Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-12-13
$l7,2D,4S2 DEFICIT
:. IN POSTAL SERVICE
BurIeSon Puts Responsibility
at Congress Door for
| Granting Bonus.

A deficit of s17.270,4S2, including
losses by fire and burglary-the sec
ond largest in the history of the postal
service--was reported to the Presi-
dent today by Postmaster General
Burleson in his annual report, in
which expenditures of the Post Office
Department are placed at s454,322,-
609. and revenues at $437.150,212.
The Postmaster General charges
Congress with direct responsibility
for the deficit. explaining that the eX-
penditures included approximately
S33,2O2,600 paid as a war bonus to
postal employees, and states that but
for this there would have been d sur
plus of S1S,427,317. Mr.. Burleson says
he declined to approve the bonus &C
ton of the Legislative department,
adding that he had offered sugges-
lions of another plan for compensa-
ting the employees, which would have
served the purpose without at the
same time giving d blanket increase
in pay to thousands who were al
ready amply compensated
Arraigns Employees Unions.
For reasons that can be readily
understood" he continues, 1.-The legls-
lative department rejected these sug-
gestionS made by the Postmaster Cen
eral and hence is directly responsible
for the deficit which inevitably 1ol-
lowed the indefensible action.
The Postmaster General feels con-
strained to point out that if a prompt
halt is not called and such a policy is
persisted in there will be deficiency
for the next fiscal year of approx.
rnateIy s36,o00.0O0 and the postal es-
Establishment will cease to be seif-
ssupporting, as it should be, and Will
become a constantly increasing bur-
den upon the general Treasury
Attention is again directed by the
Postmaster General to the grown oi
organization among the postal en-
ployeS, and he urges that steps De
taken to curb the malicious and per-
nicious influence" of these organlZa-
lions upon the postal personnel he
says they have operated to interfere
to a considerable extent with the ell
ficient conduct" of the service, adding
that much of the so-called demon
allied postal service and 'dlSSauS1ac-
ton exists only in the minds and I'M
aginations of paid agitators OF these
organizations, who lnstlii ana nam
mer these doctrines into the minds OF
the employees through the medium OF
their publications.
Warns of strike Menace.
The avowed purpose of these or
Eanizations.' continues Mr.. Burleson.
ais not solely to advance the social
and economic welfare of their MEM
bers but to exercise a coercive in
f1uence upon the department to COM
pei submission to their demands
The postal service head declares the
use of the strike against the govern
ment by an "outside" organization is
a menace to the welfare of the re-
public. as it not only results in a di-
vided allegiance, but engenders dis
satisfaction, discomfort and unrest
and in the lowering of efficiency
Postal employees have become bold
because of this utilization and have
within recent years threatened to
strike" Mr.. Burleson adds. I'm one
case they actually did so by tender
ing their designations and leaving in
a body. In this case they We're prompt
ly indicted and prosecuted in the fed
eral courts.
while strikes in the postal service
may be averted for the time being,
yet they will come, and the public
will then be brought face to face with
a most serious situation-one which
will be a menace to our government"