The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-12-16
THE POSTAL PROBLEMS.

I HEN reviewing few days ago the recon-
(AI mendations of the Postmaster General TIL.
Gall pointed out that his plan of getting rid OF
the deficit in the postal revenues by restricting the
amount OF matter carried second class mail woui
have the immediate effect OF reviving the crv for
reduction in the rates paid to railways II is con-
coded by impartial students OF the subject that either
OF the proposed remedies would be sufficient for the
evil but up to this time it has never been possible ~
get majority IN both houses of Congress to decide
which to take.
There Is no reason why both remedies sbould NOT
be applied. The abuses OF second class mail privilege
should be checked and at the same time the exces-
sive payments to the railroads should be stopned
By that process the postofice would not only be rid
OF ITS annual deficit but would have each wear hand
some surplus to turn into the treasury or to be an
Piled to postal improvements OF one kind or another
1t never seems to occur to anybody in Congress
however that both economies might be practiced
and consequently the advocates of each are Just about
strong enough to defeat the advocates OF the other
whenever that other gets bill before the House
In the last Congress the action of the House on
the subject farce. When bill to Out an end
to the second class mail abuses was to be voted IN
majority OF the members, without regard 70 marty
vowed they would never restrict second class mail
privileges long the greater evil of railroad ex
'O4NiOiiS was POHhllCu, SO tney voted that
bill. little later, when bill to reduce the nostaI
payments TO railways was under consideration a
majority vowed they would never impair the eff
ciency OF Our railway mail service by false economy
so long as frauds were tolerated in the second class
mails. So nothing done Every Congressman
however, had made record which he could show
to his constituents to prove that he had endeavored
to put an end to extravaganza or fraud in postofce
affairs
The Postmaster General has given his Endorsement
10 the proposed restrictions upon second class mail
privileges, and now comes a representative ~ The
National Board OF Trade and urges in place OF that
plan reduction OF railway payments He is reoorted
as saying 90 per cent OF the mail is carried in railway
maicars the railroads receiving an average Of
annually for each of the OF cars allotted TO this work
whereas Tor passenger cars the receipts amount 10
only SIo,528 He advocated horizontal reduction Of
25 cent in rates paid railroads for carving the
mails, and charged the Postofice Department with
discriminating in the interests of the railroads He
expressed the opinion that cheap parcels post could
not be secured until this ceased
| The statement that cannot expect cheap mar
cells post until railroad mail rates are reduced is sig
| nihcant 1t is known the express companies are
lighting against the establishment of parcels most
The railroads will OF fight any attempt to re-
dnce their revenues from the postoffce The two
forces will naturally combine, and as consequence
postal reform at this session is hardly to be looked
for. 1t will take long fight to overcome an oppo-
sition of that kind