The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1906-12-01
MAKE MONEY
ON POSTOFFICF
Syndicate Offers 10 Assume Control
CT Postal System.
Would Reduce Rates by One-Half,
Rent Buildings From Government
and Share Profits = Save $780,
100000 Yearly and Wipe Out
Annual Deficit.

Washington, Nov. 27.-Uncle Sam
will be aksed tomorrow to turn over to
a syndicate Of capitalists the conduct of
the postal business. The joint commit
tee Of congress inves tigating postal
abuses and intrusted with recommend
ing reforms, which has been in session
in New York, resumed its meetings to-
day, and tomorrow w. ID. Boyce, of
Chicago, will go before the committee
with a bonafide offer made by substan-
tial capitalists to take over from the
government the postal business and re-
lieve it ofall the great expense attached.
The offer has several objects. 1t is
true that capitalists have been found
who believe that money can be made
by a monopoly of the postal business.
Whereas the government has failed to
make the Postoffice department a pay
ing institution, the capitalists believe
that by the introduction of business
methods they can put the department
upon a dividend paying basis. Wells
Fargo Express company saw enough
money in the monopoly to offer the
government a bonus of 81 1000, 900 a
year if permitted to run the postoffice.
The proposition is presented in good
faith and will sarve the double purpose
of emphasizing with the public the fact
that there are capable business men in
the country who believe that they can
give the people penny postage and an
excellent service, as good as that per-
formed by the government. The offer
will have the effect of showing to the
people that these business men, who
will give satisfactory bond, will guaran-
tee to give the patrons of the postoffice
reduced postage rates, which the de-
partment officials unite in reporting the
government cannot afford to do.
The proposition, broadly stated, is
that the government shall withdraw
from the field of controlling a public
utility and shall place the business OF
transporting and delivering the mail in
private hands, as the express business
is today conducted. The capitalists
who are willing to assume the burden
will pay the government rental for the
postoffice buildings all over the country
and will charge the government regular
rates of postage upon its mail, which il
now carried free under frank and penal
ty stamps.
Mr. Boyce said in part:
GA careful comparison of rates o
postage now charged on first and seconC
class matter, with the rates herein pro
posed to be put in force will readily
demonstrate that it means an average
saving for the next 20 years to the gov
eminent and general public Of 800,
600, 900 annually.
"We propose to perform all the ser
vices now rendered the public by tn,
Postofice department and carry out al
treaty stipulations and contracts and t.
take the entire receipts arising from tn,
postal service as full compensation TO
the rendition of all paid services nov
performed by the Postoffice department
and pay all salaries and expenses neces
sary to carry out the terms of such
detailed contract as will accomplish tn
objects sought, namely:
"First-The reduction to the publ
by one-half of all postage to be paid o.
first and second class matter, or l cen
per ounce or fraction thereof of frs
class, and \ cent per pound on secon
class matter, except for weeklies, a
heretofore.
"seeond The wiping out of tn
deficit annually in the operating of tn
postal service as a government depart
ment.
"Third-We will pay into the Unite
States treasury all net profits accruin
,, over Z per cent interest on capital in
es ed -