Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-15
PROPOSED POSTAL REGULATIONS

Tn0FSSCO rOS Al nEIOIAllONS
Postmaster General Wynne, in his
annual report, presents to congress
and to the public several important
and worthy subjects for consideration,
and II his suggestions are acted upon
there can be no doubt that the result
will be Improvement in the postal SER
vice.
One of the most meritorious sug-
gestions to be found in the report is
cents per. pound be made for mer-
chandise delivered to the local post
office for transmission to patrons of
rural routes, the parcels not to ex-
coed five pounds in weight. This will
greatly improve the service along the
rural routes, will increase the rev.
enues from that branch of the service
and will prove benefit to local mer,
chants. If adopted by congress such a
measure will make it possible for the
farmer to use the mails in ordering
from the nearby city or town and in
receiving the merchandise he desires
without leaving his home. The re-
commentator of the postmaster gen.
eral on this subject follows:
1T is recommended for the consider
alton of congress that rate of three
cents per pound, or any fractional
part thereof, be authorized for pack
ages Of books or merchandise, not ex-
ceeding five pounds, mailed at the dis
tributing postoff1ce of any rural free
delivery route for delivery to patron
on said route This rate should apply
only to packages deposited at the local
postofhce for delivery to patrons on
routes emanating from that office and
not to mail transmitted from one Of
flee to another. The rate of three
cents per pound would be ample re-
Enumeration for the department, be-
cause there Is no expense for railway
transportation, and the system by
which these packages are to be de-
delivery would entail no additional ex.
pense upon the department. A spe.
cial stamp could be provided for this
class of mail matter"
The need for such provision Is be-
ing felt more and more as the farmers
are growing accustomed to the rural
routes. The present postage rate of
one cent per ounce for such matter is
practically prohibition. Neither the
farmer nor the merchant can afford to
pay sixteen cents per pound for the
transmission of the merchandise and
the free delivery system is condemned
for its lack of proper accommodations
because of the law which Mr.. Wynne
complains. The government will be
beneficiary If the plan is followed, as
we'll as the mail route patrons and the
local merchants in cities and towns
from which routes radiate.
Several other recommendation are
made in this report which are worthy
Of careful consideration. The post
master general complains that snakes,
tarantulas, scorpions, loaded revolv-
ers,.e and explosives have been sent
through the mails and asks that ade-i
quate punishment be provided for;
those who thus endanger the lives of
mail clerks. He also recommends
that a penalty be provided for the use
Of counterfeit postmarking stamps;
that the interstate commerce law be
amended to prohibit telegraph and ex-
press companies from aiding and abet-
ting in green goods or lottery swindles.
It is also recommended that con-
gress grant an annuity to railway
postofflce clerks who are permanently
disabled in the line of duty and that
the law be amended SO as to provide
for the termination Of bonds of post
Office officials.