Evening star., 1923-12-03
REPORTS DECREASE
IN POSTAL DEFICIT
New Wants Business Serv-
ices Placed on SeIf-Sus-
tanning Basis.

The money order. postal savings
and parcel post systems should be en-
| tirely self-sustaining. Postmaster
General New says in his annual re-
port to the President, made public
today. The report shows that there
has been most gratifying decrease
in the postal deficit" during the past
year, amounting approximately to
30.ooo,0oo
1T would be an ideal condition If
the department could become self
sustaining, with postage and service
SO adjusted as TO do equal justice
TO all the using public" Mr. New
this end. each class Of mall matter
need not necessarily contribute its
entire estimated cost.
Spread of Informntion>
Public policy, for instance, has
long recognized the special claims for
publications for the disse mination of
information of a public character, or
devoted to literature, the sciences
1T is wise policy and makes for
the general good and the public
/ welfare. On the other hand, there is
should conduct parcel business, SO
other than those of sound business"
Making Cost Survey.
The report states that the depart-
ment is making another cost ascer-
talnment following that of I907-I9l1
When the results are fully known.
Mr.. New states they will furnish a
oasis for an intelligent Judgment as
20 postage rates and charges
The Postmaster General made a
number of recommendations for leg
islation along those line. including
authority for him to fix a charge for
a return receipt for a registered ar
ticle. fix the fees chargeable for reg
istration of mail matter and the limit
or indemnity, extend the insurance
and collection on delivery services TO
third-class mail and prescribe the
fees to be collected for the issue of
domestic money orders.
Mr.. New also recommended that
legislation be enacted to provide for
me appointment of nostmasters. OF
the third class by the Postmaster
General. pay rent on post office prem
ises monthly instead of quarterly,
compensate employees for overtime
services in excess of eight hours
daily, establish motor vehicle rural
routes of not less than thirty-six nor
more than seventy-flve miles in
length, increase the interest rate on
postal savings deposits to 5 per cent
and for other improvements, and
dHleHu existing laws In regard to ex-
animation and renewal of official
bonds, age retirement of certain en-
ployes, 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 S632S27.925. compared with
$484, $40 in 1922. and the expendi- :
| lures, obligations and losses $780,
s23 .232. compared with s552.459.732 in
1922. The operating deficit for this
year was $37,995,307. compared with
an operating deficit Of S67,6O6,192 for
1922. The expenditures for the year
included $15,392.312 in payments OF
undischarged obligations carried over
|, from previous fiscal years. which de-
ducetd leaves S541.500,616 as the ex-
penditures applying to the service of
1923 and makes a deficiency of postal
revenues Of $24,065,203 for the year.
Mr. New stated that If the $4,000. :.
600 of revenues thrown over In tho
succeeding fiscal year by a change Of
method and time of reQuisitionine
stamp stock and accounting for sales
and the expenditures for the depart,
ment at Washington, amounting ta
s3,416,547, which heretofore. has been
paid out OF the general fund Of the
Treasury instead of from the postal
revenues, be considered for compara.
tive purposes, the deficit would he re-
duced to $28,578,760