The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-01-09
The Postoffice Record

All rights Of republication Of all other
matter herein are also reserved.
The Post0ffice Record
One Of the strongest available argu-
ments against the indiscriminate en-
try Of government, local state or ma
tional. into private business Is the
annual report of the postoffice de-
partment, made public Monday.
II size is IN asset In itself, this
governmental agency has it. In many
respects it is the largest business In
the world. employing more persons
than any other private or public or
ganization.
# spread OF interest Is necessity
to success, it has that virtue, for 1t
reaches into every town and hamlet
In the country.
II having . monopoly contributes
anything to success the postoffice de-
partment should enjoy continuous
prosperity. The government win not
permit competition with It.
Yet the postal department lost
money during the last fiscal year
and the oldest inhabitant cannot re-
member when it last showed profit.
This despite the 15-per-cent reduce
tion in pay for postal employees made
last year and . sharp reduction In the
number Of workers, brought about
largely by failure to fill vacancies
which developed as the result Of
death or retirement.
The report shows @80,Oo0,ooo was
saved IN this field alone during the
year. OF which $4,000 900 was due to
a reduction in the number Of en-
ployes.
The huge army Of postal workers
reached its approximate peak on
December 81. 1929. when 354,s4S per-
sons were on the rolls. BY Novem-
Der 80, 1883, the number had fallen
TO 235,573 persons.
The total audited expenditures for
the fiscal year 1888 were 500, 0o6.-
256.53, q reduction Of $93,7l6,277 be-
low the expenditures Of the previous
year. The postal revenues for 1888
were 1851. 63l .364.4s, 50 that the gross
deficiency Of revenues Was $ll2.374.-
S92.05. This compares with audited
expenditures Of $793, 722.534.o3. rev.
enues Of $588,l7l ,92294. and gross
revenue deficiency Of $2o5,550, GIL 90
tor the fiscal year 1882.
The amount expended during t.
year for shipping and commercial
aviation subventions was $45,264,-
el5.57: the postage value Of the mail
service performed free for Congress,
the courts. and the executive DEPART
snents Of the government was $l5.-
o35, 035. These and certain other
items separately classified under the
oct Of June ., 1890. providing for the
segregation Of non-postal items con-
tributing to the deficiency Of the pos
tai revenues, aggregated Sol SOL ,286.59.
and had the effect Of reducing the
gross revenue deficiency from $ll2,-
S74.8o205 to q true deficit, embracing
postal transactions only, Of $685.
605.46. This compares with . net
deficit Of $l52,24s,lss during the pre-
ceding fiscal year.
The department estimates that,
from the data In its possession, had
the 2-cent postage rate been con-
tinued the receipts from first-class
mailings during 1888 would not have
exceeded $685., 100000 by comparison
with the sum Of $332,0o0,Oo0 which
was actually collected. A revenue
gain Of $4,000. 900 q . result Of the
higher rate. after allowing for all
losses and diversions directly attri-
butable to the rate increase, Is con-
sidered : conservative estimate.
Anyone wishing to argue the mat
ter might point out that item Of $751;
col 1850 IN non-revenue expendi.
lures Is one Of the big reasons for the
deficit.
This . true. but u the posto9tics
were not . governmental agency Il
would not b called On 70 bear the
costs Of transmitting The free mate
rial which now comes % It. ct least In
part - . result a political activity
and political management.
New Slant On Sterilization
In view q thu strong stand taksn
By the Cathode Church against stsril-
lsation. + = interesting % noee the