Attention has been drawn to salaries of postmasters as a factor in the postal department deficit. The whole subject of finding ways to economize seems timely, with a proposal afoot to boost the cost of stamps for first class business mail to 16 cents. In Utah it costs the U.S. Postal Service well over $2.5 million annually for salaries of 212 postmasters and officers in charge of post offices. Whether this is out of line or not probably could be determined only by a review of the nationwide postal salary picture. A Colorado newspaper recently cited some extreme cases in that state involving postal operations in tiny towns. For example, it cost $15,700 to operate the Yellow Jacket (population 53) post office last year. Most of the cost $13,064 – was to pay the postmaster’s salary, with another $720 for space rented in a family store. But the post office did only $5,597 worth of business, for an operating loss of more than $10,000. Another angle of the Yellow Jacket case was that the present postmaster, a woman, took over when her husband retired on a pension after 20 years of service. (I-le continues to operate the family’s store in connection with the post office). Among other cases cited: The postmaster for Central City, Colo. (pop. 228) gets $16,766 annually; and the poastmaster of Victor (pop. 258) $15,507. Yet such growing Denver suburbs as Lakewood and Thomton don’t have their own post offices, being served by Denver through branches. In Utah there may be individual cases that are out of line, although perhaps not to the extent of the Colorado towns cited. Generally in the substantial cities and towns what postmasters make does not appear excessive if you can compare their salaries with those of school administrators and state, federal and local officials. A few samples with the name of the city, the population of the delivery area, and the annual salary; American Fork, 18,000, $16,960; Heber, 5,600, $15,729; Orem, 44,000, $16,960; Payson, 8,500, $15,729; Provo 64,500, $22,449; Salt Lake City, 657,900, $31,572; Cedar City, 15,000, $16.960; St. George, 17,885, $16,900; Nephi, 3,140, $15,729; Logan, 31,500, $16,960; and Ogden, $132,400, $22,449. Some random salaries in the smaller towns: Bicknell, 650, $11,890; Bingham Canyon, 850, $13,469; Bluff, 250, $11,890; Boulder, 125, $11,890; Altonah, $7,431; Axtell, $4,459; Greenwich, $2,972; Centerfield, 630, $11,890; Elsinore, 510, $11,890; Eureka, 800, $11,890; Fillmore, 3,000, $14,830; Goshen, 650, $11,890; Midway, 1,295, $11,890; Hiawatha, 166, $11,890; Kingston, 114, $4,459; Levan, 450, $11,890; Portage, 144, $5,945; Ftuby’s Inn, 116, $11,890; Santaquin, 1,236, $14,830; Tropic, 600, $11,890; Wallsburg, 211, $8,918; Glenwood, 212, $5,945; and Meadow, 238, $7,431. It is hoped that before postal rates are raised again, every phase of the nationwide postal setup will have received careful scrutiny with a view to economy of operation. A review of postal salaries, either on-going or as a special project, ought to be part of the study if for no other reason than to correct inequities and look for waste and duplication. Since a review could be costly in itself, we suggest the job be accomplished by experts already in the federal service. Fact-finders might determine that some consolidations should be made, or adoption in some cases of a commission system wherein postal service in a tiny town becomes simply an adjunct to a business operation, In any event, the prime goal whether the study is simply on postal salaries or the entire range of the operation – should be-to increase nationwide efficiency and economy, something to which the taxpayers are entitled.