The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-10-13
MEYER TELLS PLANS
TO MASTERS
Praises Rural Free Deliv-
cries and Predicts Fault
less Service.
Will Propose Establishment
of Savings Branch to
Congress.

BOSTON, Mass, Oct 12.-At the con-
vention of postmasters here this after
noon. Postmaster General Meyer deliv-
cred a short address. outlining his
plans for the postal service. and com
meuting on the work accomplished by
the department in recent years.
In part, hp said:
Some one has said: Uncle Sam
meets his folks face to face at The
postOffice." 1t was in order that might
have the pleasure OF meeting the post
masters face to face that I accepted the
invitation OF this association.
1t is the post which brings people from
all parts Of the world into cOmmunica-
ticn with each other. In 1883 the Cen
eral Court Of Massachusetts ordained
that Richard Fairbanks house In Bos-
ton should be the place for all letters.
Benjamin Franklin the father of our
postoffice. was appointed postmaster at
Philadelphia in 1871, and in 1853 he was
appointed deputy postmaster general for
the Colonies. The Continental Congress
made him postmaster general, and au-
thorized him to establish postoflces
from EIalne to Georgia.
Rural Delivery.
The history Of the rural delivery Is in
teresting. and should be understood by
our people, for the reason that there Is
n feeling prevalent in many parts OF the
country that such service is an extrav-
agance and an unnecessary drain upon
the department. However. Jet us look
at the results accomplished ia the last
ten years The hrSt rural route was
established IN the fall OF 1896. Fifteen
thousand dollars were expended during
tn fiscal year, The postal deficit being
ele'en and one-half million dollars. For
the fiscai year er,i,d June 30, 1907 the
expenditures for ruIaI deliver. were
Jwenty-seven million dollars. and la,
estimated postal deficit showed a de.
crease as compared with 1897 OF abou
four and one-half million dollars. tn,
total being about seven million dollars
/ propose TO recommend the establish
ment of parcels post on rural route:
which Will meet the objections Of tn,
small storekeepers and retailers. Thi.
will be boon T. Our rural population
and TO the storelxeeper, as the lattc1
can receive his orders by mail or teIe
phone and dispatch the desired merchan
disc by the rural carrier. The farmei
viii he saved from hitching up his hors,
and losing che time he needs for plant
ing or harvesting his crops, and Il Will
enable the storetteeper to increase hi
sales and meet the requirements 0
modern trade II my recommendation
are adopted. It viii cost u cents a pount
for the mall order house to send parcel
TO the rural delivery patron from an,
city pOstoflce
L am also considering the advisablit
of recommending a local parcels post de
livery at city free delivery postoffices
but IN order to install such a system
will be necessary to obtain from Con
gress a special appropriation to acquir
wagons and automobiles to do the re
CURED hauling.
Postal Savings Bank.
Another matter Of great public inter
est which I shall recommend for III
consideration OF Congress is posta
savings bank system, which has bee
adopted by many countries in the las
thirty or forty years. These bank
were established in England as early Il
1851. in France in 1882 and IL Austria 1
1888.
We desire to encourage among on
people economy and thrift and by III
use Of postal savings banks TO Civ
them every opportunity to husbsn
their resources. The policy will not b
10 compete In any way with the saving
banks. but rather to encourage the nab
OF depositing savings.
IL will be the policy Of the depart
ment also TO simplify IN every way tn
registry and money order systems, S
that less time may be consumed !
registering letters and obtaining none
orders.
Postal Notes.
I find that there is a great deman
from the public for postal notes. and
is the purpose of the department {
recommend such paper in denomination
OF l0c. 20c, 25c. soc, 4Oc. soc. Coo, zoe, so
gOe, 81, and up y $3.50. 1t Is the inter
ton to have the notes payable to II
party designated.
Tests Of stamp vending machines wi
be begun this month. and IL the m;
chimes are satisfactory they will |
adopted. rs hey should prove convenier
TO the public for facilitating the sa
OF stamps.
Gentlemen, IN a brief way 1 have t
day called to your attention some Of II
chief recommendations which the d.
partment will present to Congress.
wish to congratulate the conventic
upon its meeting and to assure you
the pleasure 1t has given me In havir
;his opportunity to meet the postma
ters. and I now wish the members
the New England Postmasters' ASS
ciation success IN their organizatio
which I feel and know has been e
-abllshed for the best interests
the postal service.