Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-12-01
ECONOMY IN P. o.
Continued from PAGE Onel

oeen $751; $685.. As result the an
huai deficit amounted to only SIZES
l3I. reduction OF S9.601. 22- from the
deficit resulting from the previous
years operations.
as gratifying as this reduction is"
says AIR. New. 1T is not the prime con-
sidatation in the administration of the
service which is, in my opinion, that
OF rendering the lest service to the
|, public consistent with due regard for
cost If the public does not receive a
satisfactory seTN ice ii is no answer to
, gay that expenditures have been kept
within the revenues. The present ad-
ministratlon conceivcs it to be its first
duty TO render this satisfactory sery-
ice"
The postmaster general make. no
retcfence III his report TO the ques-
ton Of increased salaries for postal
employees, a subject which may come
Up at the short :ession OF Congress-
Mr.. New does refer, however, to the
surver for the ascertainment of the
cost of carrying and Handling the
mails. which lie says has been complet-
cd and will lie transmitted 20 Congress
in special report. Mr.. New has stat
ed heretofore he believed there should
he readjustment of postal salaries
but urged, where bills were pending
in Congress for increasing salaries.
that the results of the cost ascertain
ment be awaited before making
changes.
Suggestion is made by Mr.. New for
legislation to permit the postmaster
general to appoint third-class post
masters and relieve the president of
that duty. The president appointed
5o45 postmasters of that class last
year. These postmasters are in the
classified civil service and are not ap-
pointed for any definite term. changes
being made only in case of death. res
ignation or removal.
Recommendations fer improvement
of the postal service. made by Mr.
New. include:
Increase in the interest rate allow
able on postal savings.
Charge for = return receipt for reg
istered articles
Changes III the fees chsrgeable for
registration OF mail and limiting in
demnity to $1,000.
Imposition of demurrage charges on
undelivered COLLECTION delivery parcels
and return to senders postage collect
under certaip circumstances.
Changes III fees on domestic money
orders.
The desirability of govesnment
ownership of post office buildings is
pointed out by the postmaster gen.
eral. who said appropriations for
post Office quarters amounted to
S13.275.OO0 for the year.
The growing postal business and
the ever increasing traffic condi-
lions in cities present a problem.
The passage of mail trucks and
wagons in schedule time on the prin-
cipal streets and through business
centers. where the street congestion
Is great, has become extremely diff
cult
There appears to be-" said Mr..
New, only one ultimate solution
that toward which plans for all traf-
fic tend-the provision for under
ground transportation. The practi-
cability of tunnels and the adequacy
of different plans must be careful
ly considered as they are developed
and presented"
Carelessness in the addressing OF
mail Ii indicated in the increase in
the number of dead letters. There
were II .61S, 16S unbelievable letters
received and disposed of last year.
That was an increase of 2,3T0. go or
12.3 per cent over the previous year.
BY careful work 4,243,6IS Of the let
ters were delivered. Enclosures Of
money in dead letters amounted to
S125,997. of which $IO,473 was re-
stored to the owners. The nominal
value of drafts, checks, money err
ders. etc, was 1856, So.
Newspaper and periodical mail
was heavy during the year. a total
of .396,516.S45 pounds having been
handled. That WAS an increase Of