The New York herald., 1922-12-04
WORK AGAIN SEEKS
TO BUY POST OFFICES
Postal Chief Says Public Own
ership Would Bring
Economy.
HE SAVES S20,571,986
Recommends Increasing of
Interest Rate on Postal
Savings Deposits.

WASHINGTON, Dec 3.--The campaign
for Government ownership OF post Office
buildings throughout the country was
renewed by Postmaster-Generai Work
I'm his annual report to-day to Congress
Not only would policy of public
ownership relieve the Government or
much of its present housing congestion
the ostmaster- General said, but 1t also
would make for financial economy since
rentals of more than sl2,00O,000 now
being paid over annually without tangi-
BILE return could be invested instead In
property of permanent value.
Government owned buildings, he
pointed out are free from taxation
while the Government as a lessee must
pay enough rent to enable the landlord
to meet his tax bills. In the same way
he asserted that whereas the Govern
ment could borrow money ION prac-
tically 4 per cent. basis to build post
Offices. when 1t leases 1t pays rental
sufficient to permit the lessor to borrow
money at Z per cent. and in some cases
as much as 10 per cent"
Other legislation recommended by the
Postmaster General included passage OF
the bill pending in the House to increase
posits from 2 to per cent. and the rate
on postal savings bonds from 2la TO ~
per cent. establishment of a system OF
pensions for postal employees who nave
been In the service more rnan thirty
years; reclassification of departmental
employees; a salary readjustment to
permit full pay for overtime; authorize
tion for motor vehicle rural mail routes
up to seventy-five miles in length main
tenance OF a guaranty fund derived
from assessments levied upon postal Of
ficials accountable for funds and prop
erty to make good losses from the fail
ure of such officials to properly perform
their duties, and to take the place of
the present bonding system imposition
OF additional postage on improperly or
1nsuffciently addressed mail. and the ex-
tension OF insurance. and collect on de-
livery privileges to third class mail.
Reviewing the departments activities
during the last fiscal year Mr. Work re-
ported that a reduction of s20.571, ,9S6
in the deficit of the department. had
been effected by economies in admins
tration.
Notwithstanding the decrease the
deficit Is still large, the report said. and
unless revenues increase in greater ratio
10 tApeHSts tIlSrc ID llttit nope OF Ild-
terially reducing it in view OF fixed
charges over which the department has
no control.
During the fiscal year there was an
increase of s21. 1.362,266 in postal re-
ceipts. but expenditures were only $780,
S35 in excess of those Of last year. Con-
sidering losses Of postal funds through
fire, burglary and other causes, the
dencit for the year was S60.S15.400.
The average per capita expenditure
for postage during the fiscal year was
$S.s2. Mr.. Work reported. making a total
OF postage collected through stamps
alone $391.159,41S. Matter mailed with
out fxture of stamps aggregated SAL
402,s01. Total receipts were SIS per
cent. over those Of the previous year
The public bought 14.26l,s4s.s13 postage
stamps. 57.4o1,250 special delivery
stamps and 1,11i.124,43s postal cards.
Postal savings deposits and outstapd-
Ing savings stamps at the end of the
year totaled $140,4s0.167.93, compared
with s155, ,007,543.65 a year previous
the curve of deposits and Withdrawals
following the same lines as among the
country's savings banks.
Appointment of postmasters has be-
como current, as nearly as civil service
laws permit, and of the 7.492 Presiden-
tisl appointments confirmed by the Sem
ate, 1.105 were of women and 933 of
former service men Of the world war.