“Mere assertion,” says another To the first I need only say that this is an age not congenial to milk-poultice talk. I have previously expressed my opinion on that point. If you have a thing to say, say it _hard_. The majority of people will then understand you. Those who do not understand you can continue their milk poultices--or believe and talk as they are told _or are paid to believe and talk_. The latter--the reader who yodles that my preceding nine statements appear to be assertions only--can make a courteous and, possibly, a profitable use of an hour’s leisure in reading a few following pages, before he _rusts_ into the belief that those nine “assertions” are groundless assertions. In showing that there is no “deficit”--a shortage of receipts in the Postoffice Department over its legitimate expenditures--I shall not take my nine statements up seriatim, but present my reasons in a general way for having made such blunt declarations. I may go about that, too, in an awkward way, but the reader who follows me will get my reasons for making those nine declarations. NO CREDIT ALLOWED FOR SERVICES RENDERED OTHER DEPARTMENTS. If the department of public works in Chicago does a piece of bricklaying, concrete or other construction work for the police, fire, health or other department of the city government, or if it carts or hauls away some excavated material or razed debris for any of those other departments, the service rendered is made a _charge_ by the department of public works _against_ the department for which the service is rendered. What is true in this instance in Chicago’s municipal government is true of every other city or incorporated town in this country that has its service departmentized. If the County Commissioners of McCrackin county build a bridge or culvert for Ridgepole township in the county the cost of constructing that bridge or culvert (or a proportional share of it, if on a general highway), is made a charge against Ridgepole township. If the transportation department of the United States Steel Corporation delivers the services of three steam tugs (services rated at $30.00 per day) to the corporation’s smelting or rail departments there is a credit of $90.00 given to the transportation department, and a corresponding _charge made against the department for which the service is rendered, for each day’s service rendered_. _That states a recognized business rule and practice_ among both private and public corporations. Its valid and _just_ purpose is to prevent the loading upon one department (any one department) the expenses created or incurred by another. Is it not a valid, fair and just method of business? If it is not, then the largest merchants, the most productive and profitable manufacturing establishments, transportation companies, banking and other mercantile, industrial and financial institutions have not discovered the fact.