Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-15
PARCELS POST PLAN
Meyer Favors European Sys-
TENS Adoption.
POSTAL SAVINGS BANKS. TOO
May Also Experiment With Stamp
Vending Machines. .
TALK OF 2-CENT FOREIGN RATE
Postmaster General Hopes That Some
Day New York Service Will
Equal That Of London.

Plans for parcels post, rural free delivery,
stamp-vending machines and a two-cent
rate for foreign postage were unfoldad to
New York Sun reporter by Postmaster Gen
eral Meyer at New York yesterday.
According to the Sun. Mr.. Meyer thinks
that the criticism of the cost OF the rural
delivery service is unjust In 1905 5000
600 was expended on II, but the entire postal
deficit, which was 100000 in 1896 when
only S15.Np,00 was spent on rural free de-
livery, had increased to only $4,000 600
1t is expected. says Mr.. Meyer, that the
rural free delivery expenditure for the cur
rent year will be $50, 0o0.O0O and that the
deficit will not be increased. For the quar-
ter ended on March there was no deficit
The rural mail delivery system has proved
a decided boon to farmers. says the Post
master General and has raised the general
standard of living among them.
Parcels Post.
Important innovations that Mr.. Meyer
consent of Congress. ere the parcels post
and postal savings banks. The banks are
planned to resemble the savings bank de-
partment of the postal service in Canada
and England. The need of them has been
demonstrated to Mr.. Meyer by the fact that
many foreign and native working paonle
make sure of their savings by buving postal
orders, payable to themselves which they
can cash as they need the money From
this it is evident that many prefer to do
without interest rather than intrust their
savings to banks. 1t is not intended saws
Mr.. Meyer. to run these institutions in op-
position to savings banks, but merely to es-
tabltsh them where they are needed to en-
courage thrift. The amount of deposits will
be limited. Mr.. Meyer said that he would
recommend resumption of the issue of
postal orders limited to $3.50 or s., but pay
able TO bearer only.
Stamp-Vending Machines.
Mr.. Meyer said he had not yet worked out
the details of the parcels post system. but
that 1t would possibly be that parcels would
be limited to eight or ten pounds The sys-
TEN, he was careful to state. was not to be
construed as opposition to the express COM
panies, but was intended only to meet a
public demand.
The department says the Postmaster
General also intends to experiment with
stamp-vending machines similar to those IN
use in Germany. These are to be put in
puDic places such hotels and Il is
thought that if the purchase of stamps IS
fac1ltated the postal revenues will be In
creased. The machines will be tried first
in Washington and New York.
lie intends to advocate a reduction in for
eign postage, such d reduction as the pres
ent rate OF cents to = cents to such co,ln-
tries as have direct steam communication
including England. Germany, Holland It
ally and France. This reduction is expected
TO increase the revenues and would not re-
quire enactment by Congress, but could be
accomplished by agreement with the coun-
tries in the postal union.
The department IS going to be operated
on a mere businesslii.e basis than hereto
fore, according to Mr.. Meyer. AS proof of
this is the recent order Weighing ali mail
and noting the amount paid for and the
amount handled for the government de-
partments. and that .franked by representa-
tives and senator's
Seek Cause Of Deficit.
I'VE are going to ascertain where our
deficit lies and see how 1t can be remedied
as far as possible said Mr.. Meyer
AS for improvement for New York, he
hopes TO increase the sea postal service BY
adding more clerks to the ships now carry
ing them and to have men placed on the
lines not already employing them. 1t would
be great advantage to merchants to have
foreign mail arrive at New York ready
sorted, explained Mr.. Meyer.
An estimate has been made of the cost of
an o'clock pm delivery in parts of New
York city where 1t is needed. Mr.. Meyer
said that G2S additional carriers are needed
or will be- in view of the improvements,
and New York is to have them If possible
He lauded the service in London and Ber-
lin and said he hoped to see as perfect a
system in New York so that city letter
could be mailed IN the morning and re-
ply received in the evening. The pneu-
matte tube service, he thought, would be
patch OF mail would be facilitated in Man
haitian.