The Detroit times., 1908-11-30
URGES ADOPTION OF
LIMITED PARCELS
SERVICE
GENERAL SUBMITS
ANNUAL REPoRT-PosTAL DE.
FicIT Is GREATER THAN EVER
BEFORE.

vent touhy uis duuudi iepoie All wv
fiscal year ended June 80. 1908. He
deals with the postofice deficit OF
$16.S73,222.74 for that period and says
economy Is to be exercised In expendi
lures in 1s0S-1909 Mr.. Meyer urges
the appointment by congress OF d.
rector Of posts, or deputy postmaster
general at salary Of $4,000 per year.
He deals at some length with the
question of rural free delivery, point
Ing to the progress that has been
made by 1t. A limited parcel post is
recommended so that additional rev.
enues can be earned to meet the ex-
pense of maintaining rural free deliv
cry routes.
A large amount of space Is devoted
to the subject OF postal savings banks
Mr.. Meyer urges the establishment of
these institutions In connection with
postoffices. He includes figures, show
ing how postal savings banks are con.
Quoted In other countries, and says
that certain sections Of the United
States have no savings banks. Con.
seQuently. a large amount OF money
Is kept In hiding. Authority by con-
gress to establish postal savings
banks. he says. would be beneficial not
only to the people but to existing fill
ancial institutions
Mr.. Meyers report says:
The expenditures for the year ended
June 80. 1908, were sos. ISL. sss15,
while the receipts amounted to $751;
aaS'GeS.4l. showing deficit of S16.S
222.74. with an additional loss from
IRE, burglary, etc. OF s3T.ooo.25. The
increase In receipts over the previous
year was ,7ss3.G57s4. or 4.a9 per
cent. The normal increase in revenue
per cent The failing OF 10 accounted
Tor by the financial disturbances OF the
year.
The appropriations for the present
fiscal year are s222.S60.ss2. It Is esti-
mated that the increase IN receipts will
be about per cent, making the
probable deficit OF the fiscal year end
ing June 80. 1909. again over ,i6. 600. 600.
would again invite the attention OF
congress to the wisdom OF establishing
the position OF deputy postmast err gen
erai, or director OF posts. AT salary
that should not be less than 500 per
annuA. In order to command a bust
ness man OF wide experience, who
would hold office during good behavior.
In order that this rapidly growing de-
partment. with expenditures increasing
at the rate or more than $4,000 a
year, may have continuity OF policies
Tor Tor the benefit Of the postal service and
II has been my policy to impress upon
every officer of the department having
control over an appropriation the ne
such retrenchment as would impair
the efficiency OF the service.
Savings in expenditures will be ef-
fected by economical administrative
action taken during The fiscal years
1908 and 1909.
The rural delivery system continues
to grow. and on Nov. 10. 1905 there
In
patronage OF more than 100000
people. In many states practically the
entire area available for rural delivery
Is now covered with a network OF rural
increase during the past year In the
number OF petitions for rural service in
different parts of the country.
Rural delivery is now established on
nearly 100000 miles OF roads through
out the country. During me current
fiscal year the rural carriers Will be re-
CURED TO travel more than 200,O00,000
miles. Thus the necessity for good
roads becomes more apparent
An evidence OF the growing useful
ness OF rural delivery Is the Increased
While no exact figures are now avail
able giving the amount OF mail handled
by rural carriers IL is estimated to be
nearly 1000. 100000 pieces for the last
fiscal year.
should the congress grant the de-
partment authority to utilize rural
ment OF limited parcel post confined
entirely to rural delivery routes. II
would then be possible TO earn addi-
tional revenue amounting to millions OF
dollars. and at the same time benefit
the farmer by enabling him to have
merchandise delivered when ordered by
telephone or postal cara which would
otherwise not be purchased IT has been
estimated that X every rural carrier
delivered 55 pounds each trip an In
come Of $16.00O.000 would be earned in
one year. Were the postofiice depart
ment a modern business corporation its
board OF directors would not hesitate
as hours to utilize the present machin-
cry and establish a limited local parcel
post on rural routes. with such an ad-
ditional income as has been estimated
the department could we'll afford to
increase the equipment where the bust
ness demanded IT.
again urgently recommend that leg
islation be enacted permitting the
postmaster general to establish postal
savings banks or repositories in con-
ncction with postofhces.
In the 80 states there are many To-
calities where there are no savings
banks and in some cases no banks OF
able money is held in hiding. which, Is
neither absolutely safe nor In circula-
tion for the benefit OF the community.
Postal savings hanks ,nE ,o would foster
in many states and localities where
opportunities do not now exist. and
would In the end serve as Feeders to
the regular stock and mutual savings
banks. where greater returns would
be received Thus they would be
real benefit not only TO the people. but
also to existing financial institutions.
The issue OF postage stamps. known
as the series of 1902, has been regard
Cd as un unsatisfactory Non account OF the
redundancy OF Inscription and unnec-
essary elaboration.
The bureau OF engraving and print
ing has prepared drawings embodying
the portrait OF Franklin on the one
cent stamps and the portrait OF Wash
Ir gton on the stamps OF all other de-
nominations. The new design Is class
Ical simple. and digntfled.
The present arrangements with Can
ada are not entirely satisfactory to
this department, which Is anxious to
secure complete restoration OF the old
conditions However, tho departmen mt
has greatly assisted American publish
ers by securing n partial restoration.
The 81 and IS stamps will be dis
continued. II IL believed that. In view
OF the small quantity OF these stamps
used the 81 stamp Will be equally as
serviceable for all purposes for which
the two higher denominations are now
used
Negotiations with the postmaster
general OF Great Britain. which were
commenced during the year, resulted