The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-12-03
P, 0. REPORT
SHOWS DROP
IN DEFICITS
Postmaster General New
Shows Increase in Bust.
ness For Year
MAKES SUGGESTIONS
Hope to Place Department on
u Self Supporting Basis
In Time
MAKES SUGGESTIONS

WdSfllhPtOl, Zee. D. Law ave -
nary increase in business severely
taxed the ability of the postal seIV-
ice under inadequate appropriations
last year but "a most gratifying de
crease in the postal deficit. amount
ing to approximately S1o,ooo.ooo
from the previous year de'icit, was
brought about through economies.
Postmaster General New Informed
Prcsiden Coolidge today in his an
nual report.
at would be AN ideal condition if
the department could become self
sustaining. with postage and service
charges so adjusted MS to do equal
justice to all the using public sand
Mr.. New. TO attain THIS end, each
class Of mail matter need not neces-
sarily contribute its entire estimated
cost Public policy, for instance, has
long recognized the special claims
for publications y the dissemina-
ton Of information Of Il public char
acter. or devoted 70 literature. the
sciences, or arts. 1t is a wise policy
and makes for the general good and
the public welfare. On the other
hand, public policy, as evidenced by
the act OF Congress establishing the
Parcel Post System, favors the prin-
ciplc that rates for such matter shall
equal the cost o. the service. This,
too, is Il wise policy, for there is no
sound reason why the government
should conduct parcel business. so
analogous TO express, for example.
on principles other than those OF
sound business"
Paying Business.
The Money Order. the Postal Saw
ing2, and the Parcel Post Systems.
Mr. New said, should be entirely self
sustaining. The relation Of cost TO
revenue for the several functions
was studied in l907-lyll and the de-
partment is making another cost as
certa nmeht at the instance Of the
Post Office Committees and the Joint
Postal Commission, which has been
authorized by Congress. When re-
suits arc known, Mr.. New declared,
they will furnish basis for an in
telligent judgment as to postage
rates and charges.
number Of Recommendations for leg
islation along those lines including
authority for him to: Fix charge
for return receipt for registered
, article; Ak the fees chargeable for
registration of mail matter and the
limit of indemnity; extend the in
surance and collector delivery serv-
ices 10 third-class mail; and pres
cribe the fees to be collected for the
issue OF domestic money orders.
Mr.. New also recommended that
Legislation be enacted to: Provide
for the appointment OF postmasters
Of the third class by the postmaster
general; pay rent on postofiice prem
Uses monthly instead of quarterly:
compensate employees for overtime
services in excess of eight hours
daily; establish motor vehicle rural
routes Of less than j6 nor more than
rs miles in length; increase the in
terest rate on Postal Savings de.
posts to ) per cent and for other
improvements; and amend existing
laws in regard to examination and
renewal of official bonds; age retire
ment Of certain employments, leaves
Of absence of railway postal clerks.
and moving expenses Of officers and
railway postal clerks.
Revenues for Year.
The postal revenues for the year
were $532,827 1926, compared with
$484,s53. $40 in 1922, and the expendi-
lures, obligations and losses $780,
823232. compared with $522.459, 732
in 1922. The operating deficit for
this year was $37,995,3O7, compared
with an operating deficit OF $67,606,-
1872 for 1922. The expenditures for
the year included $l5,392,3l2 in pay
ments of undischarged obligations
carried over from previous fiscal
years, which deducted leaves $541,-
500,Sl6 as the expenditures applying
to the service 1f 1898, and makes a
deficiency Of postal revenues Of $24,-
O65.203 for the year. Addition Of
$e.300.779 transferred to the Civil
Service Retirement Fund, $12.677, l54
paid between June 30 and Septem.
Der 80 on 1928 fiscal year obligations,
and $8,344,4S0 Of undischarged liabil-
ItIcS VII poSG cStIuuScuJ OIL oCCOuut
Of 1923 obligations, brings the total
expenditure and undischarged liabil-
tiles chargeable to the fiscal year OF
1923 up to $57O,s23.2 32 and makes the
operating deficit $37,995,307 for 1923
Speaking of the growth of the Pos.
tai Service, Mr.. New pointed out thai
since 1913. when the Parcel Pos,
System went into effect. the revenue.
had increased approximately 100 pei
cent and that since 1907 the weigh
Of the mails had probably increased
500 per cent. In contrast he notet
that the number Of clerks increased
only 57.8 per cent, letters carrier!
27.6 per cent, railway postal clerk.
1872 per cent, and rural carriers g.:
per cent from 1913 to 1922, inclusive
Denial of postal privileges to thos
who use them to defraud the public
Mr.. New declared, never has beef
more righteously and effectively en-
forced than in the action which ha
curbed the enormous sale throug
the mails Of fraudulent oil stocks
The department has issued fraud or
defs against IS Of these concerns an
persons and is proceeding asains
others TO completely cure the evi
The extent Of their fraudulent trans
actions, he's said, lrun into millions.
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