Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1905-12-20

atlon suggestion that suDStanIa
saving would be effected in railway
mail transportation by for~arding
bulky periodicals and mallable mer,
chandise by fast freight but when
transported by what ( dinaril, is
known as fast mail lch natter
should pay extra postage
interest in the enactme OF legisla
ton looking to the upbuild lg and en-
couragement of the American mer.
chant marine i set forth as a reason
tor improving the transportation o.
mails to foreign countries, and the
postmaster general says that the fas
mail steamers Of ether countries leaving
ports of the United States will more
and more absorb our foreign mali
transportation ntil such time as the
United States provides an adequate
compensation For the outward voyage
of steamers of equal speed and regular
| ity Of schedule.
The postmaster general says an et
feetive domestic parcels post
system could be organized on the same
lines substantially as express compau-
les conduct their service and as par
GELS post service is conducted in other
countries. While he does not deem u
wise at this tirle to ask congress for
such system, he recommends thai
third and fourth class mail matter be
merged at the ~ate of ! cent for two
ounces. In this way. he says, all mer
chandise parcels not exceeding foul
pounds in weight would continue to be
carried at one-half the rate now
charged and afford great opportunit,
for distributing light packages to a
multitude of places not reached by ex.
press companies.
Dealing with second class matter
Postmaster General Cortelyou declares
the statute to be inherently wrong.
He bases this opinion on the fact thai
during the last fiscal year the totaI
weight carried at cent a pound ami
free was 665, ,12S pounds.
"If, says he, 1t cost the government
as much as cents a pound to handle
this matter in the mails it will be seen
that the amount paid out was 3S,155,.
1856, while the actual revenue was
/ Sc, 1S6,647. He recommends a thor.
Ough review of the whole subject by
congress. A fat rate determinable up
on the material thing itself, he De
clares, is what is needed.
AS regards the rural free delivery
service, the postmaster general ex-
presses conf 'ence that future legitl-
mate extentious can be accomplished
at a lower rate OF expense.
At the end Of the fiscal year, June 80.
there were in operation 68,131 post
Offices The number of Employees in
the service at 'arge is stated to be
100000, Of whom 1.169 are in the de-
Ipartment at Washington.
! From seventy-five postofIices in
| 1890, The year OF Franblin's death, the
number has grown to 6S,13I; from re
ceipts of S37,9$5 and expenditures OF
$32,140 we hare advanced in the same
period to receipts Il $152 ,S26,5S5 and
expenditures Of $167, 1893, 169; from a
total force 500 20 a total force Of
about 100000.
In concluding his report Postmaster
General Cortelyou says: There are
two prime requisites to a successful
administration of the postal service
First, merit as controlling factor in
appointment and promotion; second
business efficiency in the broadesi
sense, and this, of course, includes
proper economy. With these requi
sites in view there can be far-reachinl
improvement In the following direc
tons:
"A stricter herence to the rule
that postmasters shall be appointed
primarily on basis of fitness.
"A more precise method of deter
mining the compensation to be paid tc
railroads and ether agencies for the
transportation OF the mails.
"A more thorough organization Of
the rural free delivery service and 8
closes inspection of Il, which, while in
suring every needed extension, shat
prevent the giving Of these facilities
where they are not warranted
"A simpler classification of mai
matter, as follows: First, letters; sec
ond, printed matter; third, merchan
disc.
"A more stringent restriction of tn,
franking privilege"