The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1908-12-02
Cheaper Mail Services With Foreign
Countries Would Stimulate Eusl-
ness and Friendly Relations

position as director or pOStS, at high
salary and who shall hold once 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.
The necessity for good roads Is
pointed out in connection with the de-
yelopment Of the rural free delivery
service and Postmaster General Mey-
er says:
Should the congress grant the de-
partment authority TO utilize rural
routes still further by the establish.
ment Of a limited parcel post confined
entirely to rural delivery routes. 1t
would then be possible to earn addit-
'oral revenue amounting TO millions
OF dollars and at the same time ben.
eft the farmer by enabling him TO
have merchandise delivered when or.
dered by telephone or postal card,
which would otherwise not be pur-
chased Frequently consumption is
reduced owing to inability to secure
articles at the time they are wanted.
The reason for increased consumption
in the cities is that goods are access
ible and are invariably delivered to
the purchaser This rural parcel ex-
press is to be confined entirely to rur.
al routes. and there would be no cost
to the government for railroad trans
portauon."
THE special parcel post" says tne
postmaster general. will enable the
farmers to have small parcels deliver
ed at their gates. to live better. and
to obtain easily the necessaries Of
life" Permission is requested to es-
tablish experimentally limited par
eel post in not to exceed four counties
in order to demonstrate the practic-
ability OF the plan.
The postmaster general again urges
legislation permitting the establish
ment OF postal savings banks or de-
positories in connection with post ofi-
ces.
Experiments with stamp vending
machines, says the postmaster general
are still being conducted with every
prospect that the defects which de-
yeloped in the preliminary tests will
be overcome These machines. II Is
expected by the department, will add
UNNECESSARILY to the public conyen-
fence
The campaign OF education in the
schoOlhouses In matters pertaining 20
the ordinary operation OF the postal
service. so as to emphasize the impor-
lance OF the careful addressing. the
placing Of the name and address OF
the sender on envelopes. etc. Is rec
commended TO be continued. so as to
save hundreds Of thousands Of letters
and packages from going TO the dead
letter Office each year as Is now the
case
4 marked Improvement In the efic-
iency OF the service is noted by the
postmaster general which, he says.
is due to the policy OF retaining post
masters OF all grades whose records
have been satisfactory. He believes.
however. that the appointments of sec
ond and third class postmasters
should lie with the postmaster general
as is now the practice with fourth
class Offices. This, he says would re-
serve TO the president the appoint
ment OF postmasters At the more Inn
portant offices and relieve him OF
vast amount OF routine work that Is q
tax upon his time
The postmaster general puts him
self on record as being decidedly op-
posed to the law which prohibits the
establishment OF postal stations more
than Ave miles beyond the corporate
limits OF city, although, he says, no
such restriction exists with reference
to the extension OF the free delivery
service The department. he de-
clares, should not be placed In the pos
ition OF being able to deliver mall
from door to door and at the same
time OF being forbidden TO supply the
district so served with the other usual
nostal conveniences. The repeal OF
The law complained OF is urged.
The maintenance OF a suitable pos
tai service In New, York City, II is
| stated. becomes more dinioult each
year. and requires Increased expendi'
lures In order to reduce so far as pos
sible the heavy congestion OF mail
matter there. The postmaster gen
oral speaks OF what has been done TO
\ ward remedyng this condition, and
avs that night delivery In the res
identlal section has gone far In that
direction.
Recommendation is again made that
The leave OF absence with pay allowed
by law TO employees Of the Postal Ser
vice be increased from fifteen 20 thir'
~ DAYS whenever the postal revenues
warrant e.
While favorlng an increase In pay
of the supervisory employees IN post
offices. the postmaster general says
he has not estimated for additional
promotions for the coming year be
cause OF the great increase IN the de
ncit
In regard to pneumatic tube service
Il Ia stated that the commission ap.
pointed under the act Of congress OF
Nav 81. 1908. 10 inquire into the feaa'
Utility OF the government ACQUIRING
and operating the pneumatic tube ser
vice. has completed its work and that
the report viii be Submitted TO con
press soon after Il convenes No hint
is given regarding the commissioner
recommendations.
The recent sstabiishnsut 81 the :
cent an ounce rate Of letter poetage
between the United states and the
limited Kingdom OF Great Britain and
I - a.