Evening star., 1928-12-04
NEW LISTS NUMBER
OF IMPROVEMENTS
Deficit of S33,363,148 An
nounced by New in
Annual Report.

Although the American postal serv-
ice was operated at a deficit of $685.
363,148 for the fiscal year ended June
80, Postmaster General New sets forth
in his annual report to the President
today a long list of improvements and
extensions which have added to the
usefulness of the service to the public
Included in these achievements are
noted the extension of the airplane
service under the contract system and
tn enactment of important legislation
for the betterment of the service and
the readjustment of postal rates.
Careful and economical administra-
ton of the service is indicated, the
Postmaster General says. by the fiscal
affairs of the department. While the
increase in postal revenues, 154 per
cent, was less than in the preceding
year, the increase in the operating de-
ficit was at lesser rate per cent. The
average per capita expenditure for
postage during the year was SSH.
The operation of the Jones-White
merchant marine act, designed to
stimulate American shipbuilding with
aid from postal revenue, was not re-
hected in the reports, as new contracts
could not be made to begin during the
period. The scent rate on letters sent
by air also was made effective since the
date of the report, but Mr.. New said
that the contract air mail service ap-
pears to justify his opinion that pri-
vate enterprise can perform the work
creditably.
Amendment Urged.
The Postmaster General recommended
amendment of the March act under
which contracts were let during the
past year for transporting the mails
by air between New York and Mont
real, Key West and San Juan, Porto
Rico, and between Key West and the
Canal Zone, asking authority to make
contracts for routes between the island
possession and foreign countries, be-
tween such island possessions and over
routes in foreign countries.
"The fiscal affairs of the department
indicate careful and economical ad-
ministration of the service" he said
Notwithstanding the decrease in the
increase of postal revenues under those
of the preceding year, the operating
deficit increased at lesser rate per
cent"
The revenues of the service were
placed at $693 ,633, ,921. an increase of
1.54 per cent over last year, when the
increase was 3.53 per cent. The audited
expenditures were $725 5,699, 765. The
final estimate of the sum needed to run
the department was $760, 0,973,2 PIG, and
the amount carried In the appropria-
ton act, $755 1885, 200.
The task of ascertaining the revenue
derived from and the cost of carrying
and handling the various classes of mail
was continued, Mr.. New said, and rec
concentrations for appropriate legisla-
will he %aI r.
shortly after 1t convenes.
23,649,O44 Dear Messages.
The average per capita expenditure
for postage was SSH. A reduction of
8.5 per cent in the number of undeliv-
cradle letters was noted, but these
dead" messages totaled 23,649, ,044
pieces. The decrease was ascribed to
the departments campaign to induce
mail advertisers to use envelopes bear
ing return addresses. Money found in
dead letters or loose in the mails totaled
$98,678, and 46l AL parcel post pack
ages went unclaimed.
Surveys of all matter mailed free un-
der the penalty privilege by the several
Government departments and under the
franking privilege accorded members of
Congress showed an estimated number
of 520,117,717 pieces of mail. Had post
age been collected, the revenue would
have been $17,634,510, it was estimated.
The Postmaster General asked author
ity to extend the free mail privilege to
the diplomatic corps and consuls of
Pam American countries.
Mr.. New reviewed the revision of
postage rates under the act of May 20
Of this year. Significant changes made
were restoration of the 1-cent rate for
private mailing of post cards, reduction
In rates on newspapers and periodicals
when mailed by the general public and
on the advertising portions when mailed
by publishers, and merger of the spe-
cial delivery and special handling
charges on matter other than first class.
Serious Disadvantage.
American exporters "are placed at a
serious disadvantage with those of COM
peting countries" he said, by termina-
ton of the parcel post convention with
Cuba. Cuba refused to extend the
agreement, he pointed out, because
Congress would not repeal the law pro-
hibiting importation of cigars and Gig
arettes in quantities of less than 5000
to the package. He termed the law
obnoxious and archaic" and said ''it
is hoped that Congress will, at the
Forthcoming session, realize how unnec-
essary and Objectionable the present
law is and how contrary it is to the
real interests of our people"
A long list of recommendations for
legislative action were made, among
them one to prohibit the sending of
unsolicited articles through the mails
for sale. Others asked were: More
drastic punishment for mail robbers:
fee for inquiries made for patrons con-
corning registered, insured or collect
on-delivery mail and postal money or
ders; demurrage charges on undeliv-
cred collect-on-de delivery parcels: pun
ishment for those attempting to extort
money through the mails by means of
"blackmail:" authority to require steam
ship companies to carry the mail when
rendered and to impose fines on steam
ship companies and air mail lines for
unreasonable and unnecessary DELAYS
and other delinquencies; permission to
hire motor vehicles from carriers for
use in the service, and power to define
more clearly the authority for requir-
ing the delivery, in accordance with
the requirements of the Department, of
foreign mails brought by steamships
from abroad.
SNSSTESSENsSESySM