The Colorado statesman., 1921-12-10
POSTMASTER GENERAL HAYS
WOULD MAINTAIN SERVICE
WITHOUT DEFICIENCY.
WANTS BETTER SERVICE
RECEIPTS sts7,st7,sss BELOW Ex
PENpITuREs FOR YEAR END
ING LAST JUNE.
cu.t,u y,.s,.p,r uui.. s.-. 1r....,


washin Pointing to continu-
ing deficits in his department, Post
master General Hays, in his first an
nual report to the president. made
public, declared that "if the present
gauge of expenditures shall continue
there should be such a readjustment
OF postage rates as will, together
with the effects of increasing volume
OF business, produce sufficient rev.
enue approximately TO meet it,"
Mr.. Hays makes no specific recon-
mendations as to the suggested ad-
justments, and declares emphatically
that "if il were a question between
the best practical service on the one
hand. and poorer service with
revenue meeting cost, on the other
hand, decision should be resolved In
favor of rendering the service" He
adds that the department should not
be conducted for profit, but that it
need not ultimately be run at loss.
Revenues of the postal service for
the fiscal year ended last June, Mr..
Hays says, totalled 3.491,274, an
increase of s26,341.062 over the re-
ceipts of the preceding fiscal year.
Balanced against this were audited
expenditures OF s62O.993,673 with
the total audited deficiency at $751;
517,6SS.
The material increase in the defi-
cheney over that for 1920, Mr.. Hays
states, is due to large increases OF
expenditures in two principal items
lts,.r ;par
in the revenues The two principal
items are $76.130,301 for increased
compensation to railroads on the
basis of an order of the interstate
commerce commission, retroactive to
Nov. /, 1916, and $41,855,OOO for
added compensation allowed postal
employees by congress.
Approving this added comNensa-
ton, the postmaster general tells the
president that 1.-The salaries provided
by law for those in the department
are too low to compensate those who
continue in the service. or to attract
and hold others of the ability re-
auired in the conduct of such an IN
stitution.'' Pointing to the incon-
sistencies in the salaries of employees
In the department proper and those
who serve in the field, Mr.. Hays says
they "emphasiZe the Importance and
necessity of immediate legislation to
readjust the departmental salaries
thruout."
The postmaster general also recon-
mends legislation providing for the
changing of the name of the DEPART
ment to the department of communi-
cations, and to authorize him to:
Collect a fee where directory serv-
ice is given in post offices to mail
Insufficiently or improperly ad-
dressed.
Fix a charge for return receipt
for registered articles.
To restrict, within his discretion.
the application of the special delivery
service to first class mail matter.
To dispense with the surety bonds
now required of officers and en-
ployes accountable for funds or prop
erty and to substitute therefor
guaranty fund established and main
tanned by assessments against such
officers and employees.
To provide for the payment by the
advertisers OF postage on replies to
advertising matter.
Mr.. Hays also recommends service
pensions for those who have been in
the service more than thirty years
and that Sundays and holidays be ex-
cluded from sick leave granted
employees of the department and
service.