The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-12-03
AIR MAIL EXPENSE
figures IN DEFICIT
Of Pol DEPARTMENT
Government Trying to Adjust
Rates Paid Contractors so
as to Increase Routes
TOO MUCH FREE SERVICE
Postmaster General Analyses
Sources Of Loss, Largely
Due to Franking
TOO MUCH FREE SERVICE

Washington. Dec. 3.-Et-How the
romantic duties OF the pony express
have finally devolved upon the air
plane was set forth in cold figures,
today, by Postmaster General Brown
in reporting to President Hoover that
almost S11 .250, 900 had been expended
last year in sending mail BY air over
nearly 10.25o.00O flying miles.
But the deficit which has ridden
the back Of the Postoffice department
for decades also touched this e
method Of Transporting q share OF the
postal bag. Congress had appropri-
ated $l2, 400. 600 for hiring private
lines TO do the work which was begun
several years ago by the government.
The expenditure vas S1l. 207. 957.07.
and the mileage was l0.2l2.5l1 up to
June 30 last. Nevertheless it was es-
i!mated that the cost Of the service
was s.. 900 900 more than the postage
revenue.
Adjusting Air Mail Costs
Postmaster General Brown said the
demands for new routes were far
above the annual appropriations but
that the department had followed q
conservative but progressive policy
with regard to this service. He in
formed the president in his annual
report that. while the expenditures
for the air mail were above the esti-
mated revenues. steps were being
taken to adjust eQuitably the rates
paid air mail contractors to square
with existing legislation on the sub
ject.
The department. or the whole. vas
far from making both ends meet for
the year. In fact the burden OF
deficit grew no.iceably heavier, the
outgo exceeding the income by S85.-
A6l. l76.24. For the previous year the
unfavorable balance was $32.lcl.-
095. 30. The difference was explained
by the postmaster general rs having
been due to expenditures ordered by
congress, such as increased postal
pay. free mailing privileges. ocean
mail contracts and other such items.
Free Mail For Blind
It was shown In the report that the
American people bought $527. 706.-
79O.28 worth Of postage stamps and
that other sources Of revenue brought
the total receipts up to $500, 947. ST. 90.
The expenditures were $782, 408.-
1898.
In the maze Of big sums set down
in the report. 1t was disclosed that
tho department spends annually more
than $50. 600 in handling free mail for
blind persons. This sum was the
smallest listed for non-profitablc
services. The others. when added to-
tailed $3l ,232, 906.52, which. II paid for.
would reduce the actual deficit to
$50. 752. 934.6l.
The postmaster general listed other
items contributing to the deficit as
including handling and transporting
second class matter free within coun-
ties of origin SO. 78l .530.S3 and dir
fcrentials favoring vessels Of Amer
lean registry under the merchant ma
rine act s8.787. 643. 81.
MI. Brown frankly said that he did
not like the idea Of having the Post
office department charged up with
the cost Of handling free mail and
recommended that legislation Be
passed appropriating 1881. 24O to the
department to cover such cost.
Large Totals Handed
| A total OF 276. TIA. 736 pieces Of mail,
weighing 25,998.676 pounds. was
mailed by departments other than
the Postoffice department. on which
no postage was paid. The revenue
which would have been derived from
such mail would have totaled $780,
ITO. In addition members Of congress
franked 37.273,270 pieces Of mail
which would have brought . revenue
of 1857. 964 had postage been paid
on it.
Not content with setting down as
tonishing figures about stamps and