The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1906-12-20
Propose New Service

~ L
the United States to a private corpora
ton under strict public control is the
remarkable proposal recently made to
the Postal Commission.
w. d. Boyce Of Chicago, publisher,
man Of big affairs and several times a
millionaire, made the proposition, on
behalf of himself and his associates,
whom he does not name, to take over
the postof1ce business and run it on
business principles.
The proposal includes agreement
Immediately to cut postage rates in
half. There could be no deficit under
such an arrangement for the govern
ment to meet, because the corporation
would have to make ends meet.
Mr.. Boyce wants the postal corpor-
alton under a postal commission which
shall be the regulating and supervis-
ing agency of the government.
He proposes to pay Uncle Sam rent
for all postoffice quarters occupied in
public buildings and over this he de-
signs to charge the government regu-
lar rates for all services performed
for it. These government services he
estimates at 1926, 600, 900 annually. At
half the present rates this would be
cut to sl2,5o0, 900.
Applying business methods to post
Office affairs would result in immense
economies in transportation. Mr..
Boyce figures that the expenditure for
railroad haulage would be cut from
$50, 600, coo to about one half that sum.
He calculates likewise that orna-
mental or political sinecures would be
eliminated. The political postmast-
err would get short shrift, and the
deputy who does the work would be
the responsible man.
Mr.. Boyce's proposition, he insists,
is made in the utmost good faith.
Certain it is that it affords a most eff
fective talking point from which to
point out the weakness of present man
agement. Direct comparison Of the
n plCSSuU pOSt&liiSC vi * NlCu
methods commonly prevailing in sri
vate business and in great public ser
vice corporations is considered by
publishers the smost effective method
of demonstrating the nreaso of re-
strictions which the department is dis
posed to impose upon them. Mr..
Boyce's proposition may have its hole
in the skinner but its author doesn't
think so. He says good management
will make the business pay at half the
present rates.
Gail I want is to get myself and my
proposition taken seriously,"h he de.
clared. ';After that it will be easy,
for the public wants lower post rates,
I am not q man to be making a bluff
: at a thing like this. have too many
interests that could be injured by sucf
a course. The backing is ready to form
! a corporation and take over the posta
service on the terms Ihave outlined.
y "Of course we would propose to de
velop the business, as any private
business management would do. Fol
instance, we have a plan of rural pos
tai express, by which rural carrier!
l: would receive and deliver goods o,
~ their routes, carrying the package
u outside the mail. This would not ex
tend off the given route. It woul,
make every country store a mail-orde
house, and would bring an immens
!. measure of support to the plan fror
e. the very people who are afraid of tn
parcels post lest it should kill tn
I country merchant.
The revenue and expenditures of tn
Postofice Department from July 1,1s6
3 to July /, 1885, a period Of 20 years
. were as follows:
u Revenue ......... 1851, 223, O56
Expenditures .642, 422, OILS
. During this period, tirst-class ma
. was charged for at 3 cents for one ha
~ ounce or fraction thereof, and secont
D class at 2 cents per pound Ia create
d rate than 2 cents per pound havir
81 been charged Or second-class durir
= a part of that period.)
3 The revenue. and expenditures fl
81 the twenty years from July ]. 18'
. to July /, 1905, were as follows:
81 Revenue. 81, 743, o27, 1925
q Expenditures i, 1884, 1853, 1856
The present rate Of postage vas e
. tablished in 1885 and since the redu
% ton of rates the deficit has been r
"a duced 4 per cent.
~ Low Rates to the Southeast
Commencing December 18th and
- the first and third Tuesdays of ca,