Evening star., 1934-04-22


That he has grounds for that view
is indicated by increased revenue from
the mails, both in New York City and
throughout the United States. The
New York Post office contributes
about one-tentA 81 the postal receipts
of the Nation All classes of the mail
handled<here reach an enormous vol
ume. The parcel post business, such
as that due largely to activity of mail
order houses, has been especially &C
tive in the last few months.
If one glances over the postal re-
ceipts for the entire country for the
business and stamp sales is easily
traced.
Lag Began in 1929.
The receipts of the Post Office De-
partment began to lag in 1929, the
year which marked the start of the
depression. The fiscal year l928-29
showed a slight increase over 1929
-0.48 per cent The preceding year
had been l54 per cent better than
its predecessor Already there were
signs of misgiving and recession.
However, 1928-29 had postal buSi-
ness of S696, ,s47, ,57769, which, on the
face of things, looked well enough.
The gross deficit was S85, ,461 ,176.24,
the net being S56,017 $50, after the
franking privileges and the free post
age to other departments and the
subsidies had been subtracted. The
receipts for the fiscal year of 1880
were a little more, being S705 ,484 098.
but the deficit was more by several
millions.
Receipts Drop 10 Per Cent.
1t was in 1881 that signs of bad
financial weather were indicated by
the falling of the postal glass. The
fiscal year of 1881 closed with Post
Office Department receipts OF $685.
1888 while the net deficit was
nearly doubled because the Postmaster
General was not able to maintain the
heavy burden of expense. The re-
ceipts dropped to $3.50, I'll 1923 in 1882,
more than 10 per cent. The gross
deficit piled up to S205 ,550,611, and
the net of S152,246,l88 was another
storm signal
Lack of confidence in the banking
system, as shown by the withdrawal
of deposits and the boarding of gold,
developed strongly at the beginning
of 1898. Then came the bank holi-
days, with many of the strongest in
stitutions of the country closing their
doors in obedience to State and Fed
eral proclamations. The fiscal year
of 1888 showed a drop of more than
100000, as compared with 1882, the
postal receipts being S587 ,63l 1865.
Various economies in the service, how
ever, kept down the deficit consider
ably, for the net was about S5l 100000
IN round figures.
Barometer Wavers.
The balance of the calendar year
1888 was marked by most unsettled
business conditions. The postal ba-
rometer was wavering. showing areas
of depression. and the year closed with
unfavorable signs.
Postmaster General Farley and his
predecessor had no great hopes of
fair weather for this year. 1t is eSti-
mated that the postal receipts for
l933-34 will be about S570000,000,
making all due allowances for econo-
mics. 1t is further estimated that the
expenditures of the service will be
$3.50, 100000, which means a deficit
of $60,000,O0. Shipping and aviation
subsidies of nearly S42,000,000 were
mentioned as burdens which might be
thrown aside. The postal prophets
are predicting a department income
of S585 100000 for 1885, but with a
heavy expense of operation. They be-
lieve that. despite the increase in pop
ulation, that by next year the receipts
will be about what they were 10
years ago
The official readings from the an
nual reports of the Postmaster Gen
eral for six years are given here for
further comparison: