The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1898-06-09
NEW POSTAL RULING.
Increase of Box Rent So As to Better
EQualize Things.

The attention OF the patrons of
the Post Office at Henderson. n. c.,
and the public in general is called to
the following quotations from Postal
Laws and Regulations:
mo box at any post office shall be
assigned to the use of any person
until the rent thereof has been paid"
And again. '.when persons holding
boxes refuse to pay their box rent.
their mail shall be put in the general
delivery"
The following is by the First As
sistant Postmaster General in Postal
Guide for May. 1898:
Therefore, in compliance with the law,
aud to secure uniformity and justice in
the execution thereof, a general revision
of box rents has been begun, the accom-
plishment of which may require several
years. This revision involves a reduc-
ton in rates at many post Offices and
slight advance at others. Those who
have been benefited by reductions are
not heard from; but a few of those who
have been required to pay slight ad-
vance per quarter have protested, pre-
sumably because they have not been
properly informed. No person is compell-
ed to rent a box. The Department
want them, provided they pay fair
receive their mail from the general de-
livery, absolutely free of cost. Hence,
the assertion, sometimes made, that the
the privilege to obtaining their mail from
tho mott nffSoo ia CrnunHloSS
1t is not the intention of the Depart
ment to discriminate against any sec
ton or class, but to prevent unjust dis
elimination. Dissimilarity in local con-
ditiOns, character of patronage, size and
condition of boxes, and quality of serv
ice, renders it impossible to fix exactly
the same rates for each post Office of the
same class; but, conditions being equal,
at post Offices whose gross receipts range
from 81, 300 to $4,000 per annum,
minimum rates should be as follows:
For call boxes, 20 cents per quarter
lock boxes, IS cents; and lock drawers,
so cents. At post offices whose gross
receipts range from $4,000 to $40, 900
per annum, minimum rates should be:
For call boxes, % cents per quarter;
lock boxes, so cents; and lock drawers,
Is cents.
If it were possible, the Department
would gladly extend the free delivery
service to every resident in the country;
but the maintenance of this service il
not only very expensive, but it's extern
sion to most rural towns and districts is
impracticabIe. The advantages of the
free delivery service are cheerfully &C.
corded to all who choose to locate
within it's range; but those who prefer to
locate outside, are denied its advantages,
for the same reasons that deprive them
of the usual city conveniences.
Many patrons of post Offices having
free delivery service desire in addition
| thereto the use of the post Office boxes
for which they not only pay rent, but in
| many cases, are required to pay at a
much higher rate than they would be
required to pay if they were without the
advantage of the free delivery service.
1t is much regretted that the injustice
herein shown has prevailed, as the cor
rection of these evils, although demanded
not only by all who are properly inform
ed, but by every principle OF equity and
justice, is quite as distasteful to the De-
partment as it is to those who have pro-
| tested.
1t is believed, however, that il these
facts are properly presented to the pub
lie an equitable revision of box rent
rates throughout the country will meet
with hearty public approval.
PERRY s. HEATH,
First A ssistdnt Postmaster General