Evening star., 1923-03-09
POST OFFICE FACING
Deficit |NFUNDS
NeW Confronted by Serious
/ Situation as He Takes
Up Reins.
SERVICE is Threatened
Curtailment May Result if Busi.
ness Shows Big Gain
Before July I.
SERVICE is THREATENED

Postmaster General New Will face
cne OF the most difficult problems ever
encountered by head of the postal
service, when he takes UP the duties of
his position tomorrow, following his re-
turn from Indiana
How to make the postal appropria-
fions now available stretch out to cover
rhe daily increasing business OF the
July I next, is the problem facing Mr.
New.
Fear Funds VIII HUN Out.
II the Increased postal business con-
stnues until that time, as It Is expected
u will, high postal officials are fearing
the money will run out before the 1924
fiscal year appropriations become avail
able. and two alternatives will face the
service: Either to stop the service, or
ask carriers and clerks throughout the
country TO work without pay.
Postmaster General New, fully ap-
pr7Sed OF the situation. made espe-
cial study while in Indianapolis dur
ang the past few days of the condi-
at that city, as probably this branch
OF the postal service will suffer first
IL the funds run out
At present the postal service is
handling an average OF 15 per cent
more work with an average OF
only Q per cent larger force than last
year. whereas at least 10 per cent
moro clerks and carriers are needed.
according to the best postal expert
opinion.
Economy Move Is Made.
The sS,5oo.ooo granted the postal
service by Congress on the eve of
its adjournment Will keep the postal
system OF the country from break
ing down completely, but is not
enough to carry the service clear
through to July I, under present ex-
pectations.
Postal inspectors are now stationed
at Indianapolis. San Francisco. De-
other great cities TO see to 1t that
the offices are run with a minimum
of expense, against the possible day
when the emergency appropriation
will run out
Stringent orders to "cut to the
bone on all work were sent out by
the Post Office Department to these
and other cities, but have been some
what curtailed as the result of the Sc
curing Of the deficiency appropriation.
very bad, and officials make no pre-
tense to minimize the threatened lack
Of funds. For if the money does run
out, 1t may mean real breakdown OF
down. they mean Just that. The pos
4al service is like a great pipe line
st must be kept flowing with letters
anA parcels.
Parcel Post Curtailment.
81 one such great post Office, Chi
6ngo for instance, should be forced
% shut down for @ week, there would
result such a clog OF mail that every
city and town in the country would
feel t. To think OF the entire service
ef the country as shut down for
week Is 20 picture an indescribable
eonfusion. g. tangle that might take
enonths and years to straighten out.
Already the curtailment by postmas-
eers has extended to the parcel post.
IN that IN some Of the larger cities
post Offices no longer send trucks to
xhe Offices OF big mailers. Such firms
must send their own packages to the
Dost Offices.
II the FUNDS do run out, the Post
Once Department neither wants to
close down the service OF ask carriers
and clerks to work for nothing. At
US00cRL tHO ppSI Va LILO
country are being paid s2.o00,000 every
week. The carriers receive $1,5o0,000
in salaries every week
Tho patriotism of the men and
women OF the postal service is 30
great that II Postmaster General New.
during some week In June, Is forced
TO ask them to give their service for
nothing, there is little doubt OF the
result. They would do 50. But It
may be said that no official of the
department wants to make any such
request as that
Work Grows Steadily.
Besides, the work OF the service is
growing by leaps and bounds ana the
personnel ought to grow to handle
rho work. Tho department could
ssasily place 1000 letter carriers at
jobs throughout the country where
they are sorely needed If 1t had the
kunda But now IL must even curtail
what force It has, and this in the
Race of the fact that the postal busi-
mess Of the country is on al average
sof Is per cent heavier 50 far this
scar than during the same months last
year.
Yf the postal receipts jump to a
Ao per cont increase and stick there,
and then increase a bit during May.
she service will be in a real dilemma
It IL this problem which the new
Postmaster General faces