The Morris County chronicle., 1907-12-03
ASKS NEW METHODS
IN POSTAL SERVICE
Postmaster General Says Up-tO-
Date System is Urgent Need.
RECOMMENDATIONS He MAKES
Establishment of Postal Savings
Banks Urged For the Benefit Of
the People-WouId Pay Two Per
Cent.--Parcels Post,

Cent.-Parcels Post,
Washington, d. c. - Postmaster
General Meyers annual report draws
attention to the enormous increase in
the country's postal business by Civ
ing the figures for the last fifty years.
These show postal service receipts of
| $8,O53,952 in 1857, with deficit of
$3,454,106, against receipts of $183s
| 585, ,005 in the fiscal year ended June
| 30, 1907, when there was a deficit of
| $6,653,282. Mr.. Meyer believes re-
ceipts will pass the $3.50, 900
mark in 1917.
In the opinion of the Postmaster
General, the particular and striking
| needs of the service to-day are "up-to-
late business methods, revised sys-
| tenn of bookkeeping, permitting the
| taking of trial balance, and a per-
manent official corresponding to the
| superintendent of mill or the agent
1 Of a great consolidated manufacture
| ng corporation, who would hold Office
continually, through various admins
! Grations. To such an official Mr.
| Meyer would pay salary large
! enough to attract and hold capable,
experienced business man. New laws
are needed to permit the introduction
| of up-to-date business methods.
| Postmaster-General Meyers first
recommendation is the establishment
! Of postal savings banks. He does
this, he says, first, in order to en-
| courage among our people economy
1 and thrift; second, in order to afford
| place of deposit free from any pos
| sibility of doubt or suspicion for vast
/ sums of money which might other
| wise be boarded and kept out of cir
| eulation through ignorance OF lack
| Of confidence.
wherever it may be, this money
has lost its proper functions, and the
| business of the nation not only re-
ceives no benefit from it, but even
the prosperity of the country suffers
and may be eventually destroyed.
i Money deposited in postal savings
| banks would be absolutely safe, as
\ The Government would be back of it,
Mr. Meyer points out that in the
fiscal year 1907, $T2,111,748 was
sent to European countries in money
| orders by immigrants, and he adds:
This money, while it was accumu-
lating, would naturally have been
placed for safety in the postal saw
ings banks. In fact, it has been
brought to my attention that money
Of the immigrants, on account of its
possessors being ignorant of our lam
guage and suspicious of our private
institutions, is being sent home in
order that it may be placed in the
postal savings banks of their native
countries"
The Postmaster General tells of
the success of the system in Canada,
and says:
1T is recommended that the Post.
master-General be given authority to
designate all money order postoffices,
and such other postoffices as may be
deemed necessary, to receive deposits
Of money for savings; deposits to be
accepted in even dollars, with 81 as
i minimum; postmasters to be re-
quired to receipt for such deposits in
the pass books of the deposits and
to make daily reports thereof TO the
tmaster-General, who will ac-
knowledge receipt of the deposits di-
rect to the patrons money deposited
in the postal savings bank not to be
liable to demand, seizure or deten-
tion under legal processes against the
depositor. Withdrawals may be
made at any time subject to certain
regulations.
"On deposits made i'll postal saw
ings banks rate of interest of two
per cent. per annum is suggested, the
deposits to be limited to $500 by any
one person; any individual in the
United States ten years old or more
to be permitted to open an account
In his own name and deposit to his
credit an amount not in excess of
$500. A child under ten years OF
age to have an account opened in his
name by parent or guardian, but
Withdrawals are not to be made un-
til the child attains the age of ten.
THAT the money deposited in the
postal savings banks may return to
the channels of trade authority is
asked to place it in the national
banks which are Government depos-
tories in the States where the money
is deposited in the postoffiees. In
consultation with number of presi-
dents of national banks in various
parts of the country l have been as
sured that on special deposits of this
character from the Postoffice Depart
ment they would allow rate of in
terest of two and half per cent"
In discussing the parcel post,
which he desires to see extended,
Mr. Meyer points out til at under the
present system o person mailing in
any United States postoiice two par
cells weighing four pounds each must
pay sixty-four cents for the one ad-
dressed to New York and only forty
eight cents for the one sent to for
eign country, which will usually pass
through New York. If tne New York
package weighs more than foul
pounds it will be denied the mails
but the package going abroad may
weigh up to eleven pounds, accord
ing to the country of it's destination.
The Postmaster-General recon-
mends rate of twelve cents a pound
| .An, dlnra, Il