The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1906-12-10

hearings to representative Of the de-
partment and to publishers. The de-
partment hopes for and confidently re-
lies upon the active cooperation of all
publishers and citizens interested in
perfecting the postal service in its eff
forts. to get before this commission,
and through it before congress, cor
rect understanding Of this subject, it's
import to the service, to the revenues,
and to the people.
As to Rates.
Whatever may be finally determined
opinions will differ as to the proper
rate to be charged 1t is suggested,
with much justice, and this will I'M
doubleday be fully considered by the
postal commission, that if provision is
made for different rate or method of
treatment for any publications from
that now I'm force, in fairness to the
publishers SO decided a change should
not be made suddenly. Reasonable op-
| portunity should be given to adjust
their business to the new requirements.
"The department recommended the
appointment Of commission to con-
slider this subject in the hope of Sc
curing information and relief which it
found itself barred from securing
through its own agencies. The results
Of the inquiry. therefore, should be
! valuable alike to the department and
to the publishing interests. The depart
ment's report to congress on the
weighings now in progress will also
tend to throw additional light on the
situation. For these reasons I do not
feel warranted in making further re-
Communications at this time.
Proposes Corrections.
eff it should be developed by the
testimony before the commission, by
the results Of the weighings recently
| directed by the congress, or by the de-
partments investigations, that any
class of publications is enjoying undue
advantages under the present rate, ac-
ton should be taken looking to cor
rection of this inequality. The depart
ment exists to serve not particular
industry but all industries, not a por-
ton of the people but all of the peo-
pie, and rates of postage for second
class mail should be established on
that basis, with no rate that is relative
ly discrimination against or out Of
proportion to any other rate, nor should
any subdivision of class bear a dis
proportionate share of the rate fixed
for its class Furthermore, while the
departments chief purpose should be
an ever-increasing efficiency, it's re-
ceipts and expenditures must be con-
sidered in their relation to cost and to
the general financial condition of the
government, and it's rates for service
must be fixed with regard to that re-
lation. t-..
Rural Divery.
June 30, 1906, marked the close of
ten years experience in the free de-
livery and collection of mails to and
from the residents of rural districts of
the United States, living remote from
postoffices and previously debarred
from easy interchange of communica-
ton by letter with the outside world.
Originally established as an expert
ment in the closing months of the year
1896 and the first months of 1897, with
all regulation as to it's extension, it's
continuance or discontinuance, and
the pay of those engaged in the SER
vice left entirely to the discretion of
the postmaster general, it was con-
tinued as an experiment by the express
terms of the appropriations made for
its support until the fiscal year begin
ming July 1, 1902. BY the postoffice ap-
preparation act of that year it was
formally adopted as part of the per-
manent postal system Of the United
States. Even then though the aggre-
gate sum provided for the service was
increased several millions Of dollars, no
explicit regulations for it's control were
enacted by the congress.
Increased Appropriations.
I'm the interval between 1897 and
1906 the annual appropriations for
rural delivery had been gradually in
creased year by year from $4,000 in
1897 to $25,S28,30O in 1906. 1t has been
absence Of legislative regulations other
than as before mentioned to establish
some rules of administration which
shall be applicable to the entire SER
vice.
"The saving effected by the discon-
tinuance of fourth-class postoffices and
star routes should have consideration
in connection with the estimated aggre-
gate net cost of rural delivery.
Carriage Of Parcels.
Il recommend that provision be made
for the carriage by rural carriers, at
fair rate Of postage, of small parcels
on rural routes such privilege to be re-
stricted in each case to the limits of
the particular route on which the par
Gel originates, or, if found feasible, to
all the routes emanating from a single
postoffice.
Good Roads and Rural Delivery.
I'm cooperation with the department
of agriculture, systematic efforts have