Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1920-12-17
CONGRESS HELD ].
TO BLAME FOR
!. POSTAL DEFICIT
Burleson Says Postal Bonus
System Caused Shortage
In Funds.

0ySSCA oIlOI
In Funds.
Washington, Dec. 16.-Operation OF
the United States postal service for
the fiscal year 1920 resulted in a
deficit OF SIT, 270,482-the second
largest n the history of the service
postmaster General Burleson shows
IN his annual report to the president,
which expenditures of the post
once department are. placed at $454,-
322.60s and revenues at $4~37,l5o,2l2,
The postmaster general charges CON
gress with direct responsibility for the
deficit, explaining that the expendi-
lures included approximately $685.
202,6O0 paid as a war bonus to postal
employees and stating that but for this
there would have been q surplus OF
$~lS,427,S17. MI. Burleson says he de-
clined to approve the bonus action of
the legislative department, adding
that he q offered suggestions Of an.
the plan for compromising the EN-.
ployes which would have served the
purpose. without at the same time CIV
ing a blanket increase in pay to
who were already amply
compensated" :.
For reasons that can be, readily
understood" he continues, 'the legis-
!auve department rejected these sug-
gestlons made by the postmaster gem
eral and hence is directly responsible
for the deficit which inevitably fol.
lowed the indefensible action. XXX j
The postmaster general feels con-
strained to point put hat If a prompt
halt is not called and such a policy il
persisted in, there will be a deficiency
Tor the next fiscal year Of approxi-
nately $4,000 900 and the postal es-
Enlistment will cease to be self-sup-
porting. as it should be, and viii be-
come q constantly increasing burden
upon the general treasury.
Reference also Is made to the de-
cision of the Interstate Commerce
Commission. granting the railways
additional pay aggregating s,103,8 S9
for carrying the mails. This served
receipts, Mr. Burleson declares.
Many Improvements.
In his discussion of his administra-
ton OF the postal service. the post
master general says:
THE present postal administration
has been one Of continuous and per-
p!o6AcSS dAu Improvement.
Nothing has been left hndone that
was WITHIN n e authority of the post
master general to. do to effect re-
adjustments in the. interests of the
people as a whole and not in that or
any sReciai class. ~
The Air Mail Service. which has
been operated successfully since its
inauguration, May Is, 1918, has been
extended across the continent and
co!lateraiy n further extension by
conIract service lnaugurated.
'Ine Farcel o Service, both do
Hsestlc and International, las been
greatly EXTENDED and facilities for
hanollng parcels improved. ESQ for
elgn countries n colonies now being
reacned by this service.
/. lily Dellvery service has been ,ex-
tenoeo' n established service in all
tne iarser cues materially improved,
q the government owned motor
venice service: inaugurated ina1s14;
mas neen esta olished IN 1873 cities. T
ita1iWay Mail Service has
oeen operated WIN increased ehci-
for the handiinr az mail imnrnv.T
and the service firmly established up
on a scientific basis.
(. WAR conditions have been over.
COLne III LQe FOrelSn Mail Service
which has been brought back to o
NAL and is rapidly improving.
THE Money Order Service and the
Postal Savings System have rapidly
recovered from war conditions and
are in most satisfactory operations
THE Rural Mail Service was ex.
tended during the fiscal year to more
than 100000 additional persons and
the facilities of the service sys.
tematized and improved.
There has been still further i'm.
provement in the registry and insured
parcel post systems m the methods
OF handling dead letters.
"A large number of important i'm.
provements have been made in the
mail-equipn,ent shop. facilitating the
work, adding to the compensation anc
the comforts of the employees, and a
the. same time lowering, by eficien'
methods. the unit cost of production
Salaries of employees in all grade,
have been increased and working con
ditions and conveniences improved
wherever possible"
Oroa,,,o+,,, c
1--WE :
Atsentloh IS AGAIN olrected oy IN
pos.l'asler genera 70 the CROWN 0
oIsanlzations among n postal EN-
ployes anu nc urges Una Steps De TAX
en- 70 euro me Haiiclous ana pernici
Gus lnnuence. OF these organization
upon, .ne postal ne say
Iney nave operateo TO interiors. TO
consiueraple extent Win n efncien
q ,,OI the service, adding tina