Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-20

year. IN ISZS bneTe was UelIclb "a
sos, 900 900, so that we see even IL there
there should be large deficit for 1880,
1t will be nothing unusual. and not as
large as the deficit in 1921.
There Is nothing to be alarmed about
over this deficit and there Is no trouble
in the department. It Is still doing the
best and most efficient work of any de-
partment of the Government.
The present officials of the Post ONCE
Department are in no sense to blame.
nor were the former officials of the
Post Office Department to blame. /
believe they have given at all times, in
Democratic and Republican administra-
tions, good, efficient, faithful and hon.
est service. So far as can determine
the present Postmaster General and his
official family are all rendering good
service.
Cause Of Deficit.
The cause of the deficit is, in my
judgment, due to several things. First,
1t is due to an act of Congress putting
1t in the power of the Interstate Com
merce Commission to raise the rates of
mail paid to the railroads. AS every
one knows the Interstate Commerce
Commission as 1t is at present organ
lied, Is exceedingly generous to the rail-
made a mistake in granting the power
to this commission to regulate postal
rates. The service could be better served
and more efficiently served II the Post
master General had the power to make
rates by contract with the various
railroads carrying the mail.
In 1909 the railroads were paid $49,-
100000 for carrying the mail. In 1919
they were paid $84 100000; in 1929.
$4,000 600. These increases are en-
tirely out of line for the services rem
dered and, in my judgment, the act
giving the Interstate Commerce Com
mission Jurisdiction over postal rates
should be repealed and in that way a
very considerable part of this deficit
could be wiped out.
In the second place, the Congress
passed a law a short time ago giving
the Postmaster General the power to
grant subsidies to the steamship lines
for carrying foreign mail. The wisdom
of this subsidy system is exceedingly
doubtful. AS now being carried on, 1t
is very expensive. 1t has now trebled
the cost of our foreign mail. In 1929
we spent over $4,000, 900 for this serv-
Ice, This matter should be carefully
recanvassed by the Congress and greater
savings would be manifested by our
Government.
In 1917, as recall. introduced
into the post office committee OF the
Senate an amendment to the post once
bill, providing for the appropriation OF
100000 to try out an air mall system
between Washington and New York.
After the act had been debated in the
senate this provision was adopted and
became a law and the route establish
ed From that humble beginning our
air mail service has constantly grown
and this past year We have spent more
than $ll 100000 on our air man. OuF
returns from the air mail service nave
been very meager. and so II we oeouct
the excess amounts that We ought not
To have paid the railroads. the amounts
of subsidies for the foreign man. tlls
amounts spent for the building up OF
our air mail from the deficit OF $95 .OOO,-
o0o in 1929. 1t will be seen that we nave
reduced the deficit in very large
degree.
In nv Judgment II any changes are
70 he made in order to lessen the oencH
the chances should be made In these
three activities. However. the norma,
increase in the revenues from the man
every year is about per cent. and mere
would be another $40, 900 900 that would
ha taken from next years deficit. pro-
vided only that we did not increase the
expenses.
Pay Of Employees
1t has been constantly urged at all
times that the Congress has been IN
error in overpaying our postal employees.
and that this is one of the causes OF
the deficit In a sense that is true. In
another sense it is wholly untrue. 1t is
true that the Government pays its
postal employees we'll. think the aver
age salary paid is something. like
50 900. but the employe gives value
received for his salary. These en-
ployes. drawing good salaries. have
built no the service in a marvellous de-
gree. and under no consideration should
there be a thought of cutting the sal
cries in our post Office service. Others
have suggested that we increase first
class postage from 2 to 3 cents. OF
course no one with knowledge of our
postal system would suggest this for a