Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-05-21
POSTAL BOXES.
Circular Sent Out By First Assistant
Postmaster.
Telling Reasons Why Rental Is Charged and
Giving Some Rates.

| has sent out the following circular 10
them where the patrons Of the office
| can examine them:
The attention of postmasterS ana
| the public is invited to the following
statement relative to box rent rates:
The department is required by acts
| of Congress to collect rent for post
| office boxes assigned to individual use
| and to establish just and equitable
| rates at each postofice.
The department is not obligated to
| pay a fixed salary to postmaSters at
postoffices of the fourth class, nor to
| allow for the expenses for rent, fuel
and light; hence. when postmasters At
| such postoffices recommend box rent
| rates which are equitable and just to
| the patrons, their wishes are respected.
| But at postoffices of the Presidential
classes, the department pays the ex-
penses for rent. fuel light, clerk hire,
| and miscellaneous items necessary to
the advantage of the public that the
best service possible may be main
tanned For these purposes it must OBJ
tain large appropriations from Con-
gress: and, in order that Congress may
be enabled to make such appropriate
tons. funds must be placed at it's dis
posal from the revenues Of the govern
ment. For the same reasons that the
government prefers to obtain revenue
for its maintenance by small tariff
| upon the luXuries rather than the ne
i9cesSaries Of life, the department aims
to place small tax upon postoilice
boxes assigned to individual use, that
it may not he compelled to collect a tax
from all in some other manner. which
would, in all probability. he real
hardship to the poorer classes.
This office has been for years re-
ceiving complaints from all sections Of
the country setting forth the injustice
and inequalities of rates at which box
rents have been collected. For this rea-
son. data has been obtained from each
Presidential postotfice. by a compari-
son OF which it has been ascertained
that. for years past. large proportion
of our fellow citizens have been sub
jected To most fragrant injustice in the
collection Of box rents.
For instance. a. a large poStofIicc of
the second class, having a patronage of
10000 and gross receipts III $4,000 per
annum, and TO which the department
has allowed $1,000 per annum for rent.
fuel, light, clerk hire and mscellan-
eous items, box rents have been col
leoted at an average rate Of 10 cents
| per quarter, and the sum of the box
rents collected has been from $50 to $50
per quarter; while at a small postofce
of the third class, few miles distant
with a patronage of 1000 consisting of
| farmers and the poorer classes. and
gross receipts of only $1,000 per annum
and tn which the department has never
allowed more than 5000 per dnnum for
rent. fuel and light. and nothing for
clerk-hre nor miscellaneous expenses
! box rents have been paid for many
years al the rate of % cents per quar-
ter for call boxes; 30 cents per quarter
for lock boxes; and - cents per quar-
ter for lock drawers. without q word Of
complaint, while the sum of the box
rents turned into the United States
treasury has been from $50 to 5000 per
quarter.
In several of the states. rates on
call boxes at about two-thirds of the
Presidential postoGices have ranged
| from two to - cents per quarter, while
| at une-thlrd of the poStotfiCeS of the
same grade rates for call boxes hay
ranged from 20 to 30 cents per quarter.
! In several of the states the average
rate per quarter for call boxes is above
| 30 cents.
Therefore, in compliance with the
law, and to secure uniformity and jus
| tiec in the execution thereof. gem
elal revision of box rents has been be-
sun, the accomplishment Of which may
require several years. This revision
! involves reduction in rates at many
| postofflces and a 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 advance per quarter
| have protested. presumably because
| they have not been properly Informed
| No person is compelled to rent a box
! The department furnishes them for the
! use of those Whn want them. provided
/ they pay fair quarterly rental for
| their use; but all may receive their
! mail nom me general delivery, aDSO-
/ iutely free of cost. Hence. the asser-
| ton. sometimes made, that the public
must pay a certain amount for the
| privilege Of obtaining their mail from
the postoitce IS groundless.
1t is not the intention Of the DEPART
! ment to discriminate anst any sec
| ton OF class, but to prevent unjust dis
! elimination. Dissimilarity in local con-
| djtions. character Of patronage. size
and condition of boxes. and quality of
/ service. renders it Impossible to fix ex-
/ actiE the same rates for each post
! office Of the same class: but. conditions
! being equal at postoffices whose gross
| receipts range from $1,000 to $4,000 7er
| annum, minimum rates should he as
| follows:
| For call boxes. 20 cents per quar-
ter lock boxes. 35 cents: and lock
drawers, 80 cents. At postoffices whose
! gross receipts range from $4,000 to $40. =
800 per annum, minimum rates should
be: For call boxes. % cents per quar-
ter: lock boxes. 80 cents; and lock
| drawers. - cents
| If it We're possible, the department
would gladly extend the free delivery