said; THE
postmaster general has always believed
that low. fat rate Of postage should
apply to reading matter, for the reason
that its primary purpose is the dis
semnstion of news and is educational
hut he is also firm in the belief that this
low rate of postage should not apply to
that portion of the publication devote
to advertising or commercial uses. The
law which fixes zone rate for adver.
Using matter is eminenty fair. as tn,
rate of postage is increased in tn,
proportion that the publication is com