Workmen's advocate., 1889-11-16
POSTAL REFORMS.
aSS.

The conferences WnlCn tne IosI- master General has lately been holding in Washington with number of the most competent postmasters are likely to result in much benefit.
 One point upon which the postmasters have been practically unanimous is the inadequacy of the present service. Nearly everyone has told in forclble language how his clerks and carriers were overworked, and how much he needed an increase. Heretofore the ap- propriation for Post Office purposes has kept about two years behind the growth of the country, and the result has been constant cramping of the service and injustice to faithful employees. The country is not disposed to save money at the expense of postal efficiency, and it will require but little pressure upon Con- gress to obtain an adequate appro- priation.
 A most important reform, which if carried out will further "extend the functions of government to the great discontinue of individualists in general and of express companies Ill par licular), is likely to be recommended by the Postmaster General. We refer to the abolition of the distinction between third and fourth class mail matter and their consolidation into one at the third class rate. The third class is now for printed matter, and the rate is one cent for one ounce. The proposed change will reduce by one half the rate on mer- chandise. Some of those who discussed the matter in the recent conference argued that the change would result in diminution of the revenue but the weight of argument was in favor of the other opinion, that the great increase in this class of business would bring in within very short time a much ln- creased revenue. It might be a ques- tion whether the offices could readily handle all the merchandise packages which would be entrusted to their charge without considerable additions to the facilities and working force of the system. An interesting statement pre- pared for the Postmaster General, as the result of a count at some of the larger offices, indicates that more than 90 per cent of the merchandise packages en- trusted to the mails are for points more than 50 miles distant from the mailing office. In other words, this is the point where mail service begins to success fully compete with express service. Within fifty miles the express companies have heretofore been able to take large packages cheaper. The immediate effect, therefore, of reduction of rate would apparently be to bring within narrower circle the limits of competition by the express companies This competition applies only to packages not exceeding four pounds in weight and which can be safely entrusted to the mails. The ex- press companies have always opposed any extenslon of the postal service into their field, and they will undoubtedly oppose very strenuously such a reduc- tion in rates. Their opposition may postpone, but it can hardly defeat in the long run so useful a reform. It is not altogether the reduction of rate winch constitutes the benefit of the change, but the simplicity which it will introduce into the classification. The second class of mail matter is periodicals mailed by publishers at pound rates so that under the proposed reform the public will have to do with only two classes of matter, letters at two cents per halt ounce and all other matter at one cent for two ounces. Very many people are unable to carry in their heads the existing classification, but they will find the new one very easy to remember.
 In commenting on these proposed re- forms the Washington correspondent of so conservative an organ of capitalism and natural opponent of government encroachments as the New York Conn., mercidl Bulletin, endorses them without restriction and furthermore observes: | "The carrier service grows in popu-