Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-08-16
Postmaster General Meyer An
nounces He Will Recommend
Plan to Congress
SAVINGS DEPARTMENT AIS
Would Inausurate Savings System for
Peoples Money-Reductio Of Rates
of Postage Between United States
and Foreign Countries contem.
plated. -sss,

4NGW VI N, <Au6.
General Meyer, after seeing the presi-
dent at Oyster Bay Wednesday,, spent
yesterday in this city. In the presi-
dents room at the postoffice in the
afternoon he discussed the parcels post
and other issues. saying:
4 am going to recommend to con-
gress in my annual report the estab-
iishment of q domestic parcels post
service, limited to ten pounds. or any
other weight that congress will ac-
cept.
II am also considering the feasible
ity of recommending the establish
ments sof some sort of postal savings
bank. We find that today some people
are buying postal orders payable to
themselves as a means of saving their
money. This shows that there is
room and need for a postal savings
bank which will give the people a
chance to deposit their savings.
81 will not advocate an increase
OF pay for postal rates on any class
of mail matter.
tI em considering q plan for the
reduction Of postal rates between the
United. States and such countries as
we have direct steamship communica-
ton Nith-England, France, Germany
from s cents per half ounce to 2
cents. To make reduction will not
require legislation, but joint action by
the postal authorities of the interested
countries. We now carry letters from
the Atlantic to the Pacific for 2 cents,
and from any part Of the United States
to our island possessions for cents. I
think, the rate between the United
States and England and similar coun-
tries should be no higher.
4 q. 1--WE are also going to experiment
with a. view to introducing postage
stamp slot machines generally. I have
been told that machine can be made
from which 5 cent, 2 cent and cent
stamps, may be bought. This would
be q great convenience to the public.
/ will experiment first in Washington
and then II it is a success it will be
introduced generally. A very large
plant Tor the manufacture of the ma
chimes would have to be established.
81 also have in mind virtually the re-
yiyaI cf the old postal notes, but pay
able t., specified individuals by name.
The amount will be limited either to
$3.50 or IS.
II have been considering for some
time the establishment of a new deliv-
cry Of mail at o'clock at night in
thickly populated residence districts.
There is very large accumulation of
mail here between and 8 in the even,
ing to be delivered on the first morning
delivery. It is to relieve that first
morning delivery that / contemplate the
late night delivery. If the new plan is
introduced 1t will be possible to write
a letter and get an answer the, same
day. Two hundred and twenty-six new
carriers would be required. Before.
taking final action a commission will
go over the plan and report the actual
cost
Il am planning to establish sea post,
offices on the Cunard and French
steams hip lines, such as we have on
all the. other steamship lines. The
French. line has stood out for a large
price, and as we could not pay one
line more than another, we have made
no arrangements with It. We have to
readjust our arrangements with the
German line soon, and may then be
able ia come to an agreement with the
French line.
There is a word want to say about
the rural free delivery. 1t has been
criticized because of the big cost. It is
costly, but 1t is proving to be great
feeder to the general postal system In
1895, the year it was established, it cost
only s,L5,o000o0. That year the general
postohice deficit was ss,0o0,0O0.
Last year the rural free delivery
cost se5,0o0,0oo, yet the general post.
office deficit was only s10,000,O0O. This
year the rural service will cost $685.
100000, and the report for the first
quarter of the year shows no deficit
whatever. will not have the report
for the second quarter for two months
9et. bit the deficit is being greatly cut
down