Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-12-09
HAYS FAvORS MERIT
IN FILLING OFFICES
Postmaster General Advocates
Increase in Postage to Make
Department Self-Supporting.

NV Associated rrcss 20 Every Evening.
Washington Dec. a.--rointing '~
continuing deficits In his department |
Postmaster General Hays. In his first
annual report To the President, made
public today. declares that III thel
present gauge OF expenditures shail
continue there should he such read
juatmcnt of postage rates as VIII, to-
gs,hcr with the effects of Increasing
volume uf business. produce sufficient
revenue approximately To meet It,"
Mr.. HAYS makes no specific recon-
mcndntions as 60 the suggested ad-
iustmcnts, and declares emphatically
that "if n were n question between the
best practical service ON the one hand.
aud poorer service with revenue
mrctlng cost. ON the other hanu. de
vlnlon should be- resolved In favor Of
rendering tho service" lie adds that
the department should not be con-
dnrtch for pront. bat that II need
not ultimately hc run ~ a loss.
Revenues of the Postal Service for
the fiscal year ended last June, Mr..
ilnys sayH. totaued si6S.igi.274, an
increase of Sg6.aii .oG2 over the re-
Vpipta vt the preceding fiscal year.
balanced against this were audited
expenditures OF S62o,e93.679. with the
total audited deficiency at Sl57,5l1,-
GSS.
Approving this added compensation.
the puntmaatcr General tells the
president that "'hr salaries provided
hy law Tor those in the DEPARTMENT
are too low to compensate those who
continue IN the service. or TO attract
IN the conduct eff sI.h an institution"
Pointing to thu Inconsistencies in the
salaries ct employee iu the depart
mcnt proper and thos,' who scrv' "a
tho nuld Nh lia.v says they "cm-
ihnH,se tho Importance and necessity
uf immediate LEGISLATION to rcadiust
tho departmental s0loricS throughout"
rhv Postmaster General also recon-
mcuds legislation ptoviding Tor the
changing ~ the name of the depart
mont to the department of Commuui-
cations. ana 80 authorize him To:
Collect tcc whore directory service
a. given in postoniccs to mail insult
hvloutN or improperly addressed.
t'iX "a charge for return receipt
fur rcglatcrrd artclos.
To restrict, within his discretion. the
application of the special delivery
service to first class mail matter.
70 provide for the payment by
tho advertisers of postage On replies
90 d,urtlsins matter
Ma HAYS also recommends service
pensions for those who have hcen IN
thu service more than 30 years and
that sundays and holidays be vXclud-
eel from sick leave granted employees
m thu department and service
nis, usHing briefly the detailing OF
marines to guard valuable malls IN
transit against hold up" mon. the
l'uatmast,r Gcnnral informs the Presi-
dvul that ,hvrc Is hViug recruited from
the department itself 90 take the
place at the marines, an armed guard
nH a permanent branch OF the Postal
Service.
~ the end ~ the fiscal year. Mr.
Hays reports, there was a total OF
b2,lNs rostofhcCs. an increase OF 2.
N2a, First class offices numbered 799
nn increase OF 9a. second class mum.
lvrcd 2.tta. an increase of l6t: third
class. 10 iS0 an Increase of e.e59. and
fourth class offices totallcd 3S.ll0. Tn,
ANUttgv salaries Of clerks was increas.
ed frum Si.1S6 10 S.1i5 and of car.
riurs from 1881 20 si.s97.
Tho Postmaster General eNprcssc.
n arm conviction in the duty OF hon
VstlN applying the merit system. dc
'larinv that this should govern IN,
appointment of nostmastefs