Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-12-05

Washington, Dec. 5.-A surplus
of $2,342,S51 in po3toflice operations
for the fiscal year 1919 was an
nounced in the annual report of
Postmaster General Burleson. The
Figures are subject to some ADJUST
ment which would increase the sur
plus, Mr. I-lrleson said, adding that
this was the sixth time in the seven
wears of the present postofnce ao-
Rfinistration that revenues had eH-
ceeded expenditures.
An aggregate surplus OF more
than S35, 100000, as compared 10 an
aggregate deficit of more than Sos,-
100000 for the preceding seVen-year
period, is shown in an appendeo
table.
''The cause of the change Is i'm
mediate1v apparent," the report says
az this comparison. Whereas the
revenues under this administration
increased $737,597,S1S, or at the
rate of 50.6S per cent colhpareu Gu
.with the seven-year perlod prior to
the time it assumed office, the eX-
penditures increased only So4o'oeo,
795. or at the rate of 42.4S per Gem
The difference between the lhcrease
in expenditures and the increase IN
y.avenues less losses, equals the
amount of the net change IN faFor
of the public treasury.
Answers Criticisms
Much of the criticism leVeled at
the departments tnanclal po,lcS,
Mr.. Burleson said, was due TO lack
of complete and accurate lnlorihu-
ton" .o,.n ba
"The facts, as presented, ne
added. tell story Of achievement.
:. They do not call for explanations OF
apologies and none is given. me
administration stands Squarely on It's
record" :. A..
Discussing improvements in the
service, Mr.. Burleson said nothihs
had been left uEdone wlthln ms
authority ito effect readJustments IN
the interest of all the people ana
not in that of any speclal Glass;
adding: oe
"Because of the curtailment OF
what may be termed special class
postal facilities there has grown up
strenuous hostility upon the part oL
a limited number of special inter-
ests.' the expense of whose private
business was largely paid py the
Government instead of by them
selves. This has particular refer
ence to the modifying of the second
class mailing privilege which had
until the advent of the present ad-
ministration been grossly abused.
improvements i'll Service
Improvements made are summa-
rized as follows:
Inauguration of the air mail serV-
ice. establishment of the space sys-
tenn in determining the compensa-
ton of railroads for carrying the
mail, readjustment of railway man
service in the interest of both i'm
provement and economy, readJust-
ments of organizations in postofhces,
methods of service and distribution
of supplies on a basis of sound busl-
fness principle, inauguration of rural
and city motor vehicle service and
village delivery service, extension of
box and collection service and post |
age stamp, money order and regis |
try facilities to patrons on star
routes, improveme in the registry |
system, insured parcel post and the
methods of handling dead letters, |
readjustm of rural delivery serv-
ice, providing more equitable dis |
tribution of facilities to patrons !
already served and extensions of fa-
cilities to those citizens who had |
heretofore been denied any service |
OF all, complete reorganization of |
tie equipment and supply service
, through .he extension of operation
and economy of production and the |
introduction of modern shop meth
DDS, equipment and appliances, eff
fecting substantial savings and i'm |