The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1920-12-13
BIG DEFICIT IN
POSTAL SERVICE
General Blames
Congress for UnfayOra-
BILE Showing of Year
WARNS AGAINST
S T STRIKES
Postal Employees Should Not BE Allowed
10 Organize - Great Increase In the
Amount Of Free Mail-Sees Constant
Improvement In Service.

Amount OF Free Mail-Sees Constant
Improvement In Service.
WASHINGTON. Dec. Evaporation
Of the United States postal service for
the fiscal year 1920 resulted in a deficit
of S17.2TO.4S2-the second largest In the
history of the service-Postmaster Gen
eral Burleson shows in his annual report
today to the President, in which eXpendl-
lures of the post Office department are
pIaced at S454. 322, 500 and revenue at
~S43713O212. The postmaster general
charges congress with direct responsible
ity for the deficit, explaining that the eA-
pcnditures included approximately $50
2O2 500 paid as a war bonus to postal
employees and stating that but for TINS
there would have been a surplus OF
S1S427917. Mr.. Burleson says he de
clined to approve the bonus action OF the
legislative department, adding that he had
offered suggestions Of another plan Tor
compensating the employees which would
have served the purpose without at lhe
same time giving a blanket increase IN pay
to thousands who were alfeauH amply
compensated.
For reasons that can be readily under
stood" he continues. the legislative de
nartment rejected these suggestions made
Inv the postmaster general and hence Is
directly responsible for the deficit when
inevitably followed the indetenslble ac-
ton.
The postmaster general feels con
strained to point out that If a prompt haIt
is not called and such a policy IS per
sisted in. there will be a deficiency for
the next fiscal year of approximately
S36.OOO.O00 and the postal establishment
will cease to be s~elf-supporting, as 1t
should be. and will become a constantly
increasing burden upon the general treas
ury.'
In his discussion of his administration
of the postal service, the postmaster gen
eral says:
The present postal administration has
been one of continuous and permanent
progress and Improvement. Nothing has
been left undone that was within the au-
thority of the postmaster general TO do to
effect establishments in tn" interests OF
the people as a whole and not in that OF
any special class.
The air mail service. which has been
operated successfully since its Inaugural
ton. May u, 1918, has been extended
across the continent and collateraily and
further extension by contract service IN
augurated.
] ne parcel lDNl NFINlttf Dobi N'llltNIl%
and international. has been greatly eX-
tended and facilities for handling parcels
improved. 2G0 foreign countries now being
reached by this service.
Attention is again directed by the post
master general to the growth of organ
i~zations among the postal employees and he
urges that steps be taken to curb the
malicious and pcrniciouS influence of
these organizations upon the postal per
sonnrl. He says they have operated to
'interfere to a considerable extent with
the efficient conduct Of the service, add
ing that much of the S~o-called 'demoral-
lied postal service and dissatisfaction
exits only in the minds and imaginations
of paid agitators of these organizations
who instill and hammer these doctrines
into the minds of the employees through
tn" medium of their publications.
The ayowed purpose of these organ