The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1907-11-07
GREAT POSTAL
IMPROVEMENTS
Proposed by Postmaster Gen.
eraI Meyer in Address
at Boston.

Postmaster General Meyer advocates
some large extensions of the postal
service of the United States. Post
master j. G. Pratt of Honolulu has re-
cefved an official pamphlet containing
an address delivered by Mr.. Meyer at
the banquet of the New England Post
masters Association, Boston, October
u, in which the proposed innovations
were set forth.
Mr.. Meyers most important recon-
mendations include the further develop
ment of the parcel post system to an
extent far beyond its present hmIta-
tions, the establishment of postal saw
ines banks, the issuance of postal notes
in denominations ranging from one
cent to $3.50 and the installation
throughout the country of automatic
stamp vending machines. The recon-.
mendation as to the stamp vending ma
chimes. however, viii depend upon the
success of experiments now being made
with a device of this kind.
Probably the most important and
drastic of any of the recommendations
which the postmaster general proposes
to make will be that regarding the
extension of the parcels post. Not only
| will he recommend that the system as
at present established be greatly in
creased in efficiency, but that the maxi
| mum rate for all parcels be reduced
| from 16 TO II cents per pound; that
local posts equipped with wagons or
automobiles be established in cities
where the free delivery system prevails;
and that a special parcel post system
with an extremely low charge for ser
vice be established in connection with
the rural free delivery.
1.-TWO interests are opposing the ex-
tension of parcels post in this country
the express companies and the coun-
try retail merchants said Mr.. Meyer.
saThe latter fear that the mail order
| houses will derive benefit to their
own disadvantage. 1t is in connection
with the country retail merchants that
In desire to speak especially. 1 pro-
pose to recommend the establishment
of a parcels post in rural routes whlch
/ will meet the objections of the small
/ storekeepers and retailers. This Will
be a boon to our rural population,
and to the storekeeper,- so the latter
can receive his orders by mail or tele-
phone and despatch the desired mer-
chandise by the rural carriers. The
farmer will he saved for planting or
harvesting his crops, and it will en-
able the storekeeper to increase his
sales and meet the requirements OF
lmodern trade. If my recommendations
are adopted, it will cost twelve cents
a pound for the mail order house to
isend parcels to the rural delivery pa
iron from any city postof1ce, While tor
delivery from the distributing office OF
the rural route, or If mailed by a pa
tron of any rural route for delivery 10
a. patron on the same route, or at
the distributing office of said route, the
charge will be but five cents for the
additional pound, up to eleven younds,
or twenty-five cents for package
weighing eleven pounds.
II am also considering the advisable
ity of recommending a local parcels
post delivery at city free delivery post
offices. but in order to install such a
system it will be necessary to obtain
from Congress a special appropriation
. to acquire wagons and automobiles to
do the required hauling. The object
of my recommendation to Congress
will be to get an adjustment OF rates
and weights that will meet the rates
and weights charged for parcels sent
by post to other countries. This will
mean a reduction in the rate from
sixteen to twelve cents per pound, ano
an increase in the weight limit from
four to eleven pounds.
Another matter of great public in
4 terest which / shall recommend FOL
i the consideration of Congress is pos
tai savings bank system. We desire
i to encourage among our people econo'
NV and thrift and by the use of posta
savings banks 20 give them every op'
4 portunity to husband their resources
The policy will not be to compete II
any way with the savings banks, hu
rather to encourage the habit of de-
hosting savings Our object is t
v bring hidden money to light, to insti
4 life into it, and to lead it again int
v the channels OF trade, for the mutua
! benefit of labor and capital, and thus
add to the prosperity throughout thu
: land.
! II find that there is a great demand
II from the public for postal notes, and
q is the purpose of the department t
II recommend such paper in denomina