The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1906-12-21
FRANKS CAUSE LOSS
Executive and Congressional
Mail Costs S20,0O0,OOO.
DEFICIT FOR YEAR $13,OOO,OOO
Third Assistant Postmaster Madden
Makes His Annual ReDOrt-SRys
There II Really No Shortage when
Free Matter Handled Is Taken Into
COnsideratiOn-Speci Delivery.

The Third Assistant Postmaster, the
! 'bookkeeper" of the department, dis
cusses the postal deficit in his annual re-
! port He shows that the deficiency fer
! the fiscal year ended June 30 last was
| nearly S13000,006, instead Of about 81 ,500.-
/ 900. as previously estimated. This result
/ is reached by including in the expendi-
lures the cost of maintaining the execu-
| tive force and the bureau Of the auditor
of the department.
( Then the Third Assistant proceeds TO
point out that when you get down 10 bed
rock there is really no deficit. in view Of
/ the fact that the mail originating in the
/ executive departments and in Congress
/ is carried free.
/ Last year" be says. ct was estimated
| that II a charge were made for this free
postal service the revenues would have
| been increased by approximately S90.-
oOo.o0O."
Reduction of Postal Deficiency.
! Regarding the reduction Of the postal
deficiency, the Third Assistant Post
master says:
There is a reduction Of over $1,000 600,
or 27.S3 per cent. in the excess Of expendi-
lures over receipts during the past year,
as compared with 1905 This reduction
has great significance when compared
with the figures for 1906. which show an
Increase in the deficiency that year over
1904 Of more than $4,000 900. or 65.9S per
cent
The total postal revenue for 1906 shows
an increase Of more than 100000 over
the year 1905. This is the largest increase
for any one year I'm the history of the
postal service The per cent Of increase
In receipts for 1905 is 9.sS. as compared
with 6.42 for 1863. while the increase in ex-
penditure during 1906 is $50 per cent. as
compared with $50 per cent during the
previous year"
secOnd-cIhss Matter.
/ Problems arising out of the conditions
resulting from the enforcement Of the
/ laws relating to second-class mail matter
/ are discussed. He says
| 1T is the air. to secure laws which viii
not require the department 10 interfere,
as the present ones do. with publisher ;
business. The publisher should be left
alone to work out his own fate according
/ to his own notion.
| What is wanted is uniformity, sim
plicity. and stability Of service. The priv
| fege Of mailing any matter should not de-
/ pend in the slightest degree upon the
/ liberality OF Miberality of the particular
person in authority to decide as to
whether the publication meets his ideals
| IN the matter OF the distinctions which
! under existing laws determine the classi-
fcation An adverse decision on a very
close question may AT any time destroy "A
/ business Sra which large capital has been
/ invested IN good faith and in the belief
that the publication met fairly every con-
dition. which. In truth, under another
I judge. II might have done.
Changes in Classification.
For the purpose Of adjusting, modern
lzlng, and improving the postal service, '
/ recommends:
That the rate Of postage upon letters
not exceeding one ounce deposited ID any
post-ofice for local delivery by its car
| riers or otherwise shall be uniform at
cent each; provided that when any letter
mailed at this rate requires 20 be for
warded TO another post-Office for delivery
/ the deficiency at the rate OF cents an
/ ounce or fraction thereof, less the amount
! prepaid. shall be collected rs now pro
vided by law for other shOTt-paid letters.
THAT the seven different rates Of post
age for the second class and one rate for
/ the third class be abandoned, and in their
I place there be adopted a uniform rate for
all printed matter 81 a quarter OF cent
/ an ounce, or cent for each four ounces
or fraction thereof 90 one address. which
lis 4 cents on an even pound, and that
there be a provision for the payment of
/ postage on newspapers and periodicals IN
money as at present. and another for
their expeditions handling in the mails.
Regarding Special Delivery.
THAT existing law be modified so as
TO permit, under suitable regulations. the
use of ordinary postage stamps as well
az speCiaI-delivery stamps. the latter not
! always being at hand or easily obtain
able, for the purpose Of securing special
| delivery Of any letter or package II
does not seem to be necessary 10 limit
| the service. as IL is now. TO a particular
| kind Of stamp. IL will be a simple mat
| ter 10 arrange 10 accept ordinary stamps
| of the same value. The effect Of such !
change would be to broaden and extend
the uses and convenience to the public
of the special-delivery service, and Il
would add nothing to the expenses of the
government.
For reasons of sound postal policy ]
| recommend a modification Of the practices
which have heretofore existed in regard