The Washington times., 1906-11-27


10 the plan from the very people who
are afraid of the parcels post lest II
should XIII the country merchant"
But doesn't your plan include any
provision for it?"
mo, that's too unpopular replied
Ar- BOyce- Maybe II will come sOmt
day but we don't want 10 assume re
sponslbility for IL now. II Congress
ever wanted IL, TO introduce IL under our
system would be simple"
ana you haven't figured on the pos
sloillty OF the postal savings bank at
tachment TO the seTYice?"
NO, that hasn't been taken up. The
service can be developed and expanded
IN Its functions just as fast as Con-
gress wants. under our system as we'll
as under any other. We would went
70 make IL earn more revenues; we
would make the rural delivery a money
earning end OF the service, instead OF
Ah expense as now, and We would take
mai 10 every house in the land
OF know that the Postofiice Depart
Hlent doesn't own postottice buildings,
30 you nOtt Those are built by the
treasury Department and owned bs il.
1Ae immense cost OF rental of space ia
lheln Tor postal purposes IS not charged
10 the postal revenues Well we pro-
uons that Will develop the business:
Jhats how we will make the profit Re-
2ucng the postal rates will expand the
business Just as IL did the last time
those rates were reduced, ia 1885
The trarnc features OF this plan have
neen inquired out by a competent man
the position OF president or general
manager or whatever The executive may
De IN the Postal Corporation, has been
oUered 20 0HU of the great traffic eN-
petIs OF The country az $4,000 a year.
W ny, my nrst idea of formulating such
plan as this came from a railroad
president seven years ago. when he
declared, taking Ot hauling the mails.
thdL he would rather never do a dol
business
ne could avoid it. il was so much less
satisfactory than doing business for a
private concern
Mr Boyce was pressed TO indicate
VINO are, the men backing hls enter
prise. but he would not do SO.
Big Men Backing Proposition.
As the postal business is al. a cash
ln-advance operation, he said, we
have calculated that SIU.UOO UUO capital
would oe enough. Among the men as
sociated with me in this proposal Is one
Dig advertiser great manufacturer,
a merchant prince. ana Il Capitalist
who mas immense and widely DIVERGENT
interests but these men don [ want
TO be set up to be shot at ulI they
know whether there Is a chance OF the
Government taking an interest IN the
proposal Then, II The Government viii
indicate friendly altitude toward us
at least Willingness 10 consider our
scheme. they Will come forward ana
let everybody know that there Is plenty
OF financial backing.
Mr.. BOyce's basic pOstulate Is that the
second class mail matter should be
made 70 build up greater business
and revenue from firsL class Ine ter.
lie has studied and anaIyzed a wide
range OF advertising experience figur-
ing out the number OF letters that are
written IN response 10 advertising
The advertising. carried at the low sec
ond class rate. causes these letters 10
be written; and the aggregate of the
business thus started Is big and highly
PFontable, Il Is his Idea, as IL Is that
,SL puo!ishers generally. that restrict
IONS OF the advertising privileges OF
second class publications have a direct
ana highly important effect in reducing
tpe volume OF first class matter ham
DIED On this phase or the problem Mr.
Boyee is an authority, and his arg1-
monL Is most effective
ms proposal which was laid before
tnS Posi4I Commission at It's session
1 am authorized by responsible parties
20 make a proposition that Will eliminate
tIle deHclI, give panny postage on let
LeIs' ana reduce the rate on matter OF
second class from / cent 10 one-half
cent d pound.
The statement has frequently been
made by some persons connected win
the postal service, that if the .deDarU-
4leht was run as a private business.
. there would be no deficit, but a proft
Nine different Postmasters General
nave occupied the position during twenty
changes.
We have made sufficient Investigation
70 convince ourselves of feasibility and
nnancial success. and have been advised
that there IS no constitutional inhibition
\ careful comparison OF rates OF DOS
taEe now charged ou first and second
class matter with the rates herein DrO-
posed Will demonstrate that IL means
an average saving for the next twenty
years 10 the Government and public OF
Sl00,000O10 annually
We propose to perform all services
now rendered by the Postoffice Depart
ment and carry out all treaty stipula-
uons and 10 take the entire receipts
arising from the postal service as fun
compensation, and pay all salaries and
expenses.
Scale of Cheaper Rates.
We propose. first. the reduction bv
one-half OF postage on first and second
class. matter. or one cent per ounce or
Iractlon thereof on first class, and one
half cent per pound on second class
as heretofore.
Second. the wiDinE out of the deficit
Third, we will pay the United States
a. a. a,.nT net pTohts over per cent interest
We call attention to the following
The revenue, expenditures. and deficit
or the Postoftice Department from the
beginning OF the fiscal wear july / lSi5
20 the close OF the fiscal year 1885,. a
period OF twenty years. were as fol-
lows:
heVenue 1861, ,223, $50 80
Expenditures ........ ei5 4S5 M 20
During this period first class mail
was charged for at cents for one-hnIf
ounce or fraction thereof and second
cIass at , cents per pound "a greater
rate than 2 cents per Dound boVjnG
been charged during a part of such
period on second class matter)
The revenue, expenditures. and deficit
beginning OF the fiscal wear J1IIv 1SSS
10 the close OF the fiscal year 1905 a
period or twenty years. were as fol-
lows.
Revenue - e 30 no. so. -,
- ~, ,uzi -
= iiulNuIeS .---.----.-..-. 81 Ss4 81 SS6 6g
OSlS't '...'.'. .....................S per cent
The reduction In the deficit was *
per cent. The deficit for 1906 was onIV
per cent OF the revenue