Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1905-12-14

companies for carrying the mails is
not regarded ~ the postmaster gen
eral IS satisfactory, and he says thai
while he is not at present prepared Il
recommend specific changes he be
lieyeS that certain inquiries being
mace by MN VIII afford data on
which 10 base future recommendations
He thinks worthy OF serious consider
.ag.On q suggestion that substantial
saying would Ne effected in railway
mail transportation by forwardn2
bulky periodicals and maiIable mey,
chandise by fast freight, but when
transported by what ordinarily is
known as fast mail such matter
should pay extra postage.
Interest in the enactment OF legisla,
ton looking TO the upbuilding and en-.
.couragement OF the American mer.
chant marine J., set forth as a reason
for improving the transportation OF
mails to foreign countries, and the
postmaster general says that the fast
mail steamers of other countries leaving
ports of the United States will more
and more absorb our foreign mail
transportation ! ntil such time as the
United States provides an adequate
compensation Cor the outward voyage
of steamers of equal speed and regular.
ity of schedule.
The postmaster general says an ef
tectiye domestic parcels post
system could be organized ON the same
lines substantially as express compau.
les conduct their service and as par,
cells post service is conducted in other
countries, While he does not deem IL
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 l cent for two
LOUNGES. In this way, he says all mer.
chandise parcels not exceeding four
pounds in weight would continue to be
carried at oue-half the rate now
charged and afford a great opportunity
for dis, ributing light packages to 4
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 total
weight carried at | cent pound AMI
free was 663, 10712S pounds.
IF, says he, 1t cost the government
as much as cents a pound to handle
this matter in tile mails ii will be seen
that the amount paid out was $33I55..
1856, while the actual revenue was
So, lS6,647 He recommends a thor.
.ough review Of the whole subject 10y
congress. A Hat rate determinablc 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 confidence that future legiu
mate extensions can be accomplished
lat a lower rate OF expense.
At the end Of the fiscal year June so
there were in operation GS,131 post.
offices. The number of employees in
the service at 'arge is stated to be
100000, Of whom 1,1G9 are in the de-
Ipartment at Washington.
From seventy-fiye postoffices in
1890, the year Of Franlllin's death, the
number has grown to 6S,131; from re
ceipts Of S37935 and expenditures OF
S32, lao we have advanced in the same
period to receipts of $l52,S26,5S5 and
expenditures Of $1G7399,169; from a
total force 500 20 a total force oil
about 100000.
In concluding his report Postmaster
General Cortelyou says; There are
two prime requisites to a successive
administration of the postal service
First, merit as a controlling factor IN
appointment and promotion; second
business efficiency in the broadcst
sense, and this, of course, includes
proper economy. With these requl
sites in view there can be far-reachinp
improvement in the following direc
tons:
"A stricter adherence to the rule
that postmasters shall be appointed
primarily on a basis of fitness.
"a more precise method of deter
mining the compensation to be paid to
railroads and other agencies for the
transportation Of the mails.
"a more thorough organization OF
the rural free delivery service and a
closes inspection of It, which, while IN
suring every reeded extension, shan
prevent the giving of these facilities
where they are not warranted.
"A simpler classification Of mail
matter, as follows: First, letters; sec
ond, printed matter; third, merchan
disc.
"A more stringent restriction Of the
franhng privilege.
LIE cDnnrn ~ Al