The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1904-11-19

Central New York Farmers club has
passed a resolution demanding that
this reform be placed at the very front
of economic political action; and with
it the establishment of postal savings
banks. Postal reform . Is in the air,
and it will not do for our political
managers to overlook this fact. The
farmers of America are thoroughly
well pleased with free mail delivery.
It has worked marvel among the
agricultural communities. It is one OF
the factors that have brought agricul-
ture to the front-abolishing farm lso-
lation. But the farmer perceiVes
very clearly that the service SO far is
merely tentative. He feels the need
of a parcels post even more than he
needed ar ural service for correspond
ence. His demand is growing impera-
tive.
A system of local rates for free de-
livery service, similar to the German
service, would be of immense. value to
the whole population outside Of our
cities; and with it a general parcels
post such as Is already established in
every European state. A parcels post
bill of this sort, drawn up by one of
our leading manufacturers, was intro
duced into congress last winter. 1t
was Endorsed by the Massachusetts,
house of representatives, by California
and by large number Of agricultural
associations. 1t could not even get a
hearing. Postmaster General Payne
announces that the handling Of mer-
chandise by the post office is an in
fringerent on express business" and
tells us he shall oppose any extension
Of the present limitations. Even the
extension Of free delivery on the four
pound basis has been checked. There
are nearly seventy-five thousand Am
erican towns and villages yet without
any service at all.
A recent discussion of this subject
by the Postal Progress League brought
out facts not at all pleasant to be read
by those who believe in equal rights
and in economic progress. We are the
only large nation in the world without
parcels post system. We are the
only large nation whose postal service
is conducted at a loss. The "Finan-
cier'' adds:
"The United States pays the rail-
ways exorbitant rates for carrying the
mail; and the express companies, faV-
orel by lower charges, are actually
undertaking the government, and
handling at a profit the cheapest forms
Of mail natter-on which, according
to the postal authorities, the govern
ment loses large sums annually. In
this way competition becomes impos-
sible: and the merchants Of the coun-
try are losing millions Of dollars an
nually in trade, which otherwise they
might obtain
The British government is actually
making a contract with a private
United States Express company to
handle it's postal parcels in this coun-
try because the American postal de-
partment is too supine to undertake
the work.
The editor of 1.-The Open Court"
adds that on several occasions he has
had books, prepaid in post offices
abroad, taken possession of in this
country by an express company, pos
tage stamps removed, and charges
made for both storage and delivery.
Recently Thibetan- English die
tionary, published by the British Gov
eminent in Bengal, was forwarded to
us. by mail, postage full prepair (the
Bengal government had paid $2.25),
and the package was held up at New
York by the American Express COM
pany with a charge Of $2.04 for entry
fees, etc.
T~f Dr$~I y41yr t-%~
thirty years. experience in postal mat
ters.
"That man like John Wanamaker,
or Marshall Field, at the head of the
post office department, could, II given
a free hand. organize a system that
could carry any kind Of mail matter
profitably at one cent pound
Mr.. Wanamaker. while in office, re-
peatedly insisted that he could see no
reason why England and Germany
should give better postal service than
the United States. He did all that he
could in the way Of introducing rural
free delivery. trolley car service and
pneumatic tube service. He also en-
deavored to secure a parcels post, a
postal savings bank and a postal tele-
graph: but he failed at these points
Payment to the railroads Is exorbi-
tant,' said this efficient servant Of the
public fact quite as patent today as
when he was postmaster general.
For ten years E. F. Loud, of Califor-
MIA, was chairman of the house post
office committee; and the position TAX
en- by him was that:
"Such business as the post-office
| now does in carrying fourth class mai
should be done by private enterprise
If had my way. the post-office would
give no more facilities than it give:
| today-it would give fewer"
Organized labor can fairly claim tn,
credit of retiring Mr.. Loud temporar
ily to private life. He bitterly oppos
ed any increase in the pay of mai
carriers, and the sympathy of trade
unionists caused the defeat of MI
Loud for congress and the election 0
a labor unionist, Mr.. Wynn, In dis
trict that had always previously bee1
Republican. It is somewhat disqutet