Mr. MURPHY:
They are for use in auditing money orders and postal notes.
Mr. STEVENS:
Did the Customs department not try these machines and discard them?
Mr. MURPHY:
Not that I ever heard of.
Mr. STEVENS:
Mr. MURPHY:
Partly.
Mr. STEVENS:
It will be observed that in the number of office appliance operators there is an increase of twenty, and in the whole department an increase of twenty-five. I have been informed that the Customs department tested these machines over a period of years, in work similar to that for which the Post Office Department is using them, and found them unsuited to government work. If that is true, and in view of the increased cost and the increase in the number of employees, this seems to be a questionable innovation, particularly if there is no saving.
Mr. MURPHY:
I have never said the Customs department tried these machines for any length of time, but even if they did and the machines were found unsuitable for the work in the Customs department, of course, it would not follow that they would be unsuitable in any other department. As a matter of fact, they suit this particular work admirably, and as I have pointed out if it were not for the introduction of these machines we would have to engage at least one hundred additional employees to cope with the greater volume of work.
Mr. MEIGHEN:
What is the revenue expected this year from the department, and how does it compare with last year?
Mr. MURPHY:
I have not that statement on hand, but I will be glad to get it for my right hon. friend on another item, and we can discuss it then.
Mr. MEIGHEN:
I think the minister has a pretty good idea; nobody would have any better.
Mr. MURPHY:
At the moment I am sorry I have not.
Mr. MEIGHEN:
I have no information I would want to become authority for, but I understand the revenue is less. Now, with a smaller revenue, we have a larger personnel, and all these Hollerith machines. How does the minister account for so much more money being required when the revenue received is so much less?
Mr. MURPHY:
I have explained the reason for the additional amount required. As to the revenue, I have not a statement on hand, but I shall be very glad to get it and let my right hon. friend have it. As a matter of fact, the officials upon whom of course I have to rely for all this information, assure me that the expenditure would be very, very much greater were it not for the introduction of this system; that money has been saved
Supply-Post Office
by its introduction; speed has been attained in the doing of the work; and, of equal importance, greater accuracy has been obtained.
Mr. MEIGHEN:
It looks pretty bad if only for these precious machines we would have one hundred and1 twenty-five more employees than last year.
Mr. MURPHY:
Provided the volume of work kept up.
Mr. MEIGHEN:
Why is there such a volume of work? The post office is not increasing its functions that I know of, and it is not increasing its revenue. Why is the work increasing at head office?
Mr. MURPHY:
The money order business has increased twenty-five per cent. It has been one of the most remarkable increases in connection with the department.
Mr. MEIGHEN:
Does the head office here have much to do with the general money order business?
Mr. MURPHY:
Yes, in connection with auditing. After these money orders have been paid and certified, they are sent in here to the Pinancial branch of the department, and it is there that this audit work is done, and there that the arrears of work I have spoken of have accumulated.
Mr. MEIGHEN:
I suppose money is going out to pay for foreign manufactures. Where is the money all going?