The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1920-12-13
P.O DEFICIT
IS $17,27O,4S2
Second Largest in the His
tory of the Service, Says
Burleson
BLAMES CONGRESS
FOR MUCH OF 1T
Action Of Interstate Com
merce Commission Is
Also Held Accountable

Washington, d. c., Dec. l3.--Opera
ton of the United States postal service
for the fiscal year, 1920, resulted in q
deficit of Sl7,270,4 S2-the second larg
est in the history of the service Post
master General Burleson shows in his
annual report to-day to the president
in whick expenditures of the post office
department are placed at S454 1922 Cos
and revenues at $437, l50,2l2 The post.
master general charges Congress with
direct responsibility for the deficit, ex.
planning that the expenditures includ-
ed approximately S33,202,6OO paid as a
war bonus to postal employees and stat
ing that but for this there would have
been a surplus of SIS, 427 ,9l7. Mr.. Burle-
son says he declined to approve the
bonus action of the legislative depart
ment, adding that he had offered sug-
gestions of another plan for compensa-
ting the employees which would have
served the purpose without at the same
time giving a blanket increase in pay
to thousands who were already amply
compensated.
For reasons that can be readily un-
derstood, he continues, "the legislative
department rejected these suggestions
made by the postmaster general and
hence is directly responsible for the
deficit which inevitably followed the in
defensible action.
THE postmaster general feels CON
strained to point out that if prompt
halt is not called and such is persisted
in, there will be deficiency for the
next fiscal year Of approximately $50,
100000 and the postal establishment
will cease to be selfsupporting, as it
should be, and will become constant
ly increasing burden upon the general
treasury.
Reference also is made to the decision
Of the interstate commerce commission,
granting the railways additional pay
Ss.l03,sso for carrying the
mails This served likewise to offset
increases in postal receipts, Mr.. Burle.
son declares.
In his discussion of his adminstra.
ton of the postal service, the postmas-
ter general says;
"The present postal administration
has been one of continuous and perma-
nent progress and Improvement. Moth
ing has been left undone that was
within the authority of the postmaster
general to do to effect readjustmentS in
the 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 inaugn.
ration. May Is. 1918, has been extend
I'd across the continent and collaterally
and further extension by contract serv
ice inaugurated
THE parcel post service, both domes
tic and international, has been greatly
extended and facilities for handling
improved, 26O foreign countries
and colonies now being reached by this
service
CITY delivery service has been ex-
tended, the establishment service in all
he larger cities materially improved,
md the government owned motor yehi
lie service, inaugurated in 1914, has
been established in l63 cities.
"The railway mail service has been
operated with increased efficiency under
he space system. facilities for the
OF mail improved, and the
service firmly established upon a scien
life basis
war conditions have been overcome
n the foreign mail service. which has
been brought back to normal and is
'apidly improving
THE money order service and the
POSTAL savings system have rapidly re-
covered from war conditions and are in
most satisfactory operation. y
THE rural mail service was extended
Turing the fiscal year TO more than
100000 additional persons and the ia
'ilities OF the service systematized and
"There have been still further i'm
in the registry and insured
parcel post systems and the methods
# handling dead letters.
"A large number OF important i'm
have been made in the mail |
equipment shop, facilitating the work,
ldding 10 the compensation and the
comforts Of the employees, and at the
anne time lowering by efficient meth
.ds. the unit cost Of production.
Salaries Of employees in all grades
ave been increased and working con
litions and eonveniences improved /
wherever possible
criticizes Postal Organizations.
Attention is again directed BY the I
L q