LIGHTHOUSE SERVICE. Lighthouse tender for general service For constructing and equipping a lighthouse tender for general serv- It is proposed to construct this vessel under contract. COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY. Lithographic press, Coast and Geodetic Survey One lithographic press, to be immediately available (submitted)... Printing post-office maps, Coast and Geodetic Survey— For compensation of employees in the Coast and Geodetic Survey, Washington, D. C., and all other necessary expenses for the reproducing, lithographing, and printing of maps for the Post Office Department, the sum of $5,960, to be immediately available, for the period ending June 30, 1915 (submitted).... $250,000.00 6,200.00 5,960.00 NOTE. The estimate covers the work for the period from Feb. 1, 1915, to June 30, 1915. NOTE. The two foregoing estimates were submitted to Congress on page 869 of the Annual Book of Estimates for 1916. LEGISLATION. Provided, That the Secretary of Commerce is hereby authorized to make regulations authorizing the payment of actual necessary subsistence expenses to employees of the Department of Commerce traveling in Alaska at a rate not to exceed $8 per day; And provided further, That the accounting officers of the Treasury Department are hereby authorized to credit all payments for subsistence on and after July 1, 1914, made in excess of the sum of $5 per day authorized by the act of Congress approved April 6, 1914; And provided further, That the cost of reprinting publications of the Thirteenth Decennial Census may hereafter be charged against the regular printing allotment of the Department of Commerce (submitted). 3d Session. 1 No. 1365. APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE POSTAL SERVICE. LETTER FROM THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY, TRANSMITTING COPY OF A COMMUNICATION OF THE POSTMASTER GENERAL SUBMITTING URGENT ESTIMATES OF APPROPRIATION REQUIRED FOR THE POSTAL SERVICE ON ACCOUNT OF THE FISCAL YEARS 1914 AND 1915. DECEMBER 16, 1914.-Referred to the Committee on Appropriations and ordered to be printed. TREASURY DEPARTMENT, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, The SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith, for the consideration of Congress, copy of a communication of the Postmaster General, of the 15th instant, submitting urgent estimates of appropriations required for the Postal Service on account of the fiscal years 1914 and 1915, payable from the postal revenues, amounting to $845,000. Respectfully, W. G. McADOO, DECEMBER 15, 1914. Hon. WILLIAM G. McADOO, Secretary of the Treasury, Washington, D. C. MY DEAR MR. MCADOO: The following items are submitted to you for transmission to Congress for inclusion in the urgent deficiency appropriation bill: For freight or expressage on postal cards, stamped envelopes, etc., fiscal year 1914... For stationery, including all money-order offices, fiscal year 1915. Supplies, city delivery service, fiscal year 1915.. Wrapping twine and tying devices, fiscal year year 1915. Facing slips, etc., fiscal year 1915. $50,000 20,000 15,000 50,000 10,000 Mail bags, etc., fiscal year 1915.... $100,000 Inland transportation by star routes (excepting service in Alaska), fiscal year 1914... 200,000 Inland transportation by star routes (excepting service in Alaska), fiscal year 1915... 400,000 Total...... 845.000 The following explanation is submitted to show the urgency of the several items: FREIGHT OR EXPRESSAGE ON POSTAL CARDS, ETC. The expenditures for the shipment by freight of the various classes of matter so handled greatly increased during the latter half of the fiscal year 1914. This was due to the establishment previous to the beginning of the weighing of the mails February 18, 1914, of a considerable number of additional freight shipping points in the fourth contract section, the effect of which was not estimated for when making the estimates for that fiscal year. The estimated additional expenditure on this account was approximately $38,000. The withdrawal of these mail bags, however, had a very material effect in reducing the quantity of such matter carried in the regular mail trains and will be reflected in reduced compensation paid for railroad transportation during the four years commencing July 1, 1914. In addition to the foregoing there was a greatly increased expenditure for shipments of stamped paper during the fiscal year 1914. The number of shipments increased approximately 25 per cent over those for 1913, and the freight rates were also increased out of Dayton, from which point the stamped envelopes are shipped. The expenditures for the shipment of postal cards increased 50 per cent and those for stamped envelopes and newspaper wrappers increased 38 per cent over the preceding year. These factors served to increase the expenditures in the amount of $49,457, according to the figures now available. It is believed advisable that a deficiency appropriation of $50,000 be provided, inasmuch as the bills for the most part have been received and payment is being held up pending the appropriation of the necessary amount. STATIONERY, INCLUDING ALL MONEY-ORDER OFFICES. Attention is invited to the appropriation for stationery, 1915, out of which parcel-post tags are purchased. The appropriation for the current fiscal year is $125,000, and the balance available is slightly less than $25,000. The unprecedented growth of the Parcel Post Service has upset all estimates and it is now evident that the expenditure of approximately $20,000 must be made immediately for parcel post tags. This will seriously curtail the appropriation available for the purchase of stationery, including money-order blanks, and the deficiency item of $20,000 is therefore submitted. SUPPLIES, CITY DELIVERY SERVICE. The appropriation for the current fiscal year, out of which letter boxes are purchased, is $150,000. On November 30, 1914, only $16,025.07 remained unexpended and orders have since been placed for carriers' satchels, for which there is an urgent demand, resulting in an expenditure of a large part of the remaining balance. For about three years prior to December 1, 1913, no new letter boxes were furnished to the Postal Service. During the current fiscal year 8,377 letter boxes, 3,432 letter-box posts, and 1,159 combination letter and package boxes have been purchased. The department has on file requests for about 2,500 additional letter boxes, and in order to meet the requirements of the service for this type of equipment the deficiency item is submitted. WRAPPING TWINE AND TYING DEVICES. The appropriation for the current fiscal year is $200,000. The balance available November 30, 1914, was $12,400.42. To adequately meet the requirements of the service for the remainder of the fiscal year the department finds it will be necessary to expend at least $50,000 additional. FACING SLIPS. The appropriation for 1915 is $75,000; the unexpended balance November 30, 1914, $18,069. On account of the heavy demands for printed facing slips which are being made by post offices of the first and second classes and the Railway Mail Service it is evident that this amount will not be sufficient to meet the requirements for the remainder of the fiscal year. It is estimated that should the demand continue at its present ratio an additional appropriation of at least $10,000 will be required. MAIL BAGS, ETC. The appropriation for 1915 is $363,000, and the unexpended balance November 30, 1914, was $48,000. Because of the unusual demands of the Parcel Post Service, it is now evident that the needs of the service can not be adequately met by this appropriation. The capacity of the factory where mail bags are manufactured is limited, and it is very desirable that orders be placed for large numbers early in the calendar year in order to be prepared for the actual needs of the service in the fall and winter of 1915. INLAND TRANSPORTATION BY STAR ROUTES, 1914. The total amount available on account of star-route service for the fiscal year 1914 is $7,905,000. Of this amount there has been expended to date $7,850,000, leaving an available balance of $55,000. There remain, however, a very considerable number of unadjusted claims on account of the extension of the parcel post weight limit to 50 pounds, effective January 1, 1914, and it is estimated that the proper adjustment of these claims will involve an expenditure of $200,000 in addition to the present available balance. INLAND TRANSPORTATION BY STAR ROUTES, 1915. The appropriation for the fiscal year 1915 is $8,675,000. To November 30, 1914, orders had been issued, payable from this appropriation, aggregating $8,212,000. It is estimated that the addi HD-63-3-vol 106-47 |