Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-12-01
Postmaster General Meyer Makes
Eapy Important Recommendations.
URGES POSTAL sAV'Ass BANKS
Asks Establishment Of Limited Ex-
perimentAI Parcels Post System
Leaves Of Absence, He Says Should
Be Increased to Thirty Days.

nual report for the fiscal year ended
June 80, 1908. Postmaster g. neral
Never gives the total receipts Tor the
year as $20S.35l $50, thereby showing
a deficit OF $16.S73.222, the largest IN
the history of the departure mt, win
an additional loss from fire, bIrGlary,
etc. OF s37,056. The deficit Of 1909 IT
is estimated again will exceed $l6.Ooo,-
O00
Attention is particularly cared to Il
number Of improvements in bGsliH '3
methods OF the department as tending
to It's advantage and the saving OF
considerable amounts. Recommended
ton Is again made for the creation or
che position of director OF posts. at
high salary, and who shall. hold ono"
during good behavior, the object being
to have a continuity Of policies for the
benefit of the postal service and the
people of the United States.
Necessity for Good Roads.
The Necessity for good roads 1t IS
pointed out in conu, elton with the de-
velopmeat OF the rural free delivery
service. 1t is suggested that should
Congress- grant the department
authority to utilize rural routes still
further by the establishment or
limited parcel posi- confined entirely
TO rural delivery routes, 1t would then
be possible to earn additional revenu"
amounting to millions of dollars and
at the same time benefit the farmer by
enabling him to haVH merchandise de
nyered when ordered by telephone or
postal card, which 9TH rwise would not
be purchased. THE special pare I
post" says the Postmaster General.
will enable the farmer to have small
parcels dcliN red at their gates, to
live better, and to ol',ain easily the
uecessaries of life" Permission Is re-
uuested to establish eXperimentally a
limited parcel post in not to exceed
four counties In order to demonstrate
the PractiCaliiity Of the plan.
The Postmaster General again urges
legislation jermittdyg the establish
ment of postal saving banks or depos1-
taries In connection with post offices,
Experiments with stamp vending
machines, says the postmaster gcner-
al, are still bsing conducted. with
every prospect that the defects which
developed In the preliminary tests will
be overcome. These machines, 1t is
expected by the department will ada
UNNECESSARILY to the public CONVEX
ience.
Campaign Of Education
The campaign of education In the
school houses in matters pertaining
to the ordinary operation Of the pos
tai service, SO as to emphasize the I'M
pOrtance OF careful addressing, tht
placing of the name and address of tho
sender on envelopes, etc. is recon-
mended to be continued. so as to save
h1adreds Of thousands Of letters ann
packages from going to the dead let
ter Office each year as is now, the
case.
A marked Improvement in :he ef-
ficEncy Cf the service is noted by the
Postmaster General which. he says,
is due 20 the policy Of retaining post
masters Of adj grades whose records
have been satisfactory. He believes
however. that the appointments of
second and third class postmastera
should lie with the postmaster gener-
al, as Is now the practice with fourth
class Offices This. he says. would re-
serve to the president the appointment
Of postmasters at the more important
Offices and relieve him Of vast
amount OF routine work that is a tax
upon his time.
The Postmaster General puts him
self on record as being decidedly or-
posed to the law which prohibits IN"
establishment Of portal stations more
than Ave miles beyond the corporate
limits Of a city. although he says. no
such restriction exists with reference
to the extension Of the free delivery
service. The department. he declares,
should not be placed in the position Of
hing ai!c TO deliver mail from door
to door and at the same time OF BE-
in forbidden TO supply the dis ric; ="
served with the other usual postsq con-