New-York tribune., 1903-06-03

armament Clerk Of the Synod
business basis Of the postal service Of the coun-
try? This Is one OF the questions to which Post
master General Payne and his official advisers
devotiIg much consideration in the spare time
which they can secure from the current postal in
vestigation-
That rural free delivery can be made II not a
profitable at least q self-sustaining, improvement
in the postal service Is the conviction OF the Post
master General whose business instincts, gained
from experience the head Of large street railway
systems, lead him desire its extension only on
lines warranted by the principles of good business
On the other hand. Mr Payne admits that the
difficulties which stand in the way Of such
servative extension are weilnigh insurmountable-
The pressure Of members CT Congress who for
personal and political reasons desire the establish
of rural in their respective districts is
acknowledged to be the great obstacle tc q bust
nesske administration of this branch Of the postal
service
The rural constituents Of Senator'S and Repre-
sentattves far prone to judge the efficiency
Of their representatives Congress by their ability
secure the establishment Of rural routes, regard
less Of the prospects OF such routes bringing any
adequate return to the government Strong
pressure from home leads these officials to exert
every influence with the Postmaster General and
his subordinates to secure the establishment OF
routes. and there is danger that II the custom IS
persisted in the deficiency in the postal revenues
which prosperous times and the application Of good
ont, will be seriously increased
Reviewing the situation recently. the Postmaster
General said that two years ago Postmaster General
Charles Emory Smith estimated that thIrty-eight
thousand rural would completely cover those
sections of the country where the density OF popu-
lation warranted free delivery. With the appropria-
already made for the approaching fiscal year.
Mr.. Payne estimates that It VIII be possible 10
tablish rurai until the total number by July
l. 1904. viii aggregate twenty-seven thousand. and
one year more will see the attainment OF the limit
set by Mr. Smith.
VIII Congress De willing 70 stop there. will
It insist on the further extension OF the service
until point shall have been reached far beyond
which there can be any reasonable expectation Of
its being sef-supporting2' the question asked by
BIr. Payne and which can be answered only by
Congress and possibly by pcblio sentiment
DEFICIT MAY BE OVERCOME
Years ago. when The present law permitting the
carriage OF second class mail at the one cent q
pound rate was established, numerous concerns i'm
mediately availed themselves OF the cheap rate Of
3y conforming TO the technicalIties OF the
law and published unbound books periodically. thus
curing for them rhe lowest rate OF postage This
followed by { def1crl asEregating approximate
s41"ndol in the handling OF second class mail
7arrer first class matter was, however, carried
az a profit approZimating s35.0oocco. so that the
e-ra-tne7- amounted to only
&. GOO. In recent years the class Of mail
ferred TO. books issued periodically. advertising
privilege. = test case on this ruling is now in the
courts but II the contention Of the government is
sustained. the law amended to admit 10
second class rates only legitimate newspapers the
1nstaI service Viil. in the estimation OF the Post
master General become self-sustaintng. First class
matter will make UP for any deficiency there may
be under the second class schedules and the third
and fourth classes are already seIf-sustaining.
The only menace. therefore, to the businesslike
administration OF postal affairs lies in the unwar-
rauted extension Of the rural free delivery. An
attempt has been made 10 adhere to a ruling
whereby it IS permitted 10 establish rural routes
only where given number OF patrons can be
served In a given distance. This ruling has not
been strictly adhered to because Of the political
pressure exerted-that same pressure which built
up the Machen machine and which has cost the
government ar untold There has been. how
ever & flaw discovered in the criterion which MADE
il even more difficult adhere to this ruling. 1t
has been demonstrated that in many instances 8
route on which there lived smaller number OF
patrons than the prescribed number gave promise
Of becoming self sustaining. That such would be
the case IS obvious from the fact that residents Of
sections of the country differ widely IN the
extent OF their correspondence.
RURAL ROUTES INCREASE REVENUES.
Asked II it would not be practicable TO FIX a
limit whereby a rural route must return q given
revenue 10 the department and IN the event Of its
failure do be discontinued. Mr.. Payne said
that such q method would doubtless be equitable
~ Congress IN whose district rural route had
o,ce heen established would never consent TO its
disconttnuance regardless of how Improbable 70
,ha government such a route might be found
The Postmaster Generals reply brought the
x.-noir subject back the question whether the
ctal service should he administered at the behest
- r,syrhers of congress and with due consdera-
-for for their pontica! fortunes. or whether IL
s,or,ld he conducted on & purely business basis.
That there Is an increase in the revenues "heIe
-,.rs7 routes are established Is shown or IN
stance ii one county Maryland the estaolis-'-
me-. f The rural service has been followed oE an
i,creaee Of 10 per cent IN the revenues Win IllS
go j., view the Postmaster General MAINTAINS
raj b could extend the rural service WITHIN gwen
li,rtrs without its becoming burden on the LAX
,s,,e-s and eventually. as the country pe>a-i4e
,hs-xrv populated, rural free deiiVerE 'oUlu 'e
h1, EXTENDED throughout all seeuohs
A. ~, evidence Of the local selhshness Win Whleh
the new departure iE regarded MF. faSiie CiIeo
orIa-D ms presented for his consideration AS
- =. busbr1ent of rural route Is usually aO-
~,ed ~, the discontnuance Of several post
esex sn6 s. complete change or the addresses O
- - aorie receiving mail thereon. FIRST AS
-. z5,s-r,asrer General Wynns ISSUED an orus-'
-, -. stvce been confirmed by the f2sl lillasIri So
WIZ DOS masters whose
Genera hsIL IL--t-15 f6r rural TO posi- IheTt-
slilLt OF such route IJi tlIe
y! q & ~ Dersons desrSus OF aSceI ss;,,rs
VeIlieLSS of their friends, customers etc
~ ~rITsl free delivery DIVISION hAS oa-.i tarts