The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-12-09
Postmaster Generals
Annual Report

of Postoffice Buitdings-
Recommends Increase
Interior Postal
Savings
Washington, Dec. 3.-The cam
paign for government ownership
of postofice buildings throughout
the country was renewed by Post
master General Work in his annual
report today to congress.
Not only would a policy OF pub puoo;-
lie ownership. relieve the govern
ment of much of its present hous-:
ing congestion, the postmaster gen
eral said. but it also would make
for financial economy since rentals
of more than $4,000, zoo now being
paid over annually without tangible
return could be invested instead in
property of a permanent value.
Governments owned buildings, he
pointed out are free from taxa
ton, while the government as a
lessee must pay enough rent to en-
able the landlord to meet his tax
bills. IN the same way he assert
ed that whereas the government
could borrow money "on practical
ly four per cent basis" to build
postoffices, when it leases it pays
a rental sufficient to permit the
lessor to borrow money at seven
per cent, and in some cases as
much as ten per cent.
Other legislation recommended
by the postmastef general inelud-
ed passage of the bill pending in
the house to increase the interest
rate on postal savings deposits
from two to three per cent and the
rate on. postal savings bonds from
two and a half to three and half
per cent; establishment Of a sys-
TEN OF pensions for postal en-
ployes who have been in the ser
vice more than thirty years; re-
classification of departmental enl-
.ployes: a salary readjustment to
permit full pay for overtime; au-
thorization for motor-vehicle rural
mail routes Up. to seventy-flye miles
in length; maintenance of a guar
anty fund, derived from assess
meats levied upon postal officials
Accountable for funds and proper
ty, to make good losses from the
failure Of such officials to prop
erly perform their duties, and to
take the place Of the present bond
ing system; imposition of addition
al postage on Improperly or IN
sufficiently addressed mail and the
extension Of insurance and collect
on-delivery privileges to third class
mail. s.
Reviewing the departments ac-
tiyities during the last fiscal year,
Mr.. Work reported that reduction
of s20,57I9S6 in the deficit Of the
department had been effected by
economies in administration.
notwithstanding the decrease,
the deficit is still large. the report
said, and unless revenues increase
dn greater ratio to expenses there
is little hope Of materially reduc-
ing it in view of fixed charges over
which the department has no con-
troll
During the fiscal year there was
an Increase of s21,362,266 in postal
receipts, but expenditures We're only
s7sG,S35 in excess of those Of last
year. Considering losses Of postal
funds through fire, burglary and
other causes, the deficit for the year
was $50, ,S15, 400.
The average per capita expendi-
ture for postage during the fiscal
year was 1892, Mr.. Work reported,
making a total Of postage collected
through stamps alone s3s1,I59,-
AS. MAJ er mailed without fixture
of stamps aggregated s41,402, COL.
Total receipts We're SIC per cent
over. those OF the previous year
The, public bought 1a,261,948,S1s
postage stamps, 57,401,250 special
delivery stamps and 1,111s124,439
postal cards.
Postal savings deposits and out
sts uding savings stamps at the
end of the year totaled s140,4SQ.-
1928, compared to s155,oo7,54S:65
a. year previous, the curve Of de
posts and Withdrawals following
the same lines as among the coun-
try's. savings banks.
Appointment Of postmasters has
become current, as nearly as. civil
service laws. permit, and of the. z,
492 presidential appointments con-
frmed by the senate, 1,f05 were OF
women and 933 Of former service
men Of the world war.
The constantly extending rural
delivery service continued to take
the. place of the fourth-class post
Offices. The rapid reduction in
postofices in recent years is shown
by the fact that there were in the
United States and its possessions
on July l, 1922, 51,947 postohices
compared with 1924 on June 80,
1902, a decrease Of almost one
third in 90 years.
During the year city delivery SER
vices were established in 20 addi-
tional possosices, affordins this ad-
vantage to 1,045.35o additional peo-
pie City delivery is now in oper-
alton on 2.2e9 Offices.